658 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



numbers of them did not possess the least value as Decorative Garden 

 plants. As a consequence only thirty-three were considered worthy 

 of award. It should be added, however, that other varieties would no 

 doubt improve at a later date. 



Next in importance, as far as numbers are concerned, were the 

 Paeony-flowered varieties. These were represented by about two 

 hundred varieties, and as a mass of colouring they were exquisite, 

 but their unequal heights rather told against them, as far as the 

 general effect was concerned. This could be avoided if the seasons 

 could only be gauged, as the growth of individual varieties depends so 

 much on the weather. This trial, however, demonstrated quite clearly 

 that the newer forms possess better stems and more lasting flowers 

 than the earlier varieties. Thirty-two varieties secured the approval, 

 of the Committee. 



The Collarette section was represented by about one hundred 

 and fifty varieties, a formidable list for such a late aspirant to public 

 favour; still, at the date of inspection they produced the greatest 

 impression, for they were literally masses of flower, due doubtless 

 to their free-flowering propensities, shy varieties being quite rare in 

 their ranks. However, only twenty-three varieties were honoured. 



The Decorative section is very difficult to define, consisting as it 

 does at the present time of all those varieties which cannot be placed 

 in any other recognized section, and in this trial many large-flowering 

 varieties had been sent, which would be handsome for vase decoration, 

 but, as Garden Decorative plants, belied their description. Many were 

 evidently late-flowering varieties, and quite unsuitable for such a trial. 

 Nearly a hundred varieties were represented, but only twelve met 

 with approval. 



The Single section produced a fine effect with about a hundred 

 varieties, and at the time of inspection were quite in their best form. 

 Sixteen varieties were recommended by the Committee. 



The Pompon varieties were represented by about sixty varieties, 

 and were much admired for their decorative effect. These little 

 Lilliputians had, however, overgrown their allotted space and. unlike 

 the other sections, were somewhat crowded. Nevertheless they secured 

 twenty-six recommendations, the highest percentage in the whole 

 trial, except in the minor sections. 



The Show and Fancy varieties totalled fifty, and some of them, 

 though somewhat formal when compared with other sections, were 

 undoubtedly highly decorative as garden plants, and ten varieties 

 (most of them old ones) secured the necessary number of marks for an 

 award. 



The Pompon or Miniature Cactus varieties found the soil at Duffryn 

 much too congenial for their requirements, and in most cases had pro- 

 duced flowers beyond their normal size. Five varieties, however, were 

 recommended out of a total of twenty-five entrants. 



The section entered as Bedding varieties was rather misleading, 

 as it included nearly all the types ; the five, however, selected by the 



