ON THE POLYANTHUS. 155 



coration to the pips of Lord Crewe, Fletcher's Defiance, and others, is 

 also wanting in this variety, the mouth of the tube being quite plain 

 and flattened with the eye. These are all the faults I can see in 

 Pearson's Alexander. I cannot agree with Alexander of Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne, when he says that " the yellow colour is in a very prepon- 

 derating disproportion to the other parts of the corolla," for I really 

 think the colours arc as well distributed as in any other variety that I 

 have seen, and therefore I shall still cultivate Pearson with pleasure ; 

 and on looking at it I feel quite disposed to parody Byron, and ex- 

 claim 



'< Pearson, with all thy faults, I love thee still." 



Collier's Princess Royal. 

 This is another excellent variety, the eye being of a beautiful stain- 

 less yellow, the ground colour heavy, and of a very dark colour, the 

 1 ace pretty heavy and very regular, and the tube neatly elevated above 

 the level of the eye. It seems a very good trusser, the pips very large 

 and flat, and is a very desirable variety. 



Buck's George the Fourth. 

 This is another good variety, possessing a fine yellow eye, with the 

 ground colour of a fine rich crimson. The lacing is very regular, 

 and the pips uncommonly circular and well flattened. It is a good 

 trusser, but it has this defect, that it is difficult to get five pips of a 

 uniform size, the first two or three being generally so much larger 

 than the succeeding ones ; notwithstanding which objection it is a 

 very desirable flower, and no collection should be without it. 



Clegg's Prince of Orange. 

 This is another correct and neat Polyanthus, the eye being a very 

 fine yellow, the tube neatly elevated, the ground colour very dark, the 

 lacing regular, and the pips very circular, and apparently all in bloom 

 together, which is a great recommendation to the florist. It is indeed 

 a very desirable variety. 



Buckley's Captain Starkie. 

 This is a very beautiful variety. The eye is a most beautiful yellow, 

 the tube neatly elevated, the ground colour very dark at first, but 

 turns red, like many other varieties, by exposure or age, and the 

 lacing very regular and correct ; but the indentations between the seg- 

 ments are very deep, thus giving the corolla a very angular appear- 



