ON THE TOLYANTHUS. 15*7 



this season, and a truss of five full blown pips now stands before me. 

 The eye and markings are somewhat similar to those of Pearson's 

 Alexander, already described, the lacing much about the same, and 

 the divisions in the corolla rather deep. I think the pips are slightly 

 cupped, but yet it is a beautiful and distinct addition to our collections, 

 and does great credit to the fortunate raiser. This variety was raised 

 from seed gathered from Alexander, and was in consequence named 

 after the favourite warhorse of that mighty monarch. 



Stead's Telegraph. 



This is another very pretty Polyanthus. The eye is a very fine 

 yellow, the ground colour a fine rich darkish scarlet, the lace very 

 regular, and the tube neatly elevated. The truss which I saw consisted 

 of five pips, and was only on a small plant, but they were of a large 

 size and good form. It is a very pretty and desirable variety of the 

 class to which it belongs. 



Lord John Russell. 



Lord John Russell is a very beautiful variety. The eye is of the 

 purest yellow, the ground colour a dark velvet, the lacing extremely 

 regular and neat, but the pips are only small compared with many of 

 the foregoing varieties. This may have been owing to the mode of 

 cultivation perhaps ; but having seen it so for the last two seasons, I 

 am inclined to think that they will never be very large. It is, how- 

 ever, a beautiful variety, and ought to be in every collection. 



Eckersley's Black and Gold. 



This is another very excellent variety. The tube is neatly elevated, 

 the eye is a very fine yellow, although it comes occasionally tinged 

 with orange, or " foxy," as the florists term it, the ground colour a 

 fine dark velvet, almost black, and the lacing very correct and neat. 

 It is a good trusser, and well worthy of cultivation by the competing 

 florist. I do not find it in any of the south country catalogues, but it 

 is plentiful here, and I think should be in every collection. 

 Maude's Beauty of England. 



This is another very beautiful Polyanthus, but it seems to me so 

 similar to Pearson's Alexander, that it would require very critical 

 judges to distinguish the difference. I have placed them side by side, 

 and must say that the same description will apply to both ; but I 

 think the tube of Maude's Beauty is a little elevated, and the truss, 



