74 



THE FXOSIST AND P0M0L0G1ST. 



petals ; they are of a pleasing delicate rose tint, the hasal lobes of the lip marked with 

 yellow, spotted over with deep red, and the truncated apex of the lip extended at the corners 

 into two curved horns. These beautiful flowers grow in panicled spikes, and are stated to be 

 very numerous on well-established plants ; on that exhibited by Mr. "Warner on this occasion 

 there were sixteen fully expanded. Several varieties showing differences in the leaves and 

 flowers have been already observed. 



Primula sinensis nivea plena. — Mr. Bull, Chelsea, February 18. — These were 

 seedlings from some semi-double plants shown last season, and then commended. The 

 flowers were now of average size, with fringed margins, and having a small petaloid central 

 tuft. The duplicated forms are thus evidently reproducible from seeds, and may be regarded 

 as valuable for decorative purposes, being more easily reared than the choice double sorts, 

 Which, however, retain their intrinsic pre-eminence over these semi-double forms. 



Salpigophora chiloensis. — Messrs. Yeitch & Son, Exeter and Chelsea: First-class 

 Certificate, March 4. — A dwarf evergreen shrub introduced from Chili, and probably nearly 

 hardy. The plant was of free branching habit, and seemed to show a disposition to flower 

 freely, so that it was regarded as an acquisition. The leaves are impari-pinnate— that is, they 

 have, besides the terminal one, from two to four pairs of oblong, obtuse leaflets, and these are 

 attached to a slightly winged rachis. The flowers grow several together in short pendent 

 racemes, and are of a deep cerise crimson, tubular, contracted at the base, an inch and a half 

 long, very firm, with a somewhat spreading nearly equal limb of five rounded segments. It 

 promises to be a very pretty greenhouse or half-hardy dwarf shrub. 



A GROUP OF HYACINTHS. 



Not from the rigid professional point of view do I contemplate these. I cannot ascend 

 to their altitude without feeling uncomfortably out of place there, where " qualified censors " 

 discourse their " high philosophy," at such an elevation ; and I make haste to get down 

 again into a more congenial atmosphere, where doubts may be entertained and dissent be 

 avowed without your pretensions to judge being roughly handled. From the valley of doubt 

 I look forth now on to the mountain side, where the great crowd can gaze, and. learn to 

 admire and applaud, without fear of interruption from the august conclave in convocation 

 above. I attempt to write now of what strikes the eye, and elicits the rapture of the 

 beholder who loves flowers, and for the love he bears them frequents the spot where 

 periodical exhibitions of them are held. The profound ones may perhaps join issue with me 

 in some matters. I write for those who often perceive much beauty in a flower a professional 

 " censor " thinks unworthy of his attention. They shall speak to the " initiated ;" I to those 

 who admire beauty while they do not understand "points" of "quality," and "properties" 

 of " excellence," that the former hold to be indispensable. 



I begin with that class of Hyacinths denominated "Eeds," and I place them in two 

 divisions of colour. Dark Reds shall be considered first, and I commence with Lina, a very 

 fine bright crimson, that immediately strikes the eye ; Lord Macaulay, a grand deep carmine ; 

 Princesse Clotilde, a bright red ; Howard, rich fiery carmine ; Von Schiller, dark lilac pink ; 

 Circe, one of the handsomest bright red Hyacinths I have seen ; Pelissier, a striking brilliant- 

 coloured red variety; Solfaterre, a magnificent fiery orange carmine, with light centre; 

 Mons. Faesch, with deep carmine streaks ; and Lady Sale, a light purplish -rose, with light 

 centre. Of the lighter shades of Fed and Pink I begin with Milton, blush, suffused and 

 streaked with fiery carmine ; La Dame du Lac, an exquisite variety, ldac blush, with carmine 

 streaks ; Grandeur h Merveille and Seraphine, miscalled Whites, two very pretty delicate 

 blush kinds ; Princess Charlotte, a superb blush and carmine, with green tips ; Cavaignac, pale 

 salmon striped with deep rose ; Sultan' s Favourite, pale pink, with bright red stripes ; Gigantea, 

 a delicate blush; Aurora, a yellowish light pink ; Noble par Merite (double), flesh colour with 

 lilac and carmine stripes, a novel and showy flower ; and Due de Malakoft, having reddish- 

 orange stripes on a nankeen ground. Of Black and Deep Blue varieties foremost stands 

 Prince Albert, General Haveloek, La Nuit, Blackbird, Uncle Tom, and Humboldt, all 

 shades more or less dense of rich, glossy black ptu-ple, the two first possessing magnificent 

 spikes of flowers. Then come Argus, bright blue, with light centre ; Laurens Coster, a 

 bright indigo ; and Louis Philippe, a deep lilac, suffused with azure blue (two very fine 

 double varieties) ; and Baron von Tuyll, an old variety, but yet in the van. Of shades of 

 Light Blue and Lilac we get Couronne de Celle, Grande Lilas, Charles Dickens, another old 

 favourite that is to be met with in every collection ; Van Speyk, a fine double ; Grande 

 Vidette, with large pale lilac bells, somewhat loose, but, when well reflexed, forming a fine 

 spike; Orondates; JN'imrod ; Voltaire, an exquisite lilac with azure blue tints ; and Blondin, 

 a pale lilac with fine close spike. Coming to White varieties I select first Lord Wellington 

 (double) miscalled Bed, for it is a delicate blush, and certainly one of the finest Hyacinths 

 in cidtivation. I had a fine specimen in a glass, and was much surprised and pleased that it 



