June 30, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
496 
superiority of the latter is clearly recognised, and it is seen that 
■the hybridiser’s triumph is complete. 
But this is not all that will be perceived. High as was the 
c(uality and great the diversity in colour of the flowers, there has 
been improvement even here, especially in the doubles. In inten- 
■sity of colour there has hitherto been nothing to match the two 
T)e Rothschilds, Alfred and Leopold, recently exhibited by two 
leading growers. They glow with a richness that appears to be a 
concentration of all the deep colouring elements on Nature’s 
palette. And besides these there has been a break of another 
kind—a flower edged, Picotee-like, with a distinct “ wire ” of 
colour. This has emanated from the famous establishment at 
Forest Hill, and appropriately honours m name its raiser and its 
Every point of merit which has been claimed for the most 
improved types is present in the plants. It is no exaggeration to 
say that they are attractive by their abundant, healthy, and hand¬ 
some foliage alone, but still more so by admirable habit—long, 
stiff stems, and noble flowers holding themselves boldly up. The 
doubles are a superb assortment. So numerous and so distinct are 
they that the time cannot be far distant when it will become neces¬ 
sary to classify them according to type. There are some that 
follow the Rose in form, others the Camellia, and others, again, the 
Hollyhock. Individual tastes must be left to decide which are the 
most beautiful. Each is perfect in its way, and in each type colour 
variation appears to be equally extended. Then in the singles we 
not only observe great size and substance allied with a vast range 
Fig. 84.—begonia, LAING’S PICOIEE. 
distinctive character—Laing’s Picotee. The artist has endeavoured, 
not without success, to adequately fulfil a delicate task in doing 
justice^ to the new comer in fig. 84. It is a flower of quite 
exceptional charm. The form is perfect, the petals evenly dis¬ 
posed, and the bloom well filled, as a good Carnation or Picotee 
should be. The ground colour is flesh, and the edging is clear 
rose, shading off into a delicate band of a paler hue round the 
margin. It is to be hoped that this is only the forerunner of 
a class^ of Picotee-edged Begonias. Others of similar distinct, 
attractive and pleasing appearance will always be welcomed as 
•acquisitions. 
The Forest Hill growers have had so large a share in the 
Begonia improvement to which allusion has been made that it is 
only just to supplement previous remarks by direct reference to 
their magnificent collection. It grows yearly in extent and beauty. 
of hues, but an even disposal of petal and a circular form that 
recall the best round-flowered Zonal Pelargoniums. The old 
pointed segments are giving way to others that are gracefully 
moulded and arched, with results that must give pleasure to every 
lover of the flower. 
The Picotee-flowered double stands alone of its class, but in the 
latest set of novelties it has some beautiful companions. Lady 
Dorrington, blush pink, very free ; Princess Christian, primrose, 
a beautifully moulded flower ; and Sir Trevor Lawrence, rich 
crimson, a large and well developed bloom, may he mentioned in 
particular as unmistakeable acquisitions. Other lovely varieties of 
hardly so recent a date, but excellent in habit, are Camellia, rose 
crimson, with very evenly disposed petals ; Duchess of Teck, rich 
yellow, finely proportioned, and very free, an ideal Begonia ; 
Elfride, rose, very free ; Henshaw Russell, a brilliant scarlet, 
