268 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
Sportsman, tliougli closely pressed by Ms compeers, and in especial by a very 
recent introduction, Clipper, a seedling from Jobn Bayley, is, all points considered, 
A 1. But there are other varieties with merits so marked that they are indis¬ 
pensable—these are Clipper, above referred to, John Bayley, James Cheetham, 
Superb (a very superb variety), Mr. Battersby, and Annihilator, the only bad 
property in the latter being its name. After the Bizarres, Eose Flakes are the 
most attractive, winning by their sweetness, of all the classes ; and here we have 
a bevy of beauties enchanting in their loveliness. My only regret is they have 
not all of them feminine names. I can scarcely picture to myself improvement 
upon the high qualities of John Keet, James Merryweather, and Mrs. Dodwell, 
each closely allied in their parentage, I have little doubt, though very distinct; 
Sibyl, Eose of Stapleford, Lovely Ann, Crista-galli, and E. S. Dodwell, the latter 
apparently a seedling from Lovely Ann, which it follows in its habit, but with 
a larger proportion of colour. 
Picotees are most lovely, in their feminine softness attracting admiration 
often refused to the masculine force of the Carnation. In the red, heavy-edged 
section, we have varieties so fine, and with merits so evenly balanced, that a 
veritable Solon might be puzzled to award the palm. Everywhere J. B. Bryant, 
John Smith, Leonora, Princess of Wales, Brunette, Countess of Wilton, and 
Mrs. Dodwell should be grown. In the light edges, the Eev. F. D. Homer and 
Wm. Summers, though the latter, being feathered, is rather a medium edge than 
light, are both of the highest quality. Clara and Mrs. Bower—two varieties of 
Mr. Bower’s—are remarkable for the beauty of their form, breadth of petal, and 
full size, and are sure to have admirers. Of Mr. Flowdy’s varieties, the best 
with me were John Harrison and Eobert Scott, the former reminding me of 
Mr. Smith’s Lauretta, a fiower remarkable for its beauty twenty years since. 
Heavy-edged purples are not numerous in my collection, but of great excellence. 
Mrs. Niven, despite a microscopic roughness on the edge of the petal, was superb; 
the beauty of her marking, and purity of the ground, cannot be surpassed. But 
the gem of my collection was a seedling of Mr. Lord’s, since named Zerlina. 
This, a cross between Mrs. Hanaford and Mrs. Bayley, possesses the rich quality 
of its parents in a high degree, and wherever seen in proper condition will surely 
be admired, and as surely never be excelled. Alice and Minnie, seedlings from 
the same parentage, the former a narrow-edged heavy, the latter light-edged, 
possess every attribute of high-class excellence. Mrs. Summers, Norfolk 
Beauty, and Mrs. May, were shown at Manchester in unbeatable condition, and 
in light edges it is difficult to imagine an improvement upon Mary and Ann 
Lord, Two good medium edges, always to be relied upon, are Cynthia (Turner), 
and Jessie (Turner) ; and other varieties I have grown, and intend yet to grow, are 
Nymph (Lord), and Mrs. Little (Hooper). This latter has been described as the 
best of its class, but this position I cannot possibly assign to it. Eose and 
scarlet edges in Picotees occupy an analogous place in my estimation with the 
Eose Flakes in Carnations, and never, surely, was the class more full of lovely 
variety. In the heavy-edged roses, Miss Homer, in my collection, was un¬ 
doubtedly the belle ; then followed, and very close indeed in their order, Edith 
Dombrain, beautiful for its broad band of lovely rose ; Fanny Helen, grand in 
form and colour and shape and substance of petal; and Mrs. Lord, the 
latter a rose-edged Mrs. Bayley. In the scarlet edges, as they are generally 
described, though I think the colour would be more accurately described as a 
rosy-buff, Miss Lee, another variety of Mr. Lord’s, leads the class, though not 
so bright in colour as Juliana; but for S 3 niimetry of form, finely-formed petal, 
and regularity of marking, Miss Lee distances all her rivals. Juliana, already 
