52 THE FLORIST. 



Of all the exhibitions we attend, metropolitan or provincial, we have 

 no hesitation in giving the palm to this locality; for the best bloomed 

 and most graceful specimens of this flower we have witnessed there. 

 The Dahlia Miss Caroline is also a Birmingham flower, raised by- 

 Mr. G. Brittle from Marchioness of Cornwallis ; it was drawn from 

 blooms forwarded by the raiser to our artist, and is represented 

 faithfully. It is taller than the Marchioness of Cornwallis, and has 

 stronger footstalks. It produces its blooms of a very even size 

 throughout the season, and fills up in the centre as well late as 

 early, being the opposite of Cornwallis in this respect. It will stand 

 good growth, and should be allowed to carry rather more than the 

 average number of blooms when grown strong. This second plate 

 is given in compliment to the large number of Dahlia-growers who 

 patronise our work. Sir J. Franklin, a bufF Dahlia, a drawing of 

 which was made for the purpose, would have occupied the position ; 

 but as that variety has been seen by so many growers, it has given 

 way to Miss Caroline. 



THE CLOTH OF GOLD ROSE. 



Of all the Rose tribe there is none superior in beauty to the Cloth 

 of Gold Rose, either in the glossy brilliancy of the foliage or in the 

 size and symmetry of the flower; and yet how frequently is this charm- 

 ing variety discarded as worthless ! How often do we find it thrust 

 into some out-of-the-way corner and languishing in an ungenial soil ! 

 and on inquiring the reason, are informed that it will never bloom, 

 and that it has been thrown aside to make room for some newer 

 though less deserving favourite. Now there must surely be faults 

 on both sides, as from my own experience of this Rose in the north 

 of England, I have found it to be a very free bloomer when treated 

 with proper care and attention. In June 1850, a friend of mine, in 

 the neighbourhood of Durham, budded this Rose on a common Ayr- 

 shire, which grew against the south wall of his house. During the 

 summer it made a single shoot about 8 feet in length. It was left 

 all the winter without any protection from frost, and on the arrival 

 of spring it was cut down to 3 feet from the bud. It then put out 

 two very strong shoots, which, in the following July, were each 

 crowned with a superb head of blossom. When I saw it there were 

 between thirty and forty blooms in different stages of expansion, 

 forming, with the fine foliage, an appearance truly beautiful. Last 

 summer the bloom was even more abundant, and the plant now 

 covers a large expanse of wall. 



The soil used consisted of well-decomposed cow-dung mixed with 

 an equal amount of the top spit of an old pasture, which had been 

 laid up in a heap for twelve months. 



I have made these few remarks in the hope of inducing any who 

 have relinquished the cultivation of this fine Rose to try it once more, 

 being convinced that, with a south aspect and plenty of wall-room, 



