Plate 87. 
CARNATIONS— MARS AND GUARDSMAN. 
It is somewhat singular that while we have received every year many additions to our 
lists of Picotees, Carnations have, comparatively si:>eaking, remained much as they were ; last 
year indeed Mr. Turner introduced two or three of promising character, hut as a rule they 
have not kept pace witli their congeners. It is not because they are not as much sought 
after as the Picotees, for although not possessing their delicacy of colouring, they have so 
much brilliancy that they are sure to excite admiration amongst all true lovers of flowers. 
Floi’ists in the south are indebted to Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough, for the great inte- 
rest he takes in this beautiful tribe of plants ; to him we owe such fine varieties as Anniliilator, 
Graceless Tom, ^Eccentric Jack, and James Mcrryioeather, and others, possessing better habits 
than some of the older varieties, for there are many amongst them which are very difiicult 
to propagate, and are still scarce, although they have been in cultivation for a great many 
years. New varieties, then, of strong constitution, are most desirable. 
The varieties we now figure are Mars (fig, 1), a scarlet bizarre of great beauty, the 
colours are very bright, and the stripes very regularly disposed ; it was raised from 
Jackson’s CajAahi Staff, by J\Ir. Hextall, and it is one of the finest we have. Guardsman 
(fig. 2) is a flower somewhat siniilar in colour, but much brighter, the scarlet is especially 
fine ; in fact, we may say that they are valuable additions to the class, and being of good 
habit, will be very generally appreciated. 
Plate 88. 
AQUILEGIA CHRYSANTHA. 
{Aquilegia leqitocera var. lutea.) 
Amongst herbaceous plants there are few which have been more generally admired 
than the Columbines. They are sure to be found in most cottage gardens, while the number 
that have been either introduced of late years, or else have been recovered after having been 
well nigh lost to our gardens, form some of the most beautiful of our plants for herbaceous 
borders or the rockery. Aquilegia ccerulea, which was introduced by Mr. Thompson, of 
Ipswich, is a very lovely species, and was figured some years ago in the Floral Magazine, 
since which time, the ease with which it is cultivated, its readiness to produce seed, and its 
great beauty, have caused it to be widely distributed. We have now the pleasure of figuring 
another of a different type, but which will, we think, be quite as great a favourite when it 
comes to be more widely known. 
Mr. Backhouse thus speaks of it : — “ This is unquestionably one of the finest perennials 
we ever introduced. Its large golden-yellow long-spurred flowers are produced in great 
abundance from densely tufted plants which maintain a long succession of blooms. This 
species has not yet flowered with us, but magnificent dried specimens of the blossoms have 
been forwarded to us from North America, These are not unlike very large examples of 
A. ccerulea with long straight horns. So far as we can ascertain, this plant has nothing 
whatever to do with A. aurea of Roezl, of which the flower is scarcely half the size, and of a 
sulphur-yellow shaded with green. 
