144 THE FLORIST. 



a grey disc, tolerable form, and very useful for exhibiting. Estelle is 

 a most serviceable flower — white, with very broad deep rosy lilac 

 margin, and dark disc, rather cupped, good form, but deficient in sub- 

 stance to be a first-class flower, still one of the best and most attractive. 

 ]\Irs. Sidney Herbert, in its class, is unrivalled — white with delicate 

 rose margin and pretty habit. Lablache is a most useful blue, dwarf, 

 and of first-rate habit and moderate form, and the colour best described 

 as a medium blue. Amy Robsart is not yet surpassed in its colour, 

 which is rosy lilac with a dark disc. Lady Camoys is of dwarf habit, 

 white, with medium bright blue edging, and is a general favourite, 

 and possesses tolerable form. 



Kate Kearney is no doubt the best white, and Prince Arthur the 

 best crimson. Marguerite d'Anjou is duller in colour than Prince 

 Arthur ; reflexed, and not so good. Teddington is a light purple with 

 white disc, good form, but reflexes slightly ; it is, however, of good habit 

 and of a pleasing colour. Formosa is a good variety for exhibition — 

 light violet purple with white disc ; of good form, and with a dwarf 

 compact habit. Asmodeus is a good dark blue, dwarf, and of good 

 form and habit. Advancer is white, with purplish blue margin, but 

 too starry. Scottish Chieftain, if first-rate in form, would be a great 

 acquisition ; in colour white, with deep violet margin, clear and well 

 defined, but the flower is somewhat starry. Lord Stamford is a very 

 attractive variety in a collection — white with medium margin of deep 

 blue, light disc, and close compact habit ; the flower is somewhat con- 

 fused and indented at the edge, but it is notwithstanding a very showy 

 variety. Loveliness is a rosy crimson with white ring round the disc ; 

 a very distinct and serviceable flower for exhibition purposes. Mrs. 

 Beecher Stowe is a very useful variety — white, with broad deep lilac 

 margin and dark disc ; good form, valuable for exhibition purposes, 

 and much better than Empress Eugenie, which is deeper in colour, but 

 by no means so good. Etoile de Vaise is a little inprovement on an 

 old variety named " Annie " — white, with dark plum purple; broad 

 margin. We greatly want improvement in this colour. Ringleader, 

 although old, is a very useful flower for exhibiting, and is of a pale 

 carmine colour. Octavia is the lightest azure blue we have, with light 

 disc and dwarf habit. 



Of Seedlinj Varieties, the best we have seen is Emperor of 

 France, a very great improvement on Hopwood's Optima ; colour, 

 rosy crimson, with broad white ring round a dark disc ; great width and 

 depth of petal. This is a fine stout flower, of great excellence. Rose 

 of England is also a first-class flower ; colour, clear white, with medium 

 margin of rich rosy purple ; compact dark disc, fine form, and good 

 substance. This flower will be a standing variety. Magnum bonum 

 is of a rich purple crimson colour, with a small white ring round a 

 black disc; a large, bold, and attractive variety of first-rate habit. 

 Lord Cardigan is a very large striking flower that will be a great 

 favourite ; white, with a broad margin of violet purple ; small dark 

 disc. Florence Nightingale is a very promising flower, of good sub- 

 stance ; white, with medium margin of deep rosy lilac ; good petal 

 and dark disc. Duchess of Welhngton is evidently a first-class flower ; 



