1 
1877.] the carnation AND PICOTEE.-CHAPTER XVII. Ill 
into the soil, slightly sprinkled over through a fine rose, a piece of glass placed 
over it, and put in a shady place in a gentle bottom-heat. The seed is not long 
in germinating, and when the plants are large enough to handle, they need to be 
pricked off into other pans or boxes and encouraged to grow into size. The same 
hardening process must be adopted as in the case of cuttings. 
The best varieties of the speciosa, or large-flowering type, are :— 
Blue King, deep blue, excellent habit. 
Brilliant, dark blue. 
Celestial, celestial blue, with white centre. 
Lustrous, rich blue, white centre. 
Omen, rosy lilac. 
Paxtoni, white, margined blue. 
Violetta, bright blue, white centre. 
Of the pumila section, the following may be recommended :— 
Flore-pleno, blue. 
Grandijiora, deep indigo-blue, dwarf and 
free. 
Magnijica, clear deep blue. 
Maxima azurea, light azure blue. 
Miss Murphy, white. 
—R. Dean, Ealing. 
THE CAENATION AND PICOTEE. 
Chapter XVII. —Descriptions of the Best Varieties, Old and New (continued). 
2^0NTINUING our description, we come now to the Picotees, the first class in 
order being the 
Red-Edged. 
Brunette (Kirtland).—Heavy-edged; petal broad, smooth, and of good sub¬ 
stance; ■white, fair, densely edged with a broad band of deep red. Habit of grass 
tetchy and capricious in autumn and spring, but a good summer-doer. Useful for the home 
stage, and for the exhibitor, where long numbers are required, but not entitled to a place 
amongst the upper ten thousand ” of Picotees. 
Clara (Bower).—Light-edged. A variety of beautiful form, fair white ground—as 
light-red Picotees go—and of excellent substance, it would take very high ground, but that 
the marking is slightly broken, being laid on like the links of a chain, rather than as a con¬ 
tinuous wire. It is, however-, very pretty, without spot or bar, and -SN’eH deserves wide cul¬ 
tivation. First bloomed in 1872, not yet distributed. 
Countess oe Wilton (Holland).—Heavy-edged ; a seedling from Mrs. Norman, left by 
me at Bradshaw Gardens -when I withdrew from them in 1859. It is yet a good old variety, 
distinguished, as -was its parent, for its fine quality and rich colours. A good grower, though 
showing signs of the advance of years. 
J. B. Bryant (Ingram).—Heavy-edged ; raised by the late Mr. Ingram, of Huntingdon ; 
first bloomed in 1870, sent out in 1874. Awarded a First-class Certificate by the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1872. This variety repre.'<ents the perfection 
of form, and in a season like the last, suitable for the development of a good white ground, 
an eminent degree of excellence. In dull, wet seasons, such as 1875, it is apt to become 
clouded, therefore it will be well to give it a liberal supply of charcoal in the compost for its 
growth. For shape and substance of petal and regularity of its marking it cannot be sur¬ 
passed. It is also an admirable grower. Will do well singly in 8-in. pots, and may carry 
two or three flowers on each plant. 
John Smith (Bower).—Heavy-edged ; this has the broadest edge of all the heavy-edged 
reds, and when in its best character, with its rich translucent white, without spot or bar, it 
is undoubtedly the best heavy-red existing. But like many other varieties of high character, 
its excellences are not to be obtained without effort; and like other varieties of succulent 
habit, it cbarly is most at home in the bracing atmosphere of the north. It will, however, 
well repat^ fhe attentions required, these being that it shall be kept thoroughly clean, free 
from the assaults of green-fly, and the compost untainted with stagnant moisture. With mo 
it does best from pipings, and as it grows very freely in summer, this method of propagation 
may readily be effected. Flower full, and of fair size; petal of medium width, gently cupped, 
good substance, and a fine white. Will carry two flowers, and when in vigorous health, three. 
Mix charcoal freely with the compost. First bloomed in 1862, sent out in 1864. 
John Harrison* (Flowdy).—Medium-edged; raised at Newcastle-on-Tyne; origin nn- 
I 
