144 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c Au g u.t 17, mm. 
habit. The petals are rounded, imparting a symmetrical ap¬ 
pearance to the blooms ; the leaves are bright green, broad, 
and rounded in outline. This was found in Cuzco, Peru, at 
the great elevation of 12,000 feet, whence it was introduced 
by Messrs. Veitch about 1867. Two other pretty species 
allied to the preceding, and resembling it in habit and form of 
flowers, are B. Clarkei and B. rosaeflora, both from Peru ; but 
the B. Clarkei inhabits rather warmer regions than B. Veitchii, 
though B. rosteflora is found at a similar altitude. The last- 
named has large rounded flowers of a fine clear rose colour, 
and its parentage may be traced in many of the varieties that 
are now grown with flowers of a like tint. B. Clarkei, which 
is named in honour of Colonel Clarke, who first brought it into 
general notice, has large scarlet flowers, but not quite so bril¬ 
liant as B. Veitchii. Both these appeared in England about 
the same time—namely in 1866 or 1867. Later still—namely 
from 1874 to 1876, B. Froebeli and B. Davisi were added to 
the list of species in this section, and both have contributed to 
some extent to the improvement of varieties and hybrids. B. 
Froebeli is of compact habit and somewhat related to B. cinna- 
barina, having scarlet flowers freely produced. It was intro¬ 
duced by M. Froebel & Co. of Zurich fiom Ecuador. B Davisi 
is a charming dwarf species, having neat light green leaves, 
red on the under surface, and rich scarlet flowers of moderate 
size, bat good form and extremely abundant. Small plants of 
this are highly ornamental for cultivation in pots, and the fine 
double form obtained a short time since is also a most valuable 
plant. 
The intercrossing of these species and careful selection from 
the numerous seedlings raised have produced with surprising 
rapidity the handsome race of plants which are now becoming 
such general favourites for decorative purposes either in pots, 
baskets, or for bedding-out, and their popularity is still increas¬ 
ing. Selections of varieties have been frequently given in these 
pages, and it is not necessary to repeat these now, but a glance 
may be given to the earliest of the hybrids obtained, though it 
would be almost impossible to trace the parentage of all those 
cultivated at present. One of the first hybrids secured and 
certainly the best was B. Sedeni, which was obtained at Messrs. 
Veitch’s Chelsea nursery by Mr. Seden as the result of a cross 
between B. boliviensis and an unnamed species. This was 
subsequently employed as a parent with B. boliviensis, B. 
Veitchii, B. Clarkei, and B. Pearcei, giving rise to B. Chelsoni, 
B. Stella, B. Vesuvius. B. Model, and B. Chambersi respec¬ 
tively, the last two resulting from two crosses with B. Pearcei, 
all improvements of more or less value. B. Veitchii crossed 
with B. boliviensis resulted in the production of B. Chelsoni, 
and this with B. Sedeni produced the variety Acme. Thus 
the first hybrids raised have been repeatedly utilised by inter¬ 
crossing with each other, the diversity and excellence of the 
progeny being steadily and satisfactorily increased. Much is 
due to Messrs. Veitch’s initiatory efforts, but other workers in 
the same field have also produced very creditable results both 
in England and on the continent. Messrs. J. Laing & Co. 
have already been mentioned as having contributed large num¬ 
bers of handsome single and double varieties to the list of cul¬ 
tivated forms, and M. Lemoine also deserves a word of praise 
for the many beautiful forms he has raised. In the last year 
or two the double varieties have received much attention, and 
some of considerable excellence have been obtained, but the 
majority are inferior in an ornamental point of view to the 
leading single varieties.—L. Castle. 
THE CHOICE OF SEEDS—SELECTION OF PEAS. 
The plan which most of our nurserymen now adopt of offering 
at a cheaper rate a large assortment of seeds selected by them¬ 
selves has involved me this year in some difficulty. For some 
time past I had purchased a two-guinea selection of one of the 
great advertising houses, and need scarcely say that the seeds were 
good. I found, however, that in this way I became a mere creature 
of the firm from which I had purchased, and if I was asked the 
name of a special Pea, Lettuce, or any other vegetable I could 
only give the title of the firm, prefixed, as seems now the general 
rule. On relecting for myself this year my bill exceeded four 
guineas, chiefly because more seeds were sent in each packet than 
were required. What is my remedy ? Should I order by the 
ounce, or what should I do 1 Perhaps you will tell me that I 
must pay for exercising my right of private judgment, but the 
difference in the cost seems to me excessive. Another year I 
hope to induce my gardeners not to sow so thickly, but on this 
point it is almost useless to contend with them, particularly as 
they do not pay the bill. 
Some of your correspondents who are learned in Peas may like 
to criticise the list I enclose, and if so I shall be obliged. I have 
tried the following :—Sangster’s No. 1, Ringleader, William I., 
G. F. Wilson, Hundredfold, Dr. Maclean, Laxton’s Fillbasket, 
Veitch’s Perfection, and Ne Plus Ultra. My early Peas were a 
great success, but I complain-of Hundredfold that the quality is 
not equal to that of many others. As a boy I was accustomed 
to what were called Marrowfats after the early Peas were over, 
and expect my gardeners now to provide Peas of first-rate qua¬ 
lity, otherwise I may just as well do without a garden. What 
these Marrowfats were I cannot explain, but possibly some of 
your readers can, as I believe the name was a common one ; their 
quality at any rate was excellent. The list above is probably 
too varied, and certainly can be improved, particularly in point 
of quality.—E. Bakteum, Berkhampstead, Herts. 
HARDY AND OUTDOOR FLOWERS—SELECTION 
NECESSARY TO SUCCESS. 
It is common to hear hardy flowers, especially strong herbaceous 
growers, described as weedy, fugacious, and mere rubbish. I fear 
there has been an excuse for this the present season with two 
months of almost continual showers. I have on several occasions 
advocated the extended culture of hardy flowers, but without pre¬ 
judice to the ordinary summer bedders, carpet-bedding and foliage 
plants included. Tastes are so different. Situations are often suit¬ 
able for one class of plants that will not do well for others ; and 
lastly, even with comparatively unlimited command of money many 
gardeners and amateurs cannot get what they would prefer. 
Reasons like those might be multiplied why no hard-and-fast line 
can be drawn. Then, again, most people have beds and borders 
where no one would think of making a carpet bed or putting 
their choice tricolor Pelargoniums or their Tuberous Begonias, 
which are even more adaptable. No ; the back be Is and borders, 
especially if shaded, answer admirably for tall plants, and the 
shade in summer is just what suits Polyanthuses, Auriculas, Pansies, 
&c.; and if a. wall is convenient, to which Hollyhocks, tall Phloxes, 
Lychnises, Helianthemums, Asters, Campanulas, Aconitums, Del¬ 
phiniums, Aquilegias, Rockets, Pasonies, and Lilies can be easily 
secured, then those plants are just where they ought to be. In 
central beds, open, and under the full influence of the sunshine, 
those and dozens of others not so generally known would be out 
of place. 
I have twenty beds and some borders that I try to have showy 
and gay for about ten months out of every twelve with all I am 
able to procure of those flowers. From those I can cut a bouquet 
for any visitor or to send to a sick person almost any day in the 
year. Now this is the grand line of demarcation between those 
who confine themselves to bedding and carpet plants and those 
who grow hardy and herbaceous plants. What can equal for bril¬ 
liancy, colouring, and sweetness a bouquet of the queen of flowers 
(the Rose) alone or when taken in variety ? For showiness and 
sweetness combined in spring you can make a selection from 
Hyacinths, Auriculas, Pansies, Tulips, the Anemones, Narcissuses, 
Irises, Polyanthuses, and others equally well known. The varie¬ 
ties of any one of those would make a varied bouquet. Later in 
the season and during the summer months, as already mentioned, 
pre-eminently stands the Rose ; and if you want white for variety 
I should recommend Achillea Ptarmica, Campanula persicifolia 
alba (I do not mean what is commonly sold under that name, but 
the variety perfectly double and as full as a white Camellia, If inch 
across the flowers on the spike), and Matricaria inodora, all three 
very double, blooming a long time, and exceedingly useful for 
cutting. The last has been blooming the past two weeks, and 
will continue into autumn. I should select other colours in the 
same way, and manage so as to have them come in succession. 
Granted that some perennial Lupins, Potentillas, Geums, and Sca¬ 
bious, especially singles, as illustrations of common perennials, 
are not worth the space they occupy ; but selected double varieties, 
especially of the three last, have been blooming six weeks, and 
will continue yet some time. 
But let me look at other beds, and consider bow they promise 
now, always keeping in mind how small and limited my collection 
is, and I see opening the first blooms of Kdway’s Gladioli con¬ 
siderably behind in another bed being two dozen others French- 
raised. I do not remember a better season for this favour te 
flower. I cannot complain so far of losses, as I only notice a few 
withered out of two hundred, while Sir Stafford Northcote and 
