FOREIGN NOTICES. 



fectly unique ; but there is not sufficient contrast between the sepals and the corolla, -which is 

 not dark enough; but the reflexing is perfect, the points literally curling over and touching the 

 stem. In fact, we are progressing in Fuchsias more than in any other flower. Sedonia, our 

 favorite of two years' ago, has, however, not been put back by anything. It is still like nothing 

 but itself — beautiful and novel in color, graceful in form, abundant in flower; it is capable of 

 being grown into the most elegant specimen, and there is scarcely a flowering plant of any descrip- 

 tion that can vie with it. In Hollyhocks but little has been added to the noble varieties we 

 already possess. Numerous seedlings have been produced, said to be improvements on others, 

 and named accordingly ; but we have not seen the " improvement." There may have been a 

 shade of difference in color, but there have been the broad, flimsy guard petals much too conspicu- 

 ous, the thin watery colors, the loose florets, and other drawbacks on several that have neverthe- 

 less been "certified ;" and people weak enough to attend to certificates will buy. In Pansies the 

 progress is slow if we take the staiads of flowers exhibited as the guide. There is nothing in 

 them more brilliant nor more effective than there was two or three years since ; a few new 

 ones that will be out soon may help a little. Pinks have made a great start, not publicly, but in 

 I'Lisers' hands ; we have seen scores of good varieties in seedling Pink beds equal to anythino- we 

 see exhibited, and in greater variety ; indeed, we think any one of two or three raisers we know 

 could turn out a good dozen. Presently Ave shall see whole batches advertised, and if not too 

 dear they will sell. Pinks have always exhibited to indifferent judges a great sameness, and any 

 new and good variety will be eagerly bought. In Tulips, every year adds something to our stock ; 

 but sameness is the bane of the Tulip. In the country they have some novelties ; but they are 

 of the same character as old ones, different in their faults and beauties, but not striking. One 

 has a shorter cup than this, and another is not so flimsy as that, but the only things really novel, 

 that we have seen, are the seedlings at Mr. Goldham's. These we saw of different ground-colors, 

 and with fine changes in the style. Mr. Slater, too, of Manchester, has some fine seedlings, but 

 they are improvements upon old sorts rather than distinct novelties : very desirable, but not such 

 a move as we want to see. Pelargoniums generally produce annually a score or two of new 

 names, and some of them are pretty, but the difference in general is so little that one might fairly 

 wait till they are out and grown by others, instead of buying all, and finding in the majority 

 scarcely a change from what we have got. A new style altogether is found in Lady Paxton, 

 which is in most respects like the several white flowers with crimson or dark top petals, but the 

 novelty is in this: there are three striking spots on the lower petals; which peculiarity, beside 

 the beauty of it, takes it out of all the classes we have. Xonsueh, and one or two others of the 

 dark sort, hare spots on the lower petals, but there is no white ground variety among all we 

 have seen that has spots, unless we go to the fancy bedding sorts, so that this may be called a move. 

 Mr. DoBsoN has, doubtles?, some novelties among the seedlings raised at Mr. Beck's ; but we have 

 not seen all of them. There will also be the usual batches of sorts too good to throw away, but 

 too bad to be sold at high prices. Dahlias have done something. There will be half a dozen 

 first-class flowers come out, a dozen second-class, and perhaps the usual number of third-class. 

 The second-class flowers being about as good as Societies call first-class — that is to say, flowers 

 that will come respectable mostly, and sometimes excellent, but which are only presumed 

 improvements on old sorts, or, if novel, have some prevailing fault. We have seen two flowers 

 of Keyxes's, of Salisbury, perfect gems, Fanny Keynes and Richard Rawlings. A blush white, 

 called Mrs. Rawlings, very fine ; Champion, aa orange, of Whale's, very noble and good ; Golden 

 Eagle, in the same class, good. But the King of the Yellows is the flower of the season, because 

 it has been often shown and never once shown badly ; it has been first-rate all through, and twice 

 we have seen it faultless. Then we have a curious and not badly-formed flower, called Ariel, 

 white edged ; not abrupt, but the rose color of the ground softens off to a white. Other flowers 

 Avorth notice are, John Keynes, Margaret, Primrose Perfection, Beauty of Slough, Captain Trotter, 

 Earl of Shaftsbury, and Lord Dungannon, all seen good, but with some slight drawback. Prince 

 Alfred, or Arthur, we forget which, has been sho^\% very bright and good ; and Berbury's Kate, 

 which should have come out last year, is, we understand, to come out in May. This was shown 

 last year. In fancy flowers, there is one called Marvel, a carnation strii)e, beating all 

 at present ; Admiration, the brightest of the red and white fancies ; and Sardanaj 



