256 fiRIEP REMARKS. 



have a miniature flower garden ? Herecould the effect of combination 

 and contrast of colour be carried out, affording information of the most 

 interesting kind ; and here could I, or any otlier invalid, secure from 

 draughts and damp, tend these beautiful offsprings of Nature, and 

 though debarred from the enjoyments which many others have, here we 

 could, in thankfulness, look from Nature up to Nature's God. How 

 beautiful would be masses of Russian Violets, the lower sorts of Calceo- 

 larias, Campanulas, Mimuluses, and every other plant that is used for 

 bedding. Then I would have wires stretch over-head, on which might 

 hang in festoons the Maurandya, Calempelis, Passiflora, &c. I would 

 have no single plants, except the climbers ; and the others should be so 

 planted as to fill their respective pans or beds. Now, do you not think 

 my plan possible ? and would it not be very beautiful ? /. F., Man- 

 chester. — [We like the idea much, and if well carried out it would 

 indeed be beautiful. — Midland Florist.'] 



To Prevent Carnations Bursting. — Take a broad bean from 

 its pod, cut off both ends, and cut the remainder into two or three 

 slices, according to the size. Push out the green part from one slice, 

 and you have remaining a compressed ring of skin. Slip this over a 

 bud of a carnation, and let it hang on the lower part of it ; by the next 

 day it will have collapsed into a tight and scarcely visible bandage. 



Superb Carnations and Picotees. — In our last mouth's Number 

 we inserted a list of these flowers which were in the greatest number 

 of the \\'inning stands, exhibited at the great shows of southern and 

 northern flowers. We remarked too that other superb varieties were 

 shown, but being quite new they had not had time to be extensively 

 grown, some very limited indeed, and wliich accounted for their posi- 

 tion in the stands on those occasions. These observations apply 

 especially to the following very fine varieties : — 



Carnations. — Princess, Taylor's, pink bizarre, fine form ; Howard, 

 Puxley's, scarlet bizarre ; Prince of Wales, Puxley's, purple flake, 

 very excellent ; Bardolph, May's, vivid scarlet bizarre ; Sarah Payne, 

 pink bizarre, fine ; Falconbridge, May's, pink bizarre, excellent ; 

 Duncan, May's, crimson bizarre, very fine ; Paxley's Jenny Lind, 

 crimson bizarre, first rate ; Gladiator, Slater's, crimson bizarre, first 

 rate ; Squire Trow, purple flake, excellent ; Lord Lewisham, scarlet 

 bizarre, very superb. 



Picotees. — Pic Nic, heavy-edged red, fine form ; Prince of Wales, 

 Marris's, heavy red, superb; Mary, Dod well's, light edged red, very 

 fine; Alfred, Dod well's, heavy purple, very superb ; Duke of Rutland, 

 Hollyoake's, medium edged purple, very excellent ; Miss Rosa, rosy- 

 salmon edged, very neat ; Ophelia, May's, light purple, fine form. 



All the above varieties are fit for any select collection, and may be 

 depended upon as suitable for exhibiting. To which may be added 

 the first two given varieties of each class of flowers we gave last month. 

 We must, however, add that there are some varieties of most excellent 

 character, which were not shown on those occasions. Seedlings now 

 coming out for the first time, as well as some of former years, which 

 are of equal merit, and essential in forming a first-rate collection of the 

 very best kinds. 



