BRIEF REMARKS. 173 



Eoyal, Carlo Dolce, Claudinia, Rubens, Victory, General Bournavell, 

 Gloria Mundi. 



Several other stands liad prizes awarded in tliis class. 



The Properties which constitute Perfection in the Pansy, 

 AS recognised for exhibition. — Tlie outline should be quite cir- 

 cular, the petals even on the edges, and quite flat ; tlie face of the flower 

 smootli (viz. free from crumple), otherwise the best-formed variety will 

 have a coarse appearance. In the outline we have many varieties tliat 

 approach very near our standard, the deficiency generally being in the 

 lower side of tlie bottom petal. It must have been observed that 

 every step we have taken towards obtaining a perfectly round Pansy, 

 so much Jess is there seen of the top petals ; this arises from increased 

 size in the side and bottom petals, which, obliterating the deep inden- 

 tations in the outline, have encroached upon the visible portion of the 

 top petals. The side petals, if of good proportions and shape, will 

 meet some distance above the eye ; this will also improve the appear- 

 ance of the belting, whether narrow or broad. The next point to 

 notice is the centre or eye, which may be either solid or radiated, so 

 that the lines do not extend to the margin ; this latter is a material 

 point. Another most desirable feature is, that the ground colour 

 should be entire; wiiether white, lemon, or deep yellow, it should be 

 the same in all the petals : many of tlie yellow-ground colours have a 

 tendency to be of a deeper shade in the bottom petal ; this is a fatal 

 defect. Tiie colours should be distinct, whetlier bright or deep, well- 

 defined, and not joining the ground colour by a watery or indistinct 

 edge. The oblong shape of the face or ground colour, as seen in 

 some varieties, is very objectionable, as it gives the flower a long 

 appearance, although tiie outline may be perfect. Selfs of any shade 

 should be dense and rich, with a bold dark eye, and the more glossy 

 the surface the better. Eichness of surface is of course essential to all 

 of tiiem, as well as substance ; neither should they be deficient in size, 

 to be useful as show-flowers. There are too many of those called Selfs 

 which really do not belong to that class ; neither can they well be 

 classed with the yellow or white ground flowers. The yellow or white 

 being indistinctly mottled with the dark colour about the eye is most 

 objectionable. — C. Turner. 



A Country Gardener's Jottings on the Chiswick Fete. — 

 Sucli a May day as Saturday was, even Old Herrick himself would 

 liave rejoiced at, and doubtless could the old lover of out-door amuse- 

 ments have revisited the earth, a special invitation to his Corinna to 

 go a-Maying would have celebrated the occasion. And Maying it 

 was in earnest, if sunny skies and happy faces, flowers of every hue and 

 clime, and music the most classical, could in their combination consti- 

 tute a May festival. For all these were present. And the glory of 

 an English garden — a lawn of velvety turf, in the highest possible 

 condition, formed no mean adjunct in the combination. But of the 

 flowers staged for competition, wiiat could be said of them more than, 

 as a whole, the superlative of excellence was stamped upon them. To 

 enter into a minute description is not the object of this notice. 'I'liose 

 mIio were present need it not; those who M'ere not fortunate to look 



