46 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
Elegantissima slightly striped with deep crimson, and of very fine form and 
substance. Those who make the Azalea a speciality should look out for 
this variety, as it will, no doubt, appear at the spring shows. 
Unfortunately, the Chrysanthemum blooms at a period of the year when 
there is scarcely a show at which to exhibit the new varieties. What I saw 
of some of them proves at least that “ higher levels ” of improvement are 
being attained. White Princess , a sport from the well-known variety of the 
latter name, is a good addition to the pure white flowers; it is incurved, 
has fine substance, and is of large size. Mr. Salter’s Purpurea elegans is a 
finely-formed recurved flower of a very fine shade of colour—dark carmine 
violet, a striking hue, much wanted at exhibitions of the Chrysanthemum. 
Lady Talfourd, a splendid incurved flower, is one of Mr. Salter’s greatest 
triumphs as a producer ; the colour is silvery lilac pink, and the flower-heads 
are large and very symmetrical—it had a first-class certificate. Gold of 
Ophir, a fine dark golden orange incurved flower; Countess of Warwick, also 
incurved, colour ivory white; Madonna Mary , sulphur white with primrose 
centre, a large incurved flower; and Enamel , colour delicate transparent 
blush, also incurved, make up, I think, the cream of the remainder of 
Mr. Salter’s new flowers. Nor are the Pompon varieties neglected by him. 
Slowly, but surely, does the stream of improvement set in in this direction. 
Judy, a very full bright yellow flower, and Little Creole, dark reddish orange, 
represent points gained; the first on account of its colour, the last for the 
substance of its florets, and its dwarf habit. The strange-looking Anemone- 
flowered kinds, too, that to my mind cannot be made to look aught else but 
something akin to abortions, have their fanciers whose tastes must be 
recognised; and for these Mr. Salter presents two new kinds—viz., Aglaia , 
rosy blush, with full high centre, and Stella, claret colour, the centre of the 
flower being much lighter in colour. 
That really beautiful and useful spring flower the Cineraria, seems to be 
almost shelved. Scarcely a seedling Cineraria of any pretensions was seen 
during 1866 at any meeting of the Floral Committee. The record here is 
therefore a blank one. Messrs. F. & A. Smith announce a new set, but they 
appear to have discontinued exhibiting their flowers as seedlings. 
With the Clematis, Messrs. G. Jackman & Son and Mr. Thos. Cripps 
have both done praiseworthy things. The Prince of Wales and Rubella of the 
former are valuable acquisitions. The first of these has flowers of a rich 
deep violet purple, with red bars running along the centre of each sepal; 
the latter is a rich velvety claret colour, of very deep hue, and flowers very 
freely. Thoroughly hardy, flowering freely, and making rapid growth, they 
are admirably adapted for out-door cultivation under favourable circum¬ 
stances. Mr. Cripps has been busy with C. lanuginosa, and under the name 
of Lady Caroline Nevill has produced a form of it with delicate lavender 
flowers marked with a darker stripe. Each of these three varieties was 
awarded first-class certificates. C. tunbridgensis, another of Mr. Cripps’ 
hybrids, has flowers of reddish purple with a blue stripe up the centre of 
each petal. 
New Dahlias are as numerous as ever. The following were awarded 
first-class certificates, a pretty sure index of their value—viz., Clara Simons 
(Keynes), a light ground variety with deep edging of dark crimson, an ex¬ 
quisite flower; Mrs. Boston, (May), lilac rose, a very sure exhibition flower, 
fine form, and very constant; Paradise Williams (Keynes), clear claret colour, 
very novel and distinct, a capital show flower; Vice-President (Keynes), a 
bright-looking buff flower, a decided improvement on Chairman; and Princess 
