270 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
Viola cornuta Perfection is quite a gem, being larger and having more 
substance in the flower than the old variety of V. cornuta ; it also flowers better, 
continuing right through the season. This is destined to take a high standing 
amongst the Violas when better known. 
Viola lutea grandiflora is a fine companion to the last named, being of a 
bright golden yellow, and lasting all through the summer months, flowering, 
moreover, in great profusion. 
Coleus Verschaffeltii always does well with us, which I attribute to our dry, 
light soil. They are always good large plants when put out, and are well 
hardened, being about the last we plant. 
Meseinbryanthemum cordifolium variegatum is a neat dwarf plant, well 
adapted for edgings to small beds. The leaves are margined with cream-colour, 
and the plants cover the surface of the ground, while the flowers are bright 
rosy purple. 
At a future time I will give a list of the Pelargoniums which do best with us 
here.—A. H., Tlioresby Parle. 
CUT FLOWERS FOR TABLE DECORATION. 
(T is said in the cookery-books :— 
“If the woodcock had but the partridge’s breast, 
’Twouldthen be the finest bird ever was drest; 
Or the partridge had but the woodcock’s thigh, 
’Twould sure be the finest bird ever did fly.” 
And so it is with the arrangement of flowers. The exhibitor of Roses is fain to 
add the graceful frond of the Maidenhair fern to back the brilliant Rose-bud, 
notwithstanding “ the veil of moss around it thrown but as the frond of the 
Maidenhair fern bears no resemblance to the natural foliage of the Rose, if a 
pinnate leaf could be found equal to the fern frond in gracefulness, it would be 
a very desirable acquisition for table decoration. For since Nature has generally 
supplied leaves of more or less beauty as a back or foil to flowers, we cannot 
greatly err in imitating so good an example in our artificial combinations. We 
have, moreover, in Nature a very notable example of this principle holding 
good, for we see in the fair colours of the rainbow that this glorious mes¬ 
senger rides upon or spans a dark cloud, and its beauteous tints are thereby 
enhanced in brilliancy. The leaves of the plant that I am about to recom¬ 
mend are not by any means tenacious of life, for if they are left out of water for a 
very short time they quail and dry up beyond all power of revival. It is a British 
plant, fond of rich soil and jflenty of water; but when used for house decoration 
with flowers that are to stand in water, this failing of fondness for water becomes 
a virtue, and the leaves really enjoy the in-door life and the water so much, that 
after a week in a living-room I found that they had not only kept fresh, but had 
curled up to the light, and felt quite firm and crisp, unlike most leaves when 
kept a week in-doors. This is no other than one of the Cinquefoils, Potentilla 
