42 
THE FLORIST. 
class, being of full size; petal just sufficiently cupped; white 
good, marking regular, flower circular, petals smooth, and of fine 
substance. 
Holliday's Ferdinand. —Rose-flake ; good large flower for exhibition, 
possessing most of the good points. 
May’s Edgar .—Crimson bizarre, of medium size, high coloured, 
good white, and very distinctly marked ; like most high-coloured 
flowers, will often run. 
Holliday’s Scarlet Gem .—Bright rich scarlet - flake ; rather small, 
good white, fine smooth round petal. 
CULTURE OF THE POLYANTHUS IN POTS. 
The Polyanthus under pot-culture will do best in a western aspect 
from the present time to the end of their blooming. Give as much 
air as possible during the day, unless strong cold winds are blowing ; 
then keep the lights on. If the frame is in a western aspect, give 
air at back, by lifting the lights about three inches ; but if in a 
southern one, lift the lights at the front. 
Protect them at night: a mat or two thrown over the frame will 
be advisable. Top-dress as early in the month as you can, if the 
atmosphere is not frosty. Polyanthuses thrive best in a cool soil, 
rather strong in quality than otherwise. One measure of decom¬ 
posed cow-manure, two of leaf-mould, and two of strong loam (top 
spit), is suitable for them; but for top-dressing only, the compost 
given for the old auriculas will answer. Water them moderately, 
increasing the quantity as the plants increase in growth ; and allow 
them to receive showers during the month when the weather is 
open. 
SEED. 
Polyanthus-seed should be sown about Christmas-time; but it is 
not too late if attended to immediately. A mixture of equal parts 
leaf-mould, horse-manure (decomposed), and sandy loam, or old car¬ 
nation mould, if at hand, will do. A portion, sufficient for a layer 
of an inch in depth to sow the seed upon, should be sifted rather fine. 
Sprinkle the seed regularly over the surface, and cover it, about an 
eighth of an inch, with some of the above compost, adding a little 
silver sand, that it may break easily when the seed begins to swell. 
Place the boxes or pans in a shady situation, so that they may have 
no sun after nine o’clock in the morning. 
J. Neville. 
ON THE TREATMENT AND CULTURE OF THE 
ANTIRRHINUM. 
This beautiful plant is among the most constant and showy of our 
summer and autumnal flowers, as it produces two successions of abun- 
