THE CINEEAKIA AND ITS PROPERTIES, 
in tlie truss setting edge to edge, and having also a good liabit, there can be no difficulty in giving 
it a good character ; but there are hundreds that would be rich for bedding, or admii-able for specimens 
as pot-plnnts, and attractive in their particular way, that ought to have second-class certificates, 
if any. 
Mr. Ivery of Peckham, has two flowers this year that were placed before a number of persons who 
had constituted themselves judges ; but they gave the worst flower of the two a first-class prize ; and 
the better of the two was not honoui'ed with any distinction. We would humbly suggest to florists 
in general, that this does great niiscliief to the trade, because, so siu-ely as an amateur is deceived in 
the purchase of an alleged good novelty, which turns out nothing, and misses a fine variety, which 
would have placed him better in competition, so sm-ely does that buyer lose confidence in new things. 
As we do not write of these tilings carelessly we ought 
to name the two flowers which we have referred to in ■ ^^„ c~ _ 
the foregoing remarks Madame Meillez (or as reported, 
Madame Meillery), is a flower of fuUy the average size, 
with a ptu'e white gi'ound, a blue tip, and a black disc ; 
the petals broad, without the sHghtest notch, and obtuse, 
size above average, the indentations between the petals 
sKght, the flowers abundant and tolerably flat ; the blue 
is about that of the Neapolitan Violet, and the flower, 
therefore, showy ; the tips form a moderately even 
band of colom-, and the habit is good. Electra is a 
violet pui'ple, size average, petals broad, notch scarcely 
perceptible, disc bright yellow, outline tolerable, habit 
good, flowers abundant, and thei'efore the plant showy ; 
but although the colour is new, it is a self-colom'. Now 
if either of these flowers deserved a fu'st-class prize, the 
better one — the former — should have had it. 
But lot us turn from this year's flowers to last year's, 
and cliiefly for the purpose of noticing a variety that was 
but little known, but that must be had by every body 
that grows Cinerarias, or that wishes to grow them. We 
allude to Edmondsii, sent out last year by JNIi'. Bell of 
Norwich, and therefore now a trade flower. Nothing 
we have will stand by the side of it in some particular points ; it is the most flat and perfect of the 
whole family ; of full size ; aU the points in a very large proportion are to be found in it ; the 
habit is good, and the form of the trusses exquisite. It makes a beautiful pair with Cerito, but 
heats it. Had it been well known before it was let out, five hundi'ed more plants would have been 
sold in our ovm connection, but the trade will have the benefit of the greater distTibution. It has 
a white ground, nicely edged with one of those colour's which ladies only can describe, but it is, 
besides all we have said, the best we have seen as yet. 
Mr. Kendall has some fine ones, but, generally spealdng, the discs of his flowers are large ; and it 
will strike every body, that the disc being the most ugly part of the flower, cannot enlarge without 
trenching upon the richness of the bloom. "WTien we speak of a large disc, we of course mean large 
in proportion to the size of the flower, for there is everything in proportion — that which would be 
outrageous in a small flower, would be moderate in a large one. The disc should be fi-om a fourth 
of the entire diameter to, at the very most, a third. Upon the whole, the greatest error that censors 
appear to have fallen into with regard to the Cineraa'ia, is that of omitting to regard the colom'. We 
know form ought to go first, but contrast is a great point always, and brilliance indispensable. Let any 
one look at a dozen of the very best didl reds, blues, pui'ples, or slate colours, and then turn to white 
and blue, white and crimson, or white and anything, and the I'elief mil be astounding. While, 
therefore, we abound in dull selfs, and fine banded, or, as they are called, tipped whites, are scarce, 
it behoves censors to be sparing of their distuictions. Even a white self, piu'e as it may be, is a sorry 
looking affair contrasted with those which have edges or tips. 
One more point is worth ui'ging at this moment, though we have half adverted to it ah'eady ; we 
allude to the flowers, which, instead of having well-defined tips, that is a cii'cle of white within 
a bright band, have tips that shade down gradually into the ■n'hite, and have no defined line. This 
shaded or clouded family, or branch of the fanrily, is but little better than the selfs, and unless the 
varieties possess extraordinary claims on account of other featm'es, woidd be rarely entitled to a place 
CINftltAKlA : AYltEs' dERt'LEA COJIPACTA, 
showing a desirable habit of growth. 
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