1869.] ADIANTUM CONCINNUM LATUM. 109 



partially hidden, as in the case of some others ; it is also a free and continuous 

 bloomer. 



Coming now to those of dwarf close habit, I place at the head of them one 

 known as Tropaeolum compactum coccineum, one which for general purposes can 

 hardly be surpassed. I saw this growing at Chester in July last, and since in 

 other parts of the country, and I have no hesitation in placing it in the front 

 rank as a bedder. The habit, while free, is very compact, and the flowers really 

 borne above the foliage. One called Advancer comes very near to this, and I think 

 is scarcely distinct from it. T. compactum luteum improved, is similar in habit, 

 but the flowers are yellow, with crimson blotches, and it forms a good contrast to 

 the foregoing. Both of these appear to come from a cross between the Lobbianum 

 and Tom Thumb sections. Of similar parentage is the Moor, another of the com- 

 pactum strain, with glossy, dark crimson flowers. It is almost too dark for beds, 

 but may be made of service in ribbon borders. 



Of the Tom Thumb section, a very large-flowered but useful variety is much 

 used at the Promenade Gardens, Great Malvern. It is a marked advance upon 

 the Scarlet Tom Thumb, and has more of orange in the colour. King of Tom 

 Thumbs, with brilliant dark crimson flowers, is a most useful decorative kind ; 

 so is Tom Thumb coeruleum roseum, the flowers of which have a lively dash of 

 blue, and in ordinary summer weather it is highly attractive. The fact that the 

 two last-named did each receive a first-class certificate at the hands of the Floral 

 Committee last year, when bedded out at Chiswick, may be taken as safely indi- 

 cating that they, too, are really useful decorative kinds. They have, neverthe- 

 less, the one great fault of the whole of the Tom Thumb section, that they are 

 partial rather than continuous bloomers ; and it is necessary, when they are 

 depended on for a season's service in the flower garden, to make two successional 

 plantings in order to secure a prolongation of bloom. Quo. 



ADIANTUM CONCINNUM LATUM. 



JJILfrTj have latterly had some very choice additions to the family of Maiden - 



MSOl./ hair ferns, thanks to the discoveries of the Messrs. Veitch and Sons' 



<Z£>J collectors. One of these novelties is closely related to A. continuum. 



*(£$* having the pinnules of the same character, both as regards form and 



position ; but the frond is much broader, and hence the variety has been named 



A. continnum latum. Its points of difference, besides the greater comparative 



breadth just alluded to, are, the stouter rachides, and stiff er growth of the fronds. 



peculiarities which are very well shown in the figure which we print on the 



following page, and which we owe to the courtesy of the Messrs. Veitch. It was 



introduced from Muna in Peru by the late Mr. Peai-ce, and requires a cool stove. 



It is a fine plant both for exhibition and decoration, and has gained, as it 



deserved, the highest honours at our floral competitive exhibitions. M. 



