dkqqeTl & :$oq£’ Complete iSeed G[uide. 
white-striped; claret-purple, an intensely glorious colour: r<»sy-carmine, singularly beautiful; fiery 
scarlet, a grand colour ; magenta, also very brilliant ; lilac, dark blue, light blue, pure white, crimson 
and white striped, violet and white-striped, and rosy-crimson ; a splendid selection in twelve diverse 
colours or markings. Next came the very popular and sturdy-growing Victorias. These all ImVe 
fiattiBh refiexed flowers, and almost always take the fihst place at exhibitions. Some of the tints on 
these resemble those of the Pajony-flowered, hut still seem diverse, because seen on the obverse sides 
of the petals. The deep hues of the Pa3onv flowers are, doubtless, largely due to the fact that only 
the under- sides of the petals are seen. In the Victorias the most striking colours were light blue-, 
rose, flesh, white, violet, dark blue, peach, crimson, lilac, dark blue with white stripe, and rose with 
white stripe. The hulk of the plants in this section ranged from 13 to 14 inches high. In all cases 
also the respective colours were very true. Singularly charming, whether grown in the open or in 
pots, or to furnish flowers for cutting, are tile imbricated or point ed-petalled Pompons. The 
flowers are of medium size, borne on fairly long stems, and the plants bloom most abundantly. 
More delightful Asters for bouquets can hardly be conceived. In the section are also some very 
u lor i ous colours, such as blood- red,, rosy-carmine, deep reddish-rose, violet, and deep blue; also 
('banning are pure white, rdfsc and white stripe, crimson and white, and blue and white. 
The Million Asters specially claim attention, because of their adaptability to furnish cut flowers 
The blooms are of the most perfect reflexed form, and of medium size ; the plants are about 14 inches 
in height, and bloom profusely, furnishing a supply of flowers over a long season. The most 
striking colours in these are pure white, carmine, bine, red, and purple; a new variety named 
Snowball, very perfect in form, is but a selection from the white Mignon ; still, it is a most 
pleasing variety, and grown for late flowering in pots under glass, will rival white Chrysanthemums 
in the market. There is here at ftynsford a very early bloomer, the flowers semi- quilled, or hedge- 
Img-iikc, named Pride of the Market , that is one mass of bloom. It should, by those who wanr. 
white flowers early, be sown to precede the white Mignon . 'Pile dwarf Chrysanthemum, or market 
section, is also well represented. Some of these — tlie Fiery Scarlet, for example — make wonderfully 
effective bedding plants. The blue, purple, crimson, white, and deep scarlet forms are grown by 
myriads for lifting into pots forihe London market, and Mr. Cannell is well provided with a fine 
strain. Giant Emperor Affer carries one huge reflexed flower only in several colours; whilst thus 
lacking the effectiveness found in branching Asters, this variety produces huge flowers for exhibition. 
The Washington is also a large- flowered Aster, flattish in form, and found in reveral colours. 
There are still the somewhat fine large-petalled fonns now known as the Comet Aster, the best known 
type of which is pink with white stripe, but pale blue and peach are also found in the section. The 
old crown- flowered, or Coeardean also merits notice, because of the white crowns or centres to the 
flowers. A very striking incurved Aster is .Jewel, because the flowers are so perfectly ball-like that 
they exactly resemble a pink incurved Chrysanthemum: indeed, it would need keen discrimination 
to detect the difference. The Shakespeare Asters include some odd dwarf branching forms, one of 
which, almost black with white centre, is novel and pleasing ; whilst many of this section are quaint 
in colour, or in the markings of the flowers, yet they fail to emulate altogether the exceeding 
brilliancy and beauty found in the older and more justly popular sections. Such is the wealth iff 
ma r crial for m>te, taking both vegetables and flowers, found at Kynsford that great self-denial is 
needful to check too much scribbling. Away on the top of the hill-side, vegetables, such as Onions. 
Carrots, l’araiiips, Celery, Teas, Beans, &c.,witb various varieties of the Brass ica family, are seeding 
well, or have done so, and are now being harvested, or cleared out. The rich, quiet valley, and the 
lofty breeze of the hill sides, enable Mr. Cannell to find sites for all classes of flowers and vegetables, 
and from t he upper heights we look down, not only upon Asters, hut also upon Marigolds, Lobelias, 
Nasturtiums, Antirrhinums in several distinct and rich colours; Stocks and Annuals, both hardy 
and tender, are in rich and varied profusion. As we are driven back by the narrow lanes, through 
a beautiful country, as fertile as beautiful, we are taken through a latie the sides of which are 
literally avenued for a mile long with Damson trees heavily laden with fruit. What would be tlnb 
fate of both tree9 and fruits were a score or two of town-dwellers, 1 “ ’Arrys” and “ 'Arriets ” of th£ 
alleys of London turned loose amidst this peaceful scene of plenty, all too well know. May this 
plftce never know of such an irruption. Back to Swanley, passing on the way that monster town of 
glass which Mr. Ladds has erected there, and which is of itself enough to astonish all not conversant 
with the Kent market irade, by extensive tree-fruit orchards, by hundreds of acres of Strawberries 
or Currant bushes, again to Mr. Cannell’s own Kentish wonder, his literal home of flowers, where 
just now, excelling all others the Begonia presents, not only outdoors hut in house after house, a 
spectacle so beautiful and extensive as to almost take one’s breath away, and lead to wonder, after 
the Begonia has satiated us, what other flower can possibly hope to excell or succeed it. Others may, 
indeed, have grand collections of Begonias, but at least Mr. Cannell has just now one of the finest 
and most brilliantly beautiful collections, in wondrous variety of colour, both double and single, 
ever seen. — A.D. 
