SEPTEMBER. 197 



A light rose, placed first in the class, also shewn by Mr. Dodwell, is 

 too thin ; a few more petals would make it extremely desirable. In 

 Carnations the novelties were still fewer. Bayley's Rubens, C.B., 

 and Rembrandt, S.B., are flowers of capital substance and fine co- 

 lours ; a little more refinement in Rembrandt would enable it to dis- 

 pute the palm with Admiral Curzon. Dod well's Rachel, P.F., is a 

 very lively, cheerful variety, much resembling Premier in its colour, 

 and a very desirable addition to the class. Two or three other seed- 

 lings there were, but they were either out of condition or secondary 

 to old varieties. A fine batch of Picotees from Mr. Headley were 

 closed up and past criticism; but from their remains, I feel justified 

 in applving the epithet " fine" to them, and confidently expect some 

 superb additions to the heavy reds. 



Of the varieties sent out last autumn, Haidee (light purple Pi- 

 cotee) was exquisite, undoubtedly the queen of the class, and well 

 deserved the premier prize awarded to it. The specimens of Brides- 

 maid (also light purple), seemed to want more growth. Victoria 

 Regina (heavy rose) was in fine condition ; and the same may be said 

 of Countess (heavy purple): both capital additions to their respective 

 classes. Poor Tom (May) is a noble rose-flake, full, finely crowned, 

 and with plenty of colour. Schofield's Magnificent, in the same 

 class, is also a fine flower. Falconbridge, P.B., was shewn in splen- 

 did style in Mr. Bayley's stand, and is a superb sort, full of colour, 

 as a north-countryman likes. 



Of the older varieties there were fine specimens of Lord Ran- 

 cliffe and Lord Lewisham, S.B.'s; Lord Milton, Jenny Lind, Owen 

 Glendower, and General Monk, C.B.'s ; Sarah Payne, P.B. ; Premier, 

 Beauty of Woodhouse, and Squire Meynell, P.F.'s; Africana, Fire- 

 brand, Queen Victoria, and Justice Shallow, S.F.'s ; Lovely Ann, Lo^ 

 renzo, Ariel, and Flora's Garland, R.F.'s; and in Picotees, Mrs. Nor- 

 man and Prince of Wales (heavy reds); Gem (light red); Alfred, 

 Lord Nelson, Lady Harriet Moore, Prince Arthur, and King of 

 Purples (heavy purples) ; Ophelia (light purple) ; Mrs. Barnard (light 

 rose) ; and Venus, Princess Royal, Grace Darling, Green's Queen, 

 and Miss Rosa (heavy rose). 



Admiral Curzon was not shewn in its usual fine condition ; the 

 blooms in the stands from Derby, where it is usually so fine, and 

 where I subsequently saw it finer than I had ever before known 

 it, being insufficiently expanded. The specimen of Lord Rancliffe, 

 to which the premier prize was deservedly awarded, was a splendid 

 bloom ; but, as if to shew the inconstancy of this variety, a second 

 bloom in the tame stand was rougher and more wanting in refine- 

 ment than any other scarlet bizarre I noticed on the stage. 



At the close of the day a large and influential party dined toge- 

 ther at the Sand- Hill hotel, and worthily brought to an end a day of 

 exceeding enjoyment by an evening of great harmony and goud fel- 

 lowship. Let us hope that kindness so happily expressed and reci- 

 procated may live through all future years, and until Florists and 

 aggregate meetings shall be alike unknown. Of individual efforts I 

 feel it would be invidious to make any special^ mention ; but one 



