HORTUS VEITCHII 



distinct shades of colour, magenta-rose, pink, light-red, mauve, pale violet, blue, 

 all have crimson streaks on the lower segments. 



In 1894, Virgil, a white variety of Veitchs' Original Hybrids with a deep blotch 

 on the lower lip, was crossed with Streptocarpus Wendlandii, and from this cross 

 originated the seedling Sylph ; flowers of a soft light mauve, with two violet 

 maroon bands in the throat, and a narrow line of the same colour between. 



The charming variety Mrs. Heal had a similar origin, but in this case a magenta- 

 rose shade was crossed with Streptocarpus Wendlandii. The flowers are 1^ in. 

 in diameter, the tube broad, bluish-red above, whitish beneath ; the limb violet- 

 blue shaded with purple ; the throat yellow with maroon spots on the basal half, 

 and two to three maroon streaks and blotches on each side. 



The pulchellus strain from a white-flowered variety of Veitchs' Original Hybrids 

 crossed with the pollen of Streptocarpus Fanninii, an Australian species, has 

 flowers of various shades of blue, from violet to almost white, all with a narrow 

 blotch at the base of the lowermost segment of the limb. 



A selection now much cultivated, and very popular, is one known as achimeni- 

 florus, from the resemblance the flowers bear to those of an Achimenes, obtained 

 by crossing a form of Veitchs' Original Hybrids, with white flowers and a purple 

 blotch in the throat, with Streptocarpus polyantha, the latter the seed-bearer. 

 The flowers of a light mauve tinted blue, in much-branched panicles, have a light 

 canary-yellow and white throat. 



By selecting the finest variety from seedlings of the achimeniflorus strain, and 

 crossing with pollen from a pure white-flowered form of Veitchs' Original 

 Hybrids, two distinct varieties were obtained, to which the names achimeniflorus 

 albus and achimeniflorus giganteus were given, the former pure white and the 

 latter lavender-blue of fine large form. 



The strain known as pallidus was selected from a number of seedlings originated 

 by crossing a white-flowered form of Veitchs' Original Hybrids with a white- 

 flowered form of the achimeniflorus strain. 



The latest variety selected from the achimeniflorus section is the beautiful 

 rose-coloured achimeniflorus roseus, originally produced by crossing achimeniflorus 

 albus with a magenta-flowered variety of Veitchs' Original Hybrids, and for a 

 number of years rigorously selecting the rose-coloured seedlings. 



Only a tithe of the crosses effected are here mentioned, many results worthless 

 from a horticultural standpoint, others showing in no way the influence of the 

 parents were discarded. An attempt to cross the caulescent with the acaules- 

 cent species has also been made, but without success, and the Gloxinia, closely 

 related, has also proved no more amenable. Great improvement has been effected 

 in size, form, and colour by selection, hybridization of late only being resorted to 

 when a break in some desired direction was necessary. 



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