THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. Ill 
and the estimation in which they are held by those who devote 
special attention to the decoration of the flower-garden with spring 
flowers is sufficiently exemplified in the gardens of Belvoir, Clevedon, 
and those of other well-known establishments. 
There are now in cultivation several distinct types of double 
daisies, and all of them possess some degree of merit, although of 
course some are of greater service for massing than others. There 
are the Crown Daisy, the Hen and Chicken Daisy, the Quilled Daisy, 
and one or two others, and of each of the forms there are several 
colours. The Crown Daisy has the largest flowers of all, and a 
vigorous, spreading habit, but unfortunately it is late in coming 
into bloom ; for although it produces a fair sprinkling of flowers in 
April, it is not until May that it is at its best. Of this form several 
very beautiful varieties have been introduced, under the designation 
of Victoria Daisies, by Mr. Knight, of Battle; and for the formation 
of clumps along the front of borders, from which there will be no. 
necessity to remove them until they have done flowering, they can 
have the heartiest recommendation. 
The highest coloured of the several crimson or red daisies, which 
is known in the trade catalogues as Bellis perennis rubra, has very 
small flowers, and is not so effective, en masse, as one or two others 
of a lighter shade. The variety known in the trade simply as the 
Double Red is the best of all the red varieties, for the flowers are 
of a large size, and perfectly double, and the colour is sufficiently 
deep to produce a very rich effect. The Double Pink variety is not, 
strictly speaking, double ; but it is so wonderfully free, that solid 
masses of the most delicate pink flowers are formed, and the effect 
is so good, that we can well afford to overlook the fact of the 
flowers not being perfectly double. 
The Double White also has a tendency to show a yeilow centre, 
especially when the plants are partly exhausted in the production 
of flowers ; but this is not, practically speaking, worthy of a moment’s 
consideration, for when in the beds and sheeted with bloom, the 
centre of the individual flower is not discernible. It is, perhaps, 
the very best of the white spring flowering plants, and is admirably 
adapted for forming a marginal band to beds filled with blue pansies 
and violets, as well as for beds of the dark daisies. The spotted- 
leaved daisy, known in the catalogues as Bellis perennis aucubefolia, 
is very attractive, and on light, friable soils, it makes an excellent 
golden edging plant for small beds; but on heavy soils it suffers 
more or less, and loses its foliage, from which it may be inferred 
that it is not so hardy as the green-leaved types. 
Double daisies ripen seed, and from the seed a few plants 
bearing double flowers may be expected, but the proportion will be 
so small, that unless, as is most unlikely, one or two are considerably 
in advance of others already in cultivation, those who value their 
time and the space at their disposal for the cultivation of flowers 
will certain!y consider the results anything but satisfactory. If the 
raising of seedlings is resorted to, the best seed obtainable should 
be procured early in the summer, and at once sown on a nicely pre- 
pared bed of soil occupying a shady situation. The bed must be 
April. : 
