220 NOVEMBER 



ordinary attention they make handsome flowers 

 as well as good ornamental plants, and they never 

 seem subject to the chances and changes which 

 affect newer kinds. Madame Carnot is another 

 excellent one. It never, to be sure, does its best 

 except in the hands of the expert, but its second 

 best is so consoling that no one need fear to grow 

 it. Other good sorts are G. J. Warren and Mrs. 

 Mease, sports from Madame Carnot ; R. H. Pear- 

 son, Phoebus, Golden Gate, and a kind little known 

 called Silver Cloud. It is not a monster bloom, 

 and has consequently dropped out of most of the 

 catalogues, but it should be grown for its warm 

 coppery cream colour, which is like no other that 

 I know. Another good variety, though hardly up 

 to exhibition form, is Monsieur Gruyer, which is 

 invaluable for late cutting. Plants of it kept out 

 in the open all through the autumn until the flowers 

 show colour, and then sheltered in a cold shed 

 at night only, will last on until nearly the end of 

 January. The stiff, firm petals make it an excellent 

 variety for keeping back, and I know none more 

 satisfactory for this purpose. 



I do not care to grow the big plate-like blossoms 

 which many growers aim at. My object is to have 

 flowers for cutting, and although we disbud freely, 

 we are never left with fewer than nine blooms on a 

 plant. Large flowers are suitable for shows, but 

 for no other purpose ; and the amateur who is 

 content with a diameter of six or seven inches 

 is wise. 



Violets are very plentiful just now, especially the 

 beautiful Princess of Wales and the double Marie 



