300 THE FLORIST. 



to existing varieties. Messrs. Dobson and Son sent a dwarf white Phlox 

 called Omniflora compacta, to which a Certificate of Merit was awarded ; 

 and blooms of a seedling light- coloured Verbena, called Fragrans, in 

 which we could perceive no other merit than its fragrance. Mr. John 

 Cole, of St. Alban's, exhibited cut blooms of his very pretty pure white 

 bedding Calceolaria, Purity, a variety that should be extensively gro\vn 

 for bedding purposes. We had nearly omitted to state that ]\Ir. Raw- 

 lings also exhibited his seedling DahUas, Dr. Reid, dark purple, and 

 Mr. Critchett, deep scarlet. 



We cannot refrain from obser\4ng how admirably the National 

 Society has worked out the object its promoters had in view, inasmuch 

 as it has now become the principal ordeal for seedling florists' flowers, 

 and is supported by the presence, as well as purse, of many of our 

 leading florists, both amateur and professional. 



September 21. — G. Holmes, Esq., in the Chair ; Censors, Messrs. 

 Parsons, Lidgard, Cook, Robinson, Hamp, W. Holmes, and Bragg. 

 Dahlias formed the principal subject, and were exhibited in considerable 

 numbers, and included some very fine flowers. The Rev. C. Fellowes, 

 of Shottisham Rectory, near Norwich, sent eight varieties — Cossack, a 

 brilliant carmine, full size, with close, well-formed centre ; the Nigger, 

 which is ^rhaps the darkest flower grown, being nearly black, and 

 smaller in the petal than the old favourite, "Essex Triumph." Three 

 blooms of each of the above two varieties were shown, and both had 

 Certificates awarded them. Mr. Fellowes also sent twelve blooms of 

 his Pre-eminent, a large deep purple, which appears to be another 

 Mr. Seldon for constancy ; each bloom had a close perfect centre, but 

 it w^as not othermse in such good condition as it was exhibited at 

 Salisbury, Brighton, and Norwich, at each of which places it appeared 

 to be the favourite. The judges, however, considered it to be a very 

 superior flower, but not in proper condition on the present occasion. 

 The other five were — Tasso, dark shaded puce, rather small, but fine 

 petal and form ; Portrait, a Hght orange scarlet ; Harbinger, an 

 improved Shylock, a very deep flower ; Agincourt, bright purple, a 

 very promising flower, with good petal and size ; and Glenlyon and 

 General Washington : the two latter were not good. Mr. C. J. Perry, 

 of Birmingham, was awarded a first class Certificate for his seedhng 

 fancy DahHa, Baron Alderson, orange, tipped \vith white ; this was not 

 so fine as when sho^Mi at Brighton, yet had the same close high centre ; 

 three blooms of it were shown. Mr. J. S. Prockter, of Bermondsey, 

 sent three varieties, — Fanny Russell, Empress, and Miss Russell. The 

 first named is a pretty fancy flower, of good shape and medium 

 size, salmon buff, tipped with pale flesh colour ; this is a neat, smooth, 

 flower, and had a Certificate awarded to it. Empress is a pretty Hght 

 flov;-er, something hke Annie Salter. Miss Russell, lilac, is all 

 that can be desired in form, but has a loose imperfect centre, 

 the petal standing upright instead of incur\ang. Lollipop, ex- 

 hibited by G. Holmes, Esq., is a large reflexed flower, with 

 a high centre ; the outline is very good, being nearly half a globe, of a 

 curious pinkish buff colour. Three blooms were exhibited, and a 

 Certificate was awarded to it, although a seedhng of 1854. A first 



