282 THE FLORIST. 



creasingly so. We shall endeavour to repay their interest in 

 our success by providing for their amusement and instruction 

 in particular. We shall be glad at all times to receive sug- 

 gestions from them ; let them acquaint us with their wants and 

 desires, and they shall be gratified, if possible. 



There! — we seem to have exhausted ourselves of every 

 thing of a comphmentary character; so, with your permission, 

 we will descend to the lower level of our every-day walks, and 

 take leave of the subject, and of our readers of all kinds, in a 

 cordial Farewell for 1850. 



THE CALCEOLARIA. 



NOTES ON NEW FLOWERS. 



The Calceolaria being a special favourite of mine, and ha^dng re- 

 ceived a pressing invitation from my excellent friend Mr. Wilcke, 

 of the Wingrove Nursery, Newcastle-on-Tyne, to inspect several 

 collections of seedlings (including an extensive one of his own,) in 

 that neighbourhood, I determined on availing myself of the plea- 

 sure ; and accordingly, one fine day in the month of June last, I 

 started on my expedition. Elated with what I saw in this locality, 

 and the kind hospitality of my friend, I resolved at once to see what 

 was doing in other parts of the country ; and embracing the facilities 

 now afforded to travellers by railway, I was soon in the midst of the 

 southern Florists, and, of course, visited several of the gardens cele- 

 brated for the culture of this flower. 



I shall not attempt any particular description of the different 

 nurseries and gardens I visited, as the object of my journey was 

 purely to see what advancement was being made in the Calceolaria, 

 and to take notes of novelties and new flowers, which I shall proceed 

 briefly to detail. 



Mr. Wilcke's nursery is situated about a mile out of Newcastle, 

 and is a very neat and attractive spot. He has one greenhouse, and 

 several pits devoted exclusively to the culture of the Calceolaria, and 

 this plant he grows very successfully. 



Amongst his seedlings I noticed John Deans, raised last year, 

 and described by me in the Florist for February last, p. 57. It fully 

 maintains its character, and is decidedly the most brilliant flower of 

 the " Emperor class" I have seen. Unfortunately it is of rather 

 delicate habit, and will not bear high culture. 



Queen of Beauties (No. 11) is a fine rich little flower in the 

 style of Dickson and Co.'s Aurora, striped and blotched in centre 

 with alternate streaks of dark brown and pink ; a very attractive 

 flower, but rather delicate in habit. 



Standard (No. 9). A nice symmetrical flower, well inflated, 

 orange ground, and densely spotted in centre with tiny spots of 

 brown. 



