ON THE POLYANTHUS. 159 



fifteen or twenty pips to be shown, and these, forming quite a ball of 

 flowers, have really a handsome and striking appearance. The pips 

 are generally of a good size, with the exception of a few central ones, 

 the mouth of the tube plain, the eye often tinged with orange, the groun d 

 colour dark, and the lace light and beautifully regular. Indeed if 

 this variety had been free from the trifling " foxiness " in the eye, it 

 would not have been surpassed by any variety in existence, the trusses 

 are so large, and the lace so regular. For my part, although she may 

 now be cast into the shade here by the newer varieties with purer eyes> 

 I shall still grow " Bonny Bess" with pleasure for the sake of her 

 victories in the days of " Auld sang syne." 



Hall's Eliza. 



This is an old variety too, but even yet she surprises the florist 

 sometimes by taking her place among the winning flowers. The 

 mouth of the tube is plain, the eye often very good, the ground colour 

 dark brown, and the lacing very correct. Occasionally the eye is a 

 little " foxy," but more generally pure and good. This variety is 

 still well worthy of cultivation. 



Prince of Beadle. 



The Prince of Beadle used to claim his share of prizes in the 

 north, but he is now fairly laid on the shelf. The eye is not good, 

 being often " foxy," the ground a fine brown, the lacing very correct, 

 and the pips slightly cupped. He is not, therefore, able to maintain 

 his ground now. 



Mitchell's Rover's Bride. 



This is one of the many varieties raised by that enterprising florist 

 Captain Mitchell, of Mitford, near Morpeth. It is a beautiful Poly- 

 anthus in every respect but one, and that is the eye, which is often 

 " foxy." The ground is a fine dark brown, and the lace bold and 

 broad, giving the flower a very showy appearance, but the defect 

 abovementioned will no doubt always keep it in the back ground. 



Mitchell's Lord Nelson. 



This is another of Mitchell's seedlings, and took the premier prize 

 at the first exhibition of the Felton Society this spring. Part of this 

 success may have been owing to very superior cultivation, but it may be 



