32 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Seedling Raisers. — The advent of first aurea and then Armstrongii 

 has revolutionized the Freesia. Hybridists are now busy in pro- 

 ducing new varieties, and as a result we have both colours and shapes 

 of bloom that could never have been thought possible before their 

 introduction. Mr. Herbert Chapman, of Rye, Messrs. C. Smith & 

 Son, of Guernsey, Mr. John Hoog, of the firm of Tubergen of 

 Haarlem, myself at Whitewell Rectory, near Whitchurch, Salop, 

 and Mr. G. H. Dalrymple, of Bartley, Hampshire, are names which 

 must be remembered in this connexion. During the early months 

 of 1919 I received four, and Mr. Dalrymple three, Awards of 

 Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society — that is to say, seven 

 awards to new varieties were given in one year, which is a record, 

 and is up to the present the high-water mark of British achievement. 



New Varieties. — Appended to this paper there is a list of the 

 awards which have been given to new seedling hybrids or varieties 

 by the Dutch Bulb Growers' Society at Haarlem and our own Society 

 in London. Some yellow seedling forms and a couple of very distinct 

 small-flowered types of bloom, which ladies would very likely call 

 " little ducks," will probably be found to be very useful for small 

 four- and five-inch pots. One yellow variety, which is called ' Yellow 

 Dwarf,' is very similar to aurea, which is still cultivated at Glasnevin 

 (Dublin) by Sir F. W. Moore, who sent me specimen blooms for 

 comparison in the spring of 191 9. ' Rose Beauty ' received an 

 Award of Merit, and its deep shade of " old rose " marks a distinct 

 advance in deep-toned colour development. Unfortunately it has 

 little or no perfume, but on the other hand it is exceptionally beau- 

 tiful under artificial light, and when it becomes plentiful is one of 

 those which will be valued for dinner-table decoration. ' Daddy- 

 long-legs • also received an award. It is a tall loosely-growing 

 variety, with large, very sweet-scented open blooms, with rather 

 narrow segments of a rich purple colour with a conspicuous and 

 effective big orange blotch on the lower part of the flower. 1 Red 

 Indian ' shows a wonderful coppery-red development which, like 

 the last, shows to advantage under artificial light. * Lavender 

 Queen ' is a little like ' Merry Widow,' which received an award 

 and which, by the way, is very sweet-scented. ' Orange Tip ' is very 

 similar to Tubergen's 1 Contrast.' These white varieties, with very 

 conspicuous deep orange or yellow blotches, will, with new ones 

 added to them, form a delightful and popular series, which will be 

 found to be most effective in a greenhouse. ' Pink Beauty ' is 

 one of the open type of flowers. It is of a lovely pale pink colour 

 and very distinct. It is well to compare this with ' Daddy-long- 

 legs,' since these spread-out blooms are a great break-away 

 from the older, and what has hitherto been considered to be the 

 normal, type of Freesia. ' Pinkie ' is included because its colour 

 is unusual — it is a clear, clean pink without any suggestion of blue. 

 ' Blush Beauty ' is very sweet indeed — a plant of tall and vigorous 

 growth. It suggests possibilities of scent and growth, which may 



