1877.] 
THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. — CHAPTER XVIII. 
131 
Mrs. Summers (Simonite).—Heavy-edged. A grand flower. In proper character and 
well managed, not to be surpassed. Petal broad, stout, smooth, and beautifully marked with 
a rich purple ; white ground pure and lustrous; form full, and of full size. A very robust 
grower. I make no doubt from the same pod of seed with Mary by the same raiser, yet 
nevertheless impatient of wet, as indeed is almost every variety of plant grown, in 
autumn and early spring-time. Being rather late, it requires the aid of a frame or well- 
sheltered warm nook when first potted, to bring it in with the general bloom. Sent out in 
1866. Will carry two blooms. 
Norfolk Beauty (Fellowes).—Raised at Shotesham Rectory, Noi’folk. First bloomed 
in 1870, sent out in 1873. A fine, broad-edged heavy; fairly full; good inform; of good 
substance and smooth. Lacks the robustness both of growth and character of flower which 
belongs to Mrs. Summers, but a fine variety. 
Nymph (Lord).—Another of the fine flowers raised at Todmorden, though it would be 
an error to ascribe to it merit equal to Alice, Ann Lord, Minnie, or other varieties yet to be 
referred to. Mr. Lord is uncertain as to its origin, but I have little doubt it has Mrs. Hana- 
ford blood in it, though the shape of the petal is not so good as in that variety. Nevertheless 
Nymph is a variety I shall not willingly give up, as it has a beautifully clear white ground, 
and a very distinct narrow wire edge, marginal colour. It also is a good full-sized flower, and 
a good grower. Firstbloomed in 1871, sent out in 1873. 
Picco (Jackson).—Heavy-edged. Sent out by the late Mr. Jackson in 1858, with the 
following note, “ A flower of fair average properties, remarkable for its solid edge, bright 
colour, and freedom from bars. Although not offered as a first-class flower, J. J. thinks it one 
that will often take a place in its class.” The modesty of this note has been fairly vindicated 
by subsequent experience, and even yet Picco deserves to retain a place in its class. 
Prima Donna (Simonite).—Light-edged. Sent out in 1874. Shown at Leicester in 
that year, and there certified as first-class by judges as competent as any living. Described 
by its raiser as possessing a fine broad smooth petal, and pure white ground, without spot or 
bar, and solid marginal colour, all which it fully deserved, and where it will grow, deserves ; 
but unhappily, it has evidently a most ricketty constitution, I assume from being the pro¬ 
duct of a seed imperfectly matured, so that in a confined situation, such as mine, it is almost 
hopeless to essay its growth. In open, bracing localities, such as may be found on the breezy 
hill-sides of Yorkshire it may be stimulated into growth, and give, for some seasons to come, 
crops of its lovely flowers, but unless I am in error in my diagnostic, its life cannot be for 
long. 
Selina (Bower).—Light-edged. A sport from Clara (light red-edged), by the same 
raiser, described at page 111 of the Florist. This is one of those freaks of nature by 
no means infrequent, but very difiBcult to be accounted for. In this case the sport appears 
to have followed some abnormal condition of the mother-plant, as Selina, with me, has none 
of the robustness of growth which belongs to Clara. 
Silvia (Simonite).—A lovely light-edged purple, possessing the narrowest wire edge of 
any in the class; very distinct and beautiful, with a grand, broad, smooth petal, of great 
substance and fine texture. White without spot or bar. Apparently it is also a fine 
grower, and therefore I prognosticate for Silvia the high-place Prima Donna was expected to 
take, but which, from weakly constitution, it fails to maintain. Certified at the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society’s Manchester meeting as First-class. Sent out last autumn. 
Wm. Wilde* (Adams).—Medium edge. Sent out in 1875. May be shortly described as 
a purple William Summers, which variety it much resembles, save in the marginal colour. 
Requires good growth, will carry two flowers. Not a robust grower. 
Zerlina (Lord).—Heavy-edged. The last upon my list, but certainly not least in my 
regard. From the same pod of seed with Alice, Ann Lord, and Minnie, it is impossible, as I 
have previously said of these flowers, to exaggerate their excellence or over-exalt their 
quality. In the distinctness of the markings, purity of the white ground, substance, smooth¬ 
ness, texture, and form of petal, or in the outline and general form, these flowers, as with 
various of those raised by Mr. Simonite, may be equalled, but cannot be surpassed ; and as I 
travel in imagination or fact from one to the other, the reply of Tom Campbell, when asked 
which play of Shakespeare he liked most, viz., “ that which I last read,” comes spontaneously 
to my mind, and I confess I like each so much that I cannot part with one. Mr. Lord and 
Mr. Simonite have each of them worked from parents of great excellence, and they have 
their reward, in giving to their brother-florists a progeny unsurpassable in their sterling 
properties and lustrous quality. 
P.S.—My friend, Mr. George Eudd, writes me :—“ There is an error in your 
description of Maid of Athens Eose-flake. This variety was raised by Mr. John 
Hepworth, of Crossland Moor, Huddersfield, and first bloomed in 184G, with two 
