17 



Under the directions for raising seedlings, we shall 

 include suggestions for ohtaining superior varieties ; 

 and will ohserve only here, that although many are 

 produced every year, it takes some time before they 

 get abroad. The florist who has been lucky enough 

 to raise a fine flower is seldom inclined to part with 

 any of it till he has been enabled to increase it to ten 

 or a dozen plants, which are generally sold out at one 

 appointed time ; for, unless he can make something 

 by it at the beginning, to remunerate him for his 

 trouble, he will have little chance of doing it after- 

 wards. Some plants throw out offsets freely, and are 

 easily propagated, while others do it very slowly ; so 

 that it often takes four or five years of careful culture 

 to raise even six plants of some kinds. This is the 

 case with Lee's Colonel Taylor and Hedge's Britan- 

 nia ; added to which, plants of Colonel Taylor seldom 

 survive the fifth or sixth year. 



The following are hsts of flowers at present culti- 

 vated, worthy of being in every large collection. 

 Those marked with an asterisk are the best. 



Fainted, Variegated, or Edged, are those most 

 highly prized, and have their colours divided mto 

 three clearly defined bands ; the inner circle or paste 

 round the eye being white, and the tube in the centre 

 yellow ; the middle band or ground colour some shade 

 of violet, or dark purple, and the outer circle or edge 

 either green, grey, or white, 

 r 



