DOTTBLE T)AIfir. 150 



best, they ave but apologies i'or daisies, as eompared with 

 the rich and perfect bloom that may be seen in many a 

 well-managed jjreezy country garden. 



The variety figured for the present purpose is known in 

 gardens as Hob Boi/. It originated in the north, and fairly 

 represents the class of double daisies that are now in favour 

 as hardy bedding and border plants. There are at least a 

 score of varieties differing in colour, and the equal of Rolj 

 Roy in cjuality. It may be well to na.me tiiioinfliike, white ; 

 Eli:a, purple ; Cruivii , mottled ; Rubens, red ; and Con- 

 spicua, rose, as constituting a pretty and useful collec- 

 tion for planting a group of beds or to dot the common 

 border with lively flowers. There are some curious daisies 

 worthy of attention, such as the " hen and chickens," 

 in which a full-sized flower is surrounded by a number 

 of smaller ones. This was known to the old florists as 

 " Jackanapes on horseback." But more useful than this 

 is the aucuba-Ieaved variety, catalogued as Anctibrrfolia, 

 the leaves of which arc richly blotched and veined \\\i\\ 

 yellow on a ground of lively green, and the flowers rich 

 deep red or pure white. This needs pure air and a sandy 

 soil to keep its place in the garden, and where it thrives 

 it increases rapidly, and is exquisitely beautiful. 



Th(! Continental florists have given more attention to 

 the daisy thau any of our compatriots. The late Louis 

 Van Houtte, ot Ghent, was particularly pai-tial to the flower, 

 and encoxu'aged the production of new varieties, his cata- 

 logue, several years since, enumerating over twenty sorts. 

 Many of these have become estalilished in the English 

 nurseries, and are obtainalile at prices so low that a 

 country gardeir may be made glorimrs with daisies for a. 

 very trifling outlay-. To«'n florists who have a fancy for 



