1U 
CARTER AND CO.’S GARDENER’S VADE-MECUM FOR 1862. 
NEW SPECIES AND VARIETIES OP FLOWER SEEDS. 
The subjoined Seeds we have selected for recommendation from their being either desirable new varieties or old-esta- 
blished favourites highly improved by careful cultivation. We regret to mention that, in consequence of insufficiency of space, 
we are unable fully to describe the particular merits of each kind, and can only state that all the undermentioned deserve un- 
qualified praise. 
ILLUSTRATION No. I. 
Zinnia elegans fl. pi. 
Received a First-class Certificate 
From the Horticultural Society of London, who described 
them as follows : — “ These were varieties of the well-known 
Zinnia elegans, in which the yellow centre or disc was trans- 
formed into florets, like those of the ray, so as to form ro- 
settes of from 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and of various 
shades of colour, embracing purple, deep rose, light rose, 
mottled rose, red, orange, ami buff. They were for the most 
part full double, and perfectly regular in form, a good deal 
resembling in their outline a line double French Marigold, but 
larger in size.” This magnificent novelty was first intro- 
duced by us into England, and our stock is undoubtedly the 
finest in existence ; all single flowers have been removed, and 
the seed is saved from fine double flowers only. Price per 
packet, 6 d. and Is. 
ILLUSTRATION No. II. 
Clarkia pulcliella flore pleno. 
Received a First-class 'Certificate 
From the Royal Horticultural Society of London, and de- 
scribed in the Society’s Report of July, 1861, as follows: — 
“ This was a handsome variety of the deep rosy colour of the 
better forms of this well-known species, but having three 
or four whorls of petals, developed so as to form a tolerably 
full double flower; it was a very showy plant, and was 
awarded a First-class Certificate.” 
This is but the 3rd Annual which has received a First- 
class Certificate ; it is thus spoken of in the Gardeners' 
Chronicle, p. 869 : — “ The double variety of Clarkia pul- 
cbella, a new and desirable plant for ornamental purposes 
of all kinds, the flowers being very double, and the colour a 
rich Magenta." Price per packet, Is. 
ILLUSTRATION No. III. 
CEnothera Lamarckiana. 
“ Commended ” 
By the Royal Horticultural Society. Hardy biennial, flow- 
ering the first year, height 3 feet, good shrubby habit. ; 
blossoms more than 3 inches in diameter, colour bright 
golden yellow ; each plant . will produce from 200 to 600 
flowers, and continue in bloom from June to November. 
Dr. Lindley speaks of it in the Gardeners' Chronicle of 28th 
of Sept. 1861, p. 869, as follows : — “ Among dwarf -Oeno- 
theras, macrocarpa still stood in the front rank, and among 
tall kinds (E. Lamarckiana occupies a similar position ; it 
blooms the first year from June to October in great profu- 
sion; individually the blossoms are of immense size, aver- 
aging 4 inches in diameter; on one plant alone of this va- 
riety we counted no fewer than 23 blossoms, all open at the 
same time." Price per packet, Is. 
Grammantlies gentianoides cinnabarina. 
A handsome variety of the much admired Rock and Pot 
Plants, Grammanthes gentianoides, deserving of universal 
ltivation ; colour crimson- scarlet. Price per packet, 6 d 
Tropaeolum “ Crystal Palace Gem.” 
Thus described in the Report of the Royal Horticultural 
Society of London “ This was one of the Dwarf or Tom 
Thumb varieties, and was stated to have been obtained from 
T. Scheucrmanniauum. It was of dwarf habit, with large 
suJp/iBr-colourcd flowers, with a dark red spot at the base of 
each petal.’.’ 
It is very pretty and effective as a bedding plant, the 
flowers being well thrown up above the foliage, and it con- 
tinues in bloom until the frost. It is thus spoken of in the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, p. 869 : — “ Then came 1 Crystal Palace 
Gem,’ a new bright sufytAur-coloured Tropa:olum, blotched 
with maroon ; the habit is excellent, and the leaves much 
smaller than those of the common Nasturtion, over which 
they have the advantage of throwing their blossoms well up 
above the foliage ; ” seed scarce. Price per packet, 6 d. 
Senecio elegans flore pleno. “ Magenta.” 
This is a very double variety of the well-known Jacobaea ; 
colour a bright rich Magenta, contrasting admirably with the 
foliage ; will he found a very useful and ornamental bedding 
plant. It is described in the Gardeners' Chronicle, p. 869, 
as follows: — “ Attention was then directed to some charm- 
ing beds of Senecio, the most striking of which was one of 
a brilliant Magenta colour, literally one mass of bloom.” 
Price per packet, 6 d. 
Alyssum saxatile compactum. 
Described in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, p. 869, as follows : 
— “A fine early-blooming hardy perennial, which will form 
a good companion to the early white Arabis alpina, and the 
pink Saponaria ocvmoides.” 
We can especially recommend this desirable hardy peren- 
nial as being particularly useful for early Spring bedding, 
also for Rock-work ; it is dwarf, and very compact in habit, 
with ornamental glaucous evergreen foliage, profusely co- 
vered with rich golden yellow blossoms, continuing in bloom 
from March to May, a period of the year when outdoor 
flowers of a showy character are very scarce : this variety is 
entirely distinct in habit and colour from the Alyssum sax- 
atile. Price per packet, 6 d. 
Nemesia compacta insignis, 
Nentesia conipacta La Superbe. 
These are two uew varieties of that charming Annual 
Nemesia elegans compacta; their graceful and compact habit, 
like Thuja compacta, and their profusion of blossom render 
them valuable adjuncts to the flower garden; they also form 
excellent pot plants. 
N. insignis, bright blue l height 1 foot. 
N. La Superbe, delicate rose J ° 
Price per packet, 6 d. 
Aquilegia caryophylloides fl. pi. 
“ Commended ” 
By the Horticultural Society of London, and described by 
them thus : — “ This was a very pretty double-flowered va- 
riety of the common Columbine ; the flowers were white, 
variously striped with reddish crimson, and here and there 
with reddish purple, producing an effective variegation. It 
was stated to have been selected out of a bed of mixed co- 
lours, and to have been proved to come true from seed. It 
was also stated to be quite distinct in the seed, which is of 
a light green, instead of being black, as is usually the case. 
The variety was considered distinct and handsome, and was 
commended.” Price per packet, 6 d. 
