Notes and Gleanings. 117 



A CORRESPONDENT tlius writes to " The Florist " on the hyacinths of 1868 : 

 The new varieties of hyacinths have been plentifully shown during the present 

 season ; though, as in the case of other flowers, the new introductions are not 

 always improvements on existing kinds. The best our exhibiters can do is 

 to obtain the very best flowers possible ; and though, as an invariable rule, the 

 class for new kinds does not furnish such fine flowers as those for older varie- 

 ties, it is, nevertheless, one of considerable interest for the florist. 



I propose to group the new flowers according to the shade of color, in order 

 to give as clearly as possible some idea of their relative value. The best flower 

 of the year is a yellow, called King of Yellows (W. Paul) ; perhaps, in point of 

 color, the best single yellow hyacinth in cultivation, and having well-shaped bells 

 of a deep citron hue. The spike is close and good, and the habit excellent. 

 Awarded a first-class certificate. Ltina (Cutbush) is also a single yellow in the 

 way of Ida, but slightly darker, the bells stouter, and more rounded. VOr 

 d'' Australie is a slightly deeper form of Ida ; the spike, however, neither so fine 

 nor so symmetrical. 



Pi-ince Albert (Cutbush) is a fine addition to the double blue class. It is 

 something in the way of that good old flower Laurens Coster as to build, but 

 has the fine dark glossy hue of the single General Havelock : the color is a deep 

 glossy dark purple, and the flower is quite distinct in character. Von Siebold 

 (Cutbush) is a pale form of that fine single variety. King of the Blues, but, being 

 whiter in the centre, has a more lively appearance. Vulcan (Cutbush) is a single 

 variety of a glossy black shade, like Prince Albert, but no better. U Espirafice 

 CW. Paul) also resembles King of the Blues, but is paler, and has more white 

 in the centre, and yet differs from Von Siebold just noticed. Clio (W. Paul) 

 is a very pleasing single blue variety in the way of Lord Palmerston, with more 

 color in the tube, though with less in the segments, and having a whiter centre ; 

 the bells are stouter, and of a better shape, but the spike, as shown, was small 

 and ill shapen : awarded a first-class certificate. Lord Derby \^ a darker form 

 of Lord Palmerston, but not so good as Clio. Ajnasoti is much in the way of 

 Marie, but with a paler centre, and not so good. 



The light-blue flowers are very plentiful, and consist, in the main, of pale- 

 colored flowers in the way of Princess Mary of Cambridge. Of these, first-class 

 certificates were awarded to Grand Monarqiie and Couronne des Bleues, both 

 from Mr. Paul. The former has the exterior of the segments stained with pale 

 violet instead of azure blue, as in the case of Grand Lilas. Couronne des Bleues 

 is a pale form of the last named, the shape of the bells and build of the spike 

 being ihe same : the bells are large, well formed, but not plentiful ; and the foli- 

 age is so tall and rank as to almost entirely obscure the spike. Byron (\V. Paul) 

 is another pale flower, rather darker than the two just described, the bells not 

 quite so massive in appearance, nor the segments so broad. La Grande Ressem- 

 blance (W. Paul) is another, perhaps best described as an improved La Grande 

 Vedette, the bells finer, and the spike larger, and better set. Marge is another 

 of the same type, but a fine and striking flower, with pale grayish azure-blue 

 bells, large, stout, and well formed, making a handsome and commanding spike. 

 W. E. Gladstone may be best described as a pale form of Charles Dickens, but 



