Plate 121. 
DOUBLE-FLOWERED PELARGONIUM — “ CAPTAIN RAIKES.” 
During a recent visit to the magnificent houses of Mr. B. S. Williams, of the Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, we especially noted the extremely fine effect produced 
by the subject of the present Plate. Several first-class Double Pelargoniums are in the 
market at the present time ; notably Queen Victoria, the plant recently sent out by 
Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, which has rich vermilion petals, broadly margined with pure white ; 
whilst in Captain Bailees the petals are margined with a luminous carmine tint. Pelar- 
gonium Captain Bailees will he found especially valuable for bouquet-makers and growers 
for market ; in fact, we are informed by Mr. Williams that its blooming qualities at all 
times of the year, both early and late, are so extraordinary that it may with all justice be 
termed a perpetual bloomer. It belongs to the French type of flower, and on account of 
the blooms being double, the petals do not readily fall when cut for bouquet-making. This 
fact alone will render it simply invaluable wherever cut blooms are required all the year- 
round. It has a vigorous free branching habit, producing large and ample dark-green leaves. 
The numerous large trusses of bloom are borne well above the foliage, and the individual 
flowers are both large and full, the upper petals being deep fiery crimson, flaked with intense 
maroon or purplish- black, bordered with pure carmine, and the lower petals clear, bright, 
fiery crimson. It has been justly awarded a first-class certificate by the Floral Committee 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, and a special certificate at Manchester. 
Plate 122. 
NEW ALPINE AURICULAS. 
As heretofore, we are indebted to Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough, for the opportunity of 
figuring the two newest and best varieties of Alpine Auriculas which have of late appeared. 
When one considers the beautiful coloration and habits of these plants, their popularity with 
the public at large, and with most florists, is not to be wondered at ; or that Mr. Turner 
finds the demand for his plants so great that it is simply impossible to meet it, and that he 
is completely sold out of some varieties. Competent judges still assert that, according to the 
rigid rules laid down by florists, no perfect Auriculas have at present been obtained, and 
that, in one point or other, all Auriculas fall short. For this reason it has been advised to 
continually raise new seedlings, as varieties sent out more than half a century ago take 
prizes at the present day. It is, however, by no means easy to raise good new seedlings, 
from the great difficulty in obtaining first-rate seed, as those who possess the best plants, 
and consequently the choicest seed, will not part from it, but always keep it in their own hands. 
Besides this, the production of seed at all is well known to exhaust the plants ; therefore, as 
soon as the ovaries begin to swell, good growers pick off the flowers, and so stop all seed 
production. The seed, when procured, should be thinly sown in February or March, 
in thoroughly well-drained pans, in a compost of light sandy mould and well-rotted cow-dung, 
mixed with sharp sand. When sown, the seeds should be covered with finely-sifted mould, 
and watered with a fine rose, and a hotbed or stove will facilitate germination. In July the 
seedlings should be transferred to thumb-pots ; and in the second or third year blooms may 
be expected. Fig. 1. King of the Belgians (Turner) ; very fine large smooth flower, of 
gi'eat substance; colour, rich maroon, fine bright yellow paste, good large truss, and very 
constant and superb variety. Fig. 2. Bear Hart (Turner) ; very large, fine, bold flower, 
good circular, bright yellow paste, with crimson ground colour, shaded with bronze, very- 
distinct, and particularly attractive. 
