100 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ MAY, 
ties, but of that number very few came near my notion of what we want. Violet 
Hill Nosegay exhibited pre-eminently the qualities of dwarfness, with branching 
habit, and floriferousness, but the colour of its flowers is neither brilliant nor 
sufficiently distinct. Waltham Seedling came next as regards habit, and was 
fairly free-flowering, whilst in colour it was brilliant and distinct; it is in a 
mass the most conspicuous and effective variety I know. Mr. Turner’s Duchess 
of Sutherland is decidedly the best habit of the purple or magenta shades of col¬ 
our, and does very fairly in the open air, with the exception of its noble truss 
being a little too much for its fragile stalk. Of the other u Nosegays,” Mr. George 
Smith’s Grand Duke stood the test very fairly. Not dwarf enough, but for the 
centre of a bed, or the back of a ribbon-border, I think it might prove effective. 
Christine Nosegay , Pink Stella , Le Grand and Masterpiece failed completely. 
Lady Constance Grosvenor was dwarf, but grew straggling, and was not sufficiently 
covered with flower. 
Amongst the new Scarlets, Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s Thomas Moore , Jean Sisley , 
and Vesuvius are decidedly the best I have seen, and were brilliantly effective. 
Warrior, too, is fine for the centre of a bed, or back row of a border. Clipper , 
Surpasse Beaute de Suresnes , Blue Bell , Madame Werle , Emile Licau , Provost , 
Mons. Rendatler , and others, were all too tall. Leonidas is of better habit, but 
looked out of place. Lord Derby grew tolerably dwarf, but did not show to 
advantage ; and as a florists’ flower I consider it adapted for pot-culture only. 
As an edging, and as a step towards the expulsion of other genera (the Ceras - 
tium , for instance), we have a great advance in the effective and telling white- 
flowered, white-foliaged varieties Avalanche and Waltham Bride . They are 
abundant flowerers, and of model habit, both as regards dwarfness and compact¬ 
ness ; and the flower and leaf blending into an unbroken mass of white, produce 
a most effective contrast against scarlet or any decided colour, in the formation 
of a pattermbed. 
We are sadly in want of better pinks and bright crimsons, and could we but 
add blue and yellow, our ribbon would be complete. But taking what we pos¬ 
sess, I would suggest for a bed two rows, next the grass, of Avalanche , followed 
by two of Violet Hill , then two of the Duchess of Sutherland , two of Jean Sisley , 
with a good mass in the centre of Waltham Seedling —or for a ribbon border, two 
rows of Waltham Seedling , backed up by two of Grand Duke , or Warrior —and I 
think a fair contrast of colour would be the result. 
In concluding my notice of u Bedders,” I must revert to my previous assertion, 
that they should be judged in situ , whether for the object of awarding prizes or 
certificates. I would, therefore, suggest the appropriation of a bed for the pur¬ 
pose at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick, and that in the 
first week in May florists or amateurs desirous of competing should forward three 
plants of each variety they wish to be judged. If this could be carried out, a 
most interesting and instructive bed would be the result, and the merits of the 
