1876 . ] 
THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE.-CHAPTER XII. 
267 
every one of wliicli I shall be glad to grow so soon as there shall be increase war¬ 
ranting their distribution, and all of which will be equally welcome to my brother- 
florists, I am quite sure, when accessible. Then on the 11th of August, I, as our 
French friends say, assisted at the National Show at Manchester, and as the 
result of my observations at home, at the Eoyal Nursery at Slough, and at 
Sheffield, and at Manchester, I venture to commend the following sorts as worthy 
of the widest cultivation :— 
In Carnations, of Scarlet Bizarres, Hextall’s Mars was grand (how naturally the 
old Derby word, their superlative of excellence, rises in my mind, as I recur to 
any flower of especial fineness), and well warranted the encomiums with which 
Mr. Turner introduced it to his brother-florists ; true, it has not, and probably 
even in seasons like the last, especially favourable to it, never will have, the fine 
white ground of Admiral Curzon, yet it has properties which will always 
recommend it to the cultivator, and probably for years to come include it amongst 
the three best Scarlet Bizarres in cultivation. Admiral Curzon needs no com¬ 
mendation, it wins premier prizes now, as it did from the first year of its ‘‘ letting 
out,” and is indispensable, whatever the collection. Dreadnought—I am happy 
to say the true Dreadnought, which I saw with my friend Mr. Simonite, though 
greatly debilitated, having since 1858 been subject, as another friend says, “ to 
the murderous influence of that ‘ Black-hole,’ Sheffield ”—Dreadnought, barring 
only debilitated growth, was superb, rich in every quality that can distinguish a 
first-class flower; and as, by my friend’s kindness, I have a moiety of the stock, 
I hope, with care and patience, in future years to see it as it was when I made 
its trial bloom in 1858, and at its raiser’s request gave it the name it bears, and 
which, wherever seen true, it will surely vindicate. It is greatly to be regretted 
that, owing to the grievous mistake of the raiser, so many growers should be 
holding only Admiral Curzon in that they regard as Dreadnought. Next in the 
order of the class, in my opinion, is Sir Joseph Paxton ; and of other varieties 
which should be grown, I may enumerate Garibaldi, Lord Napier, Lord Derby, 
Lord Eancliffe, and Mercury. Whoever possesses these will have varieties which, 
in Yorkshire phraseology, will be “ bad to beat.” Of Crimson Bizaiues, 
Simonite’s J. D. Hextall, taken altogether, in my estimate, stands first; it is 
rich in every attribute that can distinguish a good flower—fine form, fine 
colours, distinct markings, smooth edges, high quality, great substance, clear 
white ground, and full size. This is high praise, and all the higher from the 
pitch of excellence the class has attained. Closely following in the ,wake of 
J. D. Hextall, each distinct and each of the first order of merit, we have Albion’s 
Pride, Captain Stott, Eccentric Jack, Graceless Tom, Gem, Jenny Lind, Lord Milton, 
Lord Eaglan, Marshal Ney, Eifleman, and Warrior. Some others which I grow 
I prefer to see again before recording a definite opinion, though I do not doubt 
they deserve general cultivation. Pink and Purple Bizarres are the most limited 
of all the classes, and here Sarah Payne holds undisputed pre-eminence, a 
variety impossible to be improved for its sweetness and purity. Falconbridge and 
James Taylor should also be in every collection. 
Purple Flakes come next, and here Premier, as in olden times, is yet premier 
with me. True, he has most worthy rivals, whose advent I note with warmest 
welcome, and no collection can approach completeness which fails to include 
Dr. Foster, Earl of Stamford, Earl of Wilton, Juno, Mayor of Nottingham, Squire 
Meynell, and True Blue, the latter I have little doubt a seedling from Premier, 
which it follows in its characteristics, though distinct. In Scarlet Flakes, 
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