THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
colours on the white ground, and are generally more 
esteemed than the flakes, particularly when the colours 
are well-proportioned and of a rich and lively hue ; but 
as regards colours they vary considerably in all the 
classes, some being deeper and others paler in their 
tints, still all are beautiful in contrast with each other. 
The bizarres having two colours on the white ground, 
it will be necessary to describe what are considered 
run petals in each class. In the scarlet bizarre there 
must be scarlet and white in every petal, any petal 
without the scarlet and white would be considered a 
run petal ; for instance, a petal of scarlet and crimson, 
petals all of scarlet, all of crimson, and of white and 
crimson, are all run petals. 
In the crimson bizarres there must be rose and white 
in every petal, consequently any that are of crimson 
and rose, crimson and white, all crimson, or all of rose 
colour, are all run petals. 
In the pink and purple bizarres there must be pink 
and white in every petal, therefore all that are of pink 
and purple, purple and white, all purple, or all of pink 
colour, are run petals. Thus rigid are the laws of the 
florist as respects this beautiful class of flowers. In 
the north of England, at one time, the aim of the 
florist used to be to exhibit the three colours in each 
petal, and to acquire this, the blooms are stripped of all 
others, thus reducing the flowers to mere skeletons. 
They are, perhaps, not so strict now, but at one time 
great attention was paid to this matter. In the south 
the growers are less rigid in their requirements, and 
allow the presence of petals which are in reality only 
the petals of a flake to be exhibited in bizarres ; the 
flowers were, therefore, considerably larger than those 
in the north, and very superior in form. 
In the case of the Flake Carnations, of which there 
are the Purple, Rose, and Scarlet, the ground colour 
needs to be pure, and the additional colours equally so. 
In the rose-flake, for example, the rose colour should 
be clear and of a good body, whether the shade be 
light or deep, and the flakes should be struck through 
to the under side. The size, shape and arrangement of 
the petals are also properties to be studied in the com- 
pletion of a first-rate flower. 
The Self-coloured petal (a white one), is so called 
because there is no streak or flake of rose colour on it. 
The run petal in this class is a rose-coloured petal, so 
called because the rose colour has over-run the white ; 
it must, however, be observed that so long as there is 
a small streak or spot of white on the rose-coloured 
petal that it strikes through, and is to be traced on the 
under side of the petal, it is considered a fair petal and 
admissible. The same may be said of the Self-coloured 
or -white petal, if a small streak or spot of rose colour 
is to be found that strikes through to the under side. 
These principles apply also to the scarlet and purple 
flaked flowers, and their quality or otherwise is deter- 
mined in the same manner. 
IXIAS AND SPARAXIS. 
There are evidences that these charming Cape bulbs 
are becoming much more grown than they were a few 
years ago, especially in private establishments, where 
they are found of great value for decorative purposes 
in early spring. Unless the locality and soil are every 
way favourable, these charming bulbs should be grown 
in pots, in preference to being planted in the open air. 
The plants grow from eighteen to twenty-four inches 
in height, some being of taller growth than others, and 
the spikes of starry blossoms produce a brilliant effect 
by the great variety and richness of their colours. 
The best compost for pot culture is one made up of 
turfy loam, sand and decomposed dung, and the bulbs 
can be potted any time during the autumn and winter. 
From six to eight bulbs should be placed in a five-inch 
jjot. The pots should be placed in a cold frame plunged 
in ashes, and be protected from the frost, giving but 
little water until the foliage puts in appeai’ance. The 
pots can then be removed to the greenhouse, or to 
any place where there is a gentle warmth, and be kept 
near the glass. 
The following is a list of some of the most desirable 
varieties : Anrantiaca major, yellow ; Bucephalus, dark 
rosy red ; Crateroides, bright scarlet ; Cyprus, yellow 
and purple ; Golden Drop, golden yellow ; Imperatrice 
Eugenie, white ; Lady Slade, bright pink ; Longiflora, 
buff ; Pallas, pale yellow ; Ruby, bright red ; Yiridi- 
flora, rich green, extra fine; and Wonder, rosy pink. 
Sparaxis can be similarly treated. The varieties are 
not so numerous as in the case of the Ixias, but they 
are very handsome indeed. The best are : Angelique, 
pure white; Garibaldi, bright carmine, very fine; 
Grandiflora, dark red ; Josephine, white and yellow ; 
Leopard, yellow and primrose ; Maculata, white and 
purple; Nain, tricoloured; and Victor Emmanuel, red 
and yellow. We can strongly recommend these beau- 
tiful flowers for general cultivation. 
