130 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Junk, 
Queen Victoria (Crask). The flower has the rich white and fine colour of the Princess, 
without the least spot or bar, but has suffered in smoothness from the cross. "When well 
grown—that is, kindly and in good health—this is not very perceptible, and then it is a very 
fine heavy. The petal is well shaped, and the form good, but unless attended to, shows a 
disposition to reflex in blooming. A moderate grower; must be carefully guarded from 
excess of moisture in winter and early spring. First bloomed in 1848, sent out in 1850. 
This is therefore the oldest Picotee in this list. 
Mart (Simonite).—Light-edged. A superb variety; well done, and in its best dress 
impossible to be surpassed. Full, and fine in form, and form of petal; of extra substance; 
white ground, untouched with spot or bar, the marking a bold distinct wire edge; higher 
properties cannot be enumerated. Yet, in some cases and under unfavourable conditions, 
Mary is inclined so to shed portions of the rich marginal colour on the under-surface of the 
petal, as to transform what should be the lovely white ground almost to lavender, and it is 
important to know how this may be guarded against. First, then, the plants must be kept 
perfectly clean, both from dust, dirt, and insects; must never suffer from excess of moisture ; 
and finally, when the flower is breaking forth, must be, in the language of its raiser, care¬ 
fully kept from “ seeing the sun.” Strict shade of the flower therefore is the rule of the 
best growers of this delightful variety, and well are their attentions requited in the superb 
specimens they are enabled to produce. A fine grower; will carry two or sometimes three 
blooms to a plant. Sent out in 1866. Raised from an unnamed seedling. 
Minnie (Lord).—Another of the fine varieties raised by Mr. Lord, from the same cross 
from which Alice and Ann Lord resulted, and like the sister-varieties, though perfectly 
distinct, not possible to be sui’passed in the beauty of its form, breadth and substance of 
petal, smoothness of texture, lovely white ground, and beauty and distinctness of its mar¬ 
ginal colour. Sent out in 1876. Unfortunately, in the exciting air of my garden, a plant 
here and there exhibits a tendency to canker, or what I call “ plant-gout,” a disease which 
high-bred seedlings placed in confined and stimulating atmospheres are peculiarly liable to; 
whilst on the breezy hill-sides of Yorkshire and Lancashire they appear to attain a positive 
immunity. Thus amongst plants, as amongst men, we have an illustration that robust health 
is best promoted in the free air of heaven, though perchance that may occasionally be some¬ 
what imde, rather than in the sheltered nooks, the “Capuas” persons unversed in their 
seductive, demoralising influences, whether upon men or plants, so much affect. 
Mrs. Douglas (Simonite).—Narrow-edged, heavy. A very distinct and beautiful 
variety, remarkable for its soft lilac or mauve marginal colour. Like all Mr. Simonite’s 
seedlings, and all flowers possessing first-class excellence, Mrs. Douglas has a fine large 
broad petal, well continued to the crown, thus producing a fine form and outline without 
confusion ; rich white ground and distinct markings, smoothness, both of edge and surface, 
and fine substance. I fear, judging from the plants I have, it has a tendency to that plant- 
gout I have above referred to, but hope that in gardens more favourably circumstanced 
than mine, or that of Mr. Simonite, this tendency may be suppressed. Sent out in 1876. 
Mrs. Hanaford (Simonite).—One of the earlier productions of Mr. Simonite, and one, 
as Mr. Homer tells us, like Ganymede, its raiser has now “ no room for.” Mrs. Hanaford wants 
the fullness, fine form, and distinct marking of Mary, yet nevertheless is a fine flower, 
though unfortunately it develops palpable signs of that incurable plant-disease, canker. 
Sent out in 1862. 
Mrs. Little (Hooper).—Raised, I believe, at Bath, first bloomed in 1871, and sent out in 
1874. A flower of good average properties, having a good white ground, a lovely marginal 
colour, alight wire-edge, fair substance, and smoothness both of edge and surface of petal. 
It also is full, and of good size. But I can by no means think it the best of the class, inas¬ 
much as with me the petal utterly lacked the breadth and symmetry which belong to Mary, 
Ann Lord, Minnie, Alice, and some others I bloomed. 
Mrs. May (Turner).—Heavy-edged. Sent out in 1855. Described by me in 1856 as 
“ extra fine in form ; the petal broad, of good shape, and the marginal colour very distinct and 
regular. The white is wanting in the lustrous richness which belongs to one or two flowers 
in its class, but nevertheless, it is a fine flower.” Shown, I am pleased to say, at Manchester 
last season, in a condition completely to warrant this description. 
Mrs. Niven (Niven).—Heavy-edged. Raised by Mr. Jas. C. Niven, Curator of the 
Botanical Gardens, Hull, from seed presented to him by Mr. Robert Morris, of Leicester, now 
from advancing years greatly withdrawn from a pursuit he has done much to advance and 
ornament. In form, foimation of petal, and character of markings, very similar to the pre- , 
ceding, but far superior in its lovely white ground, which in every specimen with me was 
absolutely without spot or bar. Indeed, but for a microscopic serrature on the edge, Mrs. 
Niven, despite the great excellence of her compeers, would be the unquestioned queen of the 
class. Only recently distributed. A fine grower; will carry two blooms. 
