124 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



The first six mentioned are considered the best, and 

 all that are really profitable to grow under glass; they 

 include all the desired colors, and are the best of their 

 respective classes. 



Varieties for General Cultivation. The selec- 

 tion of varieties for general cultivation is an individual 

 matter depending wholly upon the number required and 

 the taste of the one making the selection. As with all 

 other plants, tastes differ, one preferring self-colored 

 flowers, as far as possible; others the more positive and 

 well-defined colors; again, others preferring the neutral 

 tints only. Unfortunately, catalogue descriptions are 

 misleading. Our named varieties in the Gandavensis 

 section being largely of French origin, a corruption of 

 the French language has been used in the description, 

 which, in many cases, does not describe; and in very 

 many instances the same description is given to a great 

 number of varieties that are entirely different in their 

 general characters. For instance, the flowers of Ceres, 

 Shakespeare, or Princess of Wales, would answer the 

 description given to either, although there is a vast dif- 

 ference in the general appearance of the -three flowers. 



If a fine display of good flowers is desired, it is bet- 

 ter to select wisely from the named sorts, and then keep 

 up a stock by growing from the offsets; although it 

 is more expensive at the start, in the end, if the offsets 

 are carefully saved and grown, the expense will be 

 very light compared with that of the more generally 

 grown bedding plants, that must be renewed annually. 

 The following twenty-five varieties, from a list of nearly 

 five hundred, are the best of the Gandavensis section for 

 general cultivation; they fairly represent the class for 

 color, and are all vigorous growers. 



Abricote. Apricot-rose color, with a large, well- 

 formed flower. 



Adanson. Fine rose, with darker rose markings, 

 and white blotch and lines. 



