FLOEISTS' FLOWERS. 



23 



perforates and shows its stigma atove the circle of 

 anthers, this is called a pin eye, from its resembling 

 a pin-head. Such a flower is rejected, however good 

 may be its other properties, though it is often used 

 with advantage as a parent. This is how one who 

 may be said to write with authority, sets forth the 

 characteristics of a perfect flower : " The tube should 

 be round, of a bright yellow colour, well filled with 

 anthers, bold and distinct. The eye should be round, 

 of a bright clear yellow, and distinct from the 

 ground or body colour. This last should be of a 

 dark, rich crimson, resembling velvet, quite free 

 from specks or blemish of any kind. The pips 

 should be large, and of rich or lively colours, and 

 nearly all of one size, and lie quite flat and smooth, 

 <as free as possible from ridges or fluting, and as 

 round as they can be to preserve their peculiarly 

 beautiful figui'c, which is circular, excepting those 

 small indentions between each division of the limbs, 

 which divide it into five or six heart-shaped seg- 

 ments. The edging should resemble a bright gold 

 lace, exactly the same colour as the eye, and go per- 

 fectly round each petal ; also down the centre of 

 each division of the limb to the eye, and the lacing 

 or edging be of all one width." The writer of this 

 omits to mention that the ground or body colour 

 may also be red, a dark velvety red, but perfectly 

 clear and unshaded. Thus florists speak of black- 

 ground and red-ground flowers. 



Some thirty years ago these fine Gold-laced varie- 

 ties were much more numerous than they are now. 

 Those who grew them then subsequently died, and 

 their collections became lost, and for a time there 

 were but few to be found in the country. During 

 the past ten years it has become much more popular, 

 and now collections are grown round London and 

 elsewhere ; and as many persons are now raising 

 seedHngs, we have given above a description of an 

 ideal flower, that they may possess something in the 

 way of a standard by which to appraise the merits of 

 their most promising productions. 



The fine named varieties of Gold-laced Polyan- 

 thuses are generally of somewhat delicate constitu- 

 tion, from the fact that they are severely propagated 

 because so much in demand. They can be increased 

 only by division of the rooted side growths thrown 

 up during spring and summer. It is, therefore, 

 customary to grow them in pots ; and the success of 

 a cultivator depends in great measure upon the con- 

 venience he possesses for growing them, and the care 

 and attention he bestows upon them. The Polyan- 

 thus is grown to the greatest perfection in an airy 

 situation, yet sheltered from the rays of the sun, as 

 any excessive heat has a tendency to impair its 

 strength. Those who grow them altogether in pots 

 find it necessary to have their plants in a cold frame 



during the late spring and summer months, standing 

 the pots on a bed of cinder-ashes ; and during the 

 autumn and winter in a frame facing the south, 

 giving plenty of air on all favourable occasions, 

 watering when necessary, and shading the plants 

 from the sun when required. In the spring it is 

 necessary to examine the plants night and morning, 

 to destroy snails, slugs, and other vermin that may 

 gather about them, as they arc great enemies to this 

 pretty subject. The Polyanthus has another enemy, 

 though small; this is the Acarus, or red si^ider. 

 When this destructive insect attacks the plant, 

 which it is very apt to do dui-ing hot, dry, sunny 

 weather, the leaves become yellow, and spotted with 

 brown, and they wither aw^ay. The best plan is to 

 remove the infected plant away from the collec- 

 tion, place it in a more distant situation, and then 

 wash the leaves with tobacco-water, or with an 

 infusion of soft-soap and sulphur. A sprinkling of 

 quick-lime upon tlio plants has been found beneficial 

 and efl^ective. 



The Polyanthus should be re-pottcd at least once a 

 year, and the best time to do it is immediately after 

 flowering, say in June. The pots must be well 

 di-ained with crocks, some very fine pieces being- 

 placed on the surface of the drainage. The plants 

 must be turned out of the pots in which thej' 

 flowered; the soil shaken from the roots; and the 

 tap root cut away to within one inch or two of the 

 leaves, taking care to have some nice young fibrous 

 roots attaching to the portion retained. The roots 

 should be spread out so as to reach the sides of the 

 pots as soon as possible, the lowermost leaves touch- 

 ing, or, better still, a little below the soil, for it is 

 from about these that new roots will be produced. 

 After potting, a good sprinkling of water overhead 

 should be given, so that the soil may be settled 

 about the roots, and the pots placed in a shaded and 

 yet airy situation, and be watered only when it is 

 actually necessary, else there is a possibility of their 

 being subject to rot. During the time the plants 

 occupy frames, they should have plenty of air on 

 all favourable occasions. In March gentle showers 

 may be allowed to fall upon them, which is found 

 of great advantage. It is the practice with some 

 growers to top-dress their plants at the end of 

 February, or early in March, removing some of the 

 surface soil, and adding in its place soil of a rich 

 character. 



Some persons who have a favourable situation and 

 soil, instead of potting these plants, plant them out 

 in a cool shady border of suitable soil for the 

 summer, and re-pot in autumn. Or they will some- 

 times re-pot only a portion of their plants in August, 

 and allow the remainder to stay in the open bed, 

 hfting them in spring just as they begin to come 



