209 



A PEW SELECT BEDDERS. 



OLDEN Feather Fyrethrum. — In common with many 

 other cultivators, I had my doubts about the suitable- 

 ness of this plant for bedding displays, and so I said 

 nothing about it till experience should teach me what 

 to say. Early in April last I planted out a few nice 

 tufts, and at the same time I cut up some others for increase of 

 stock. Those first planted had to bear with dreadful weather, but 

 were unhurt by frost and rain, and their appearance now is most 

 beautiful ; the growth being exceedingly neat, and the colour of the 

 leaves nearly a pure orange yellow. There is, of course, a tinge of 

 green in the young growth, but it does not affect the unity of tone 

 of a ribbon line or mass of the plant. Those cut up for increase 

 made roots quickly, and behaved so well, that I should regard this 

 pyrethrum as one of the best of plants for amateurs, and a good 

 substitute, in many cases, for Cloth of Gold, or any other golden- 

 leaved geranium. 



Goldfinch Geranium. — This was brought out by Messrs. James 

 Carter and Co., two years ago, but did not attract much attention. 

 It is not very promising in appearance as a pot plant, having 

 greenish-yellow leaves, and a rather ill-defined, broad, cinnamon- 

 coloured zone. It has been fairly tried this year at Stoke Newing- 

 ton, and proves to be a brilliant bedder of the very best constitution, 

 and amongst the best of the yellow-leaved class. Mrs. Pollock, planted 

 near it, is quite eclipsed by the splendour of Groldfinch ; and this 

 last we consider established as a good companion to Luna, these two 

 being the best at present amongst varieties well proved of the 

 yellow-margined and brown-zoned series. 



Ivy-leaved Geranium L' Elegante. — This variety, lately intro- 

 duced to cultivation by Mr. Cunningham, of The Eorge, Burton-on- 

 Trent, is a perfect companion to the lovely golden-edged ivy-leaved 

 variety, in praise of which we have often spoken. L'Elegante has a 

 neat creamy margin, or a bright red margin, it being in the com- 

 mand of the cultivator to produce either colour at will. "When 

 grown in a good light, but in some degree screened from the sun- 

 shine, the variegation is creamy ; but when exposed to the fullest 

 glare of the sun, the red tint appears. 



Geranium Brilliantissima is an advance upon the old "Brilliant" 

 in respect of intensity of scarlet colour and abundance of flowers. 

 Those who know Brilliant well will be inclined to doubt if in respect 

 of colour it can be beaten, but it is a fact that Brilliantissima does 

 beat it ; and to say more in praise of this variety would be " waste- 

 ful and ridiculous excess." 



TropcBolum Advancer. — We received this from Mr. J. J. Chater, 

 Gonville Nurseries, Saffron Walden. It is of dwarf, compact habit, 

 has small, rather yellowish-green leaves, small, very neatly-formed 

 flowers of the brightest orange scarlet. The flowers are produced 

 in such profusion, that Advancer must have first rank as a bedder ; 



VOL. II. — NO. Til. 14 



