1877. ] 
THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE.-CHAPTER XIII. 
17 
both in habit and grass. It has a beautifully shaped petal, smooth, gently cupped, and of 
good substance, though it requires the aid of a card in blooming. Its colours are rich, bright, 
well-delineated, and strongly contrasted. Its outline is as unbroken as any flower I have 
ever cultivated, and its form when skilfully dressed good. It is of medium size, and a good 
grower, and generally produces abundance of pollen, but rarely bears seed unless carefully 
impregnated. When fairly started, during the swelling of the buds, an occasional dose of 
clear manure-water will add to the lustre of its colours and the size of its flowers, but it must 
be understood, this is never given to any weakly plants, whether of this or other varieties; 
such are always stopped, not stimulated, and thus their energies being devoted solely to the 
young growth, strong, healthy layers are generally obtained for another season. 
Campanini (^Turner).*—A very large and very full variety, also full of colour, but 
sadly too confused to please the taste of the northern florists. Mr. Turner has shown this, 
I am told, in good style, and with well-defined markings, but with me not only have the centre 
petals been narrow and confused, but the markings have been broken and undefined. 
Duke of Edinburgh (Abercrombie).*—Good-shaped petal, very leathery in texture, 
but difificult to open in our northern air. The colours are good, and the flower lasts long in bloom. 
Dreadnought (Daniels).—A variety of extra tine character wherever grown true, 
though, unhappily, from the fault or misfortune of the raiser, in many, if not in most cases, 
Admiral Curzon was distributed for it. A seedling from Curzon, it follows its parent in most 
of its characteristics, save that its habit of grass is somewhat more erect and stiff, and when 
in good health it grows from six to twelve inches higher; the bizarre colour is also markedly 
darker. Raised at York. Sent out in 1858. 
Garibaldi (Heap).—As seen at Manchester, a variety of good form and well-defined 
markings, but the colours lack the richness needed to constitute a first-class variety. A good 
grower apparently. 
• Guardsman (Turner).*—Shown in good character by Mr. Turner at the July Show of 
the Royal Horticultural Society, and then pronounced by D. Deal, the representative and 
exponent of “florist’s flowers” in the Journal of Horticulture, as the best flower of 
the exhibition, but so far were the Judges, as I can testify, from sharing the opinion, 
that it seriously detracted from the merits of an otherwise flrst-class collection. It is a 
variety of lai’ge size and rich colours, but the centre petals are much too small and too con¬ 
fused to please the northern taste. 
John Burnett (Harland).*—A sport from Wm. Harland S.F., by the same raiser. The 
petal is scarcely so fine in form as Admiral Curzon, but nothing can surpass its lovely colours. 
Requires generous growth, and should not carry more than two flowers on a plant. Medium 
early in flower. 
Lord Derby (Heap).—A flower of good form and medium size; petal smooth, well 
shaped, fair substance, and the markings distinct. Of its white ground I cannot speak, as 
my plants were “ run,” but I thought it worth replacing. A good grower. 
Lord Napier (Taylor).*—A largo fine flower, with plenty of colour and well-distributed, 
but the bizarre is pale, which injures the effectiveness of its contrast. Requires good growth. 
Raised by the late Mr. James Taylor, of Sneinton, near Nottingham. 
Lord Rancliffe (Holliday).—Bloomed, I believe, first in 1844, and sent out as a variety 
of high pretensions. Twenty-four years ago, I wrote, “I think this flower has been quite 
sufficiently praised. I have seen it good once or twice, and only once or twice since it came 
out. It has fine, large, broad guard petals, but the higher tiers diminish too rapidly, and are 
too confused. When good the colours are very dark, regular, and well-contrasted, the white 
being pure, but I never saw it so smooth as several other varieties I could name. The grass 
is small, but prolific in increase.” I have nothing to add to or detract from my description 
of such far-off time, but I am glad to recognise the vitality which gives it life and a place to 
this day. 
Mars (Hextall).—Raised by my lamented friend, Mr. J. D. Hextall, of Ashby de la Zouch, 
in the last years of his green old age, and sent out in 1873. A seedling from Admiral 
Curzon; it is larger than the parent in size, and a more vigorous grower. A seasonal 
variety, requiring a hot summer to bring out its white ground in good character, it yet de- . 
serves cultivation, wherever the Carnation is esteemed, for its massive style, symmetrical 
form, and well-defined markings. Colours rich. Grow generously, but with a liberal ad¬ 
mixture of charcoal in the compost. Will carry two full-sized flowers. 
Mercury (Hextall).—A companion flower to the above, and from the same parentage; 
scarcely so rich in its colours,—as seen by me last season, but my plants were not in rude 
health,—nevertheless, a variety of fair promise. 
Sir .Joseph Paxton (Ely).—Sent out in 1851, being a seedling of that year. A flower 
of noble proportions, full of coloux-, and very commanding, though far behind Curzon, which 
when offered for sale, it was said to surpass. The petal is smooth and gently cupped, but 
slightly too long. Habit of grass compact; a tall grower, and prolific. Origin unknown. 
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