230 



THE FLORIST. 



was so respected and true a follower. H. Ward departed this life 

 at the early age of forty-five, but had been for years considered an 

 old florist ; he was truly so, and, as ourselves and others can testify, 

 few growers excelled him in the getting up of a collection of 24 Car- 

 nations or Picotees, the former in particular ; and, as if to maintain 

 the familiarity of " old" his friends had attached to his name, he made 

 his stronghold that of producing old varieties in such extraordinary 

 perfection, that occasionally but few could be recognised. His stand 

 of 24 Carnations shown some few years since at Chiswick, beating 

 both his neighbour Mr. Norman and Mr. Turner, then of Chalvey, 

 is so vivid in our mind, that we venture to affirm a better has never 

 since been produced. Within a few days of his death the flowers of 

 his growth were staged at the Stamford Hill Exhibition, the Carna- 

 tions receiving the highest award, while that of second place was 

 assigned to the Picotees (ourselves being first). Even closely follow- 

 ing his interment, which took place in Woolwich churchyard, was 

 his growth victorious in competition at the last Royal South- Lon- 

 don July show. 



As a raiser of seedlings, his name will doubtless be long remem- 

 bered, associated with Sarah Payne, a first class P.P. B., nor is his 

 Fireball, S. F., without merit. 



In occupation, the subject of this notice had been for twenty 

 years in the Government Arsenal at Woolwich, in the harness- 

 making department ; whether in that capacity or as a florist, Harry 

 Ward merited and received the kind word and friendship of all. By 

 his loss is formed a void 'twill be difficult to fill. 



J. E. 



MEMORANDA FROM KEW. 



Where Begonias are cultivated, B. xanthina will be found a very 

 valuable acquisition. It is one of the most interesting of the whole 

 genus. It has a dwarf, close habit, with good moderate-sized rugose 

 leaves, of a darkish green, tinged with bronze on the upper surface, 

 and purplish-red beneath, and it has rather close cymes of yellow 

 flowers. It grows from about nine inches to a foot high, and asso- 

 ciates well with Umbilica, Rubro venia, Thwaitesi, Albo coccinea, 

 and a few other dwarf-growing kinds. It is at present in flower here 

 in one of the small stoves. B. Martiana is likewise a species that 

 merits cultivation. It is a greenhouse or frame species ; flowers very 

 copiously throughout the latter part of summer and in autumn. 

 Several plants of it here are now in great perfection. It grows about 

 two feet high. The flowers are of a rose-colour, very showy, and 

 many of them are three inches in diameter. 



The Lapageria rosea continues to thrive well here in a north cool 

 house. It is planted out and trained against the back wall, where it 

 is now making vigorous growth. Although but a smallish specimen, 

 it has about a dozen flowers upon it. This is decidedly the best of 



