Plate 55 . 
DAHLIA ARBITPATOR. 
The popularity of the Dahlia, which was for a time in much jeopardy owing to tlie 
introduction of so many horticultural novelties in other directions, has most sensibly 
revived during the past two or three years, — and if we may take the number of certificates 
that have been awarded to new kinds during the past season as any test of merit, we cannot 
but conclude that the charge that no advance has been made was utterly unfounded, for 
although the number of certificates has not been quite equal to those awarded to Pelargoniums, 
yet upwards of twenty have received them. That all these are first-rate flowers we can hardly 
believe, and we are not sorry to find that attention has been drawn to the very lavish hand 
with which they have been given, for we feel convinced it must occasion disappointment here- 
after to the purchaser. 
Messrs. Keynes, Turner, and Echford, have been the principal growers to whom 
certificates have been awarded ; and we have selected one of Mr. Turner’s flowers for our 
illustration. Arhih'ator is a flower of large size and of good build, indeed, the great depth 
of many of these new flowers is remarkable, and nothing struck us more at the Metropolitan 
Society’s Show at the Crystal Palace in August last, than the very superior form of most of 
the flowers in the winning stands. The colour of Arbitrator is fawn, suffused or shot with 
purple, with yellow at the base of each petal ; it will give a pleasing contrast on a stand 
owing to the softness of its colouring. Amongst the other remarkable flowers to be sent 
out this spring is Laura Ilaslam, which has received no less than seven certificates. 
Plate 56. 
SHOW PELARGONIUMS— COUNTESS AND DUCHESS. 
If we may judge from the number of certificates which have been awarded to varieties 
of the Show Pelargonium during the past season, it must have been an exceptionally good 
one, for we find that no fewer than thirty were so honoured ; and although the name of 
Mr. Hoyle no longer appears as a raiser, it is evident that the improvement which has 
taken place in Mr. Foster’s strain will quite compensate for the loss sustained through 
Mr. Hoyle’s death, for all the varieties which have been awarded certificates came from 
Clewer Manor. 
Of those now figured. Countess (fig. 1), is somewhat distinct in colour ; the pale pink of 
the lower petals being unusual ; the top is maroon, shaded off to deep orange rose, the edge 
pale lilac, and with a clear white eye, the whole appearance of the flower is remarkably bold. 
Duchess (fig. 2), affords a good contrast to the preceding, being a rich dark flower, lower 
petals crimson veined with a darker shade, the top petals intense deep maroon, almost 
black, with a narrow edge of bright crimson and clear white eye. Both have been awarded 
first-class certificates. 
Mr. Turner of Slough has as usual the distribution of the Clewer seedlings ; and besides 
those figured there are. Brilliant, Blue Bell, Chieftain, Conquest, Druid, Emperor William, 
Flora, Great Mogul, Hero, Highland Lassie, Jubilee, King Charles, Lord Byron, Mabel, Monarch, 
Othello, Purple Gem, Prince of Wales, Prince Arthur, Buth, Bobin Hood, Superb, Syren, Scottish 
Chieftain, Victory, Charles Dickens, and Prince Bismarck, and certainly never in any one 
season has so promising a set been offered to the cultivator. 
