284 THE FLORIST. 



about seventeen years ago ; his parent plants being Rugosa, Bicolor, 

 and Arachnoides ; that by fertilising these indiscriminately, he obtained 

 various shades of colour, some of which were figured in Harrison's 

 Floricultural Cabinet and Marnock's Magazine, and therein noticed 

 as pleasing varieties. In 1834 the strain appeared much improved, 

 and he was successful in raising some very good varieties (at least 

 what were then considered so), amongst which was a crimson-scarlet 

 self; a nice shrubby sort, which was named Majoriana, and which 

 was figured in the Cabinet for April 1835. This variety was much 

 admired at the time, and found its way into all parts of the country, 

 and was generally cultivated for some time. After this, with the 

 assistance of a small herbaceous spotted variety (the name of which 

 Mr. Major had forgot), his varieties became numerous ; selfs of 

 many shades, clouded and spotted varieties, amongst which was a 

 small white self, whence originated the beautiful light- ground varie- 

 ties which have since been so much cultivated and admired. All 

 this while (although improvement in shape was not lost sight of), 

 Mr. Major preferred and studied to procure variety and richness of 

 colour, beautiful markings, and size ; features which are remark- 

 ably striking in his flowers of the present day. Added to this, 

 Messrs. Major's varieties possess that substance of petal rarely to 

 be met with ; and such flowers retain their character much better 

 than those which are of a thin and flimsy character. 



The following are some of Messrs. Major's best seedhngs of the 

 present season : 



Surprise. A fine rich yellow-ground flower, with large deep 

 mahogany spots and markings ; and of extra substance. Tolerable 

 shape, but rather indented in front : a beautiful flower. 



Captivation. A large flower, of good shape and substance ; straw 

 ground, strongly marked in the centre with shaded mulberry. 



Resplendens. A large and attractive flower ; clean bright buff 

 ground densely marked in centre with large blotches of very rich 

 crimson-maroon. 



Enchantress. A nice flower, prettily marked with rosy-purple 

 on primrose ground ; too thin. 



Pearl. A little compact flower; creamy white ground, with 

 blotches of shaded claret in the centre, leaving a clear margin of the 

 ground-colour visible ; good shape. 



Criterion. A very excellent flower ; yellow ground, richly marked 

 with dashes of deep crimson-maroon in centre, and spots round the 

 margin. 



Spotted Charger. A very large and attractive flower ; white 

 ground, handsomely marked with singular large and small spots all 

 over the surface of shaded crimson. 



Unique, Novelty, and several other seedlings, are fine flowers ; 

 but the above I considered the most attractive, and generally of good 

 habit. 



Messrs. Major, I was glad to learn, are trying to secure some 

 good self-coloured varieties ; a class of flowers much wanted in col- 

 lections, and which has lately been sadly neglected. 



