228 FLORICULTURAL GLEANINGS. 



flower, and as if a large drop had been allowed to fall off and run 

 down, when he had got half way round each petal. By those, how- 

 ever, who overlook this, it will be considered a very good heavy-edged 

 variety. 



Talford's Fanny Kemble. 



This is a very excellent Picotee indeed, and to those who consider 

 size a first-rate recommendation, it must be quite a desideratum. 

 The only drawback upon it is the thickness and fullness of its pod, 

 which is almost globular, and is, consequently, very difficult to keep 

 in competing order, being sure to burst out at one side and down to 

 the sub-calyx, even before the pod is quite filled, if the grower does 

 not watch it with uncommon attention, tie it up soon with waxed 

 thread, and divide the calyx regularly about half-way down. This 

 being attended to, it will bloom well, and the magnitude of the full- 

 blown flower well repays the cultivator for the extra trouble required 

 in the management. It is a great pleasure to watch the progress of 

 this flower, after the guard-leaves have turned back, to dress the suc- 

 ceeding petals regularly down into concentric circles as they become 

 ready, and then see the central ones shoot up and form the crown. 

 When this is attained it is worthy of a place on any stage, and I am 

 surprised that it is not found in any of the catalogues of late years. 

 I have had a second pod to-day in full bloom, which measured up- 

 wards of three inches in diameter, and I have just now pulled it in 

 pieces and find that it contains no less than 63 petals. I had no 

 idea of this till I counted them, but it is an absolute fact. This is 

 quite an original way of conveying an idea of the magnitude of a 

 flower, but I think it is a very good one. The ground colour of this 

 flower is an excellent white, and the edging neat and of a lightish 

 purple. It is well worthy of a place in the beds of all those com- 

 petitors who will bestow the extra attention upon it which it unques- 

 tionably requires. 



Tyso's Aspasia. 



This is another very excellent heavy-edged red Picotee. It pos- 

 sesses a very good white ground, and the edging is of rather a lighter 

 rod than fVillmcr's Alcides. It is also a much more delicate-looking 

 flower, from its not being near so much blotched down the centre of 

 the petals, these markings, where they do occur, being made up 



