NOVEMBER. 
339 
m this nursery, and that it would entirely supersede the old variety. 
Having grown the Lady Gottenham or Golden Circle Geranium we can 
pronounce them to be quite useless for edgings or margins; they do not 
show the fine markings of the Golden Chain, and are much too strong 
growing and coarse, and do not substitute the Geranium in question. 
We noticed a large and beautiful assortment of new Geraniums in the 
way of Alma and Attraction, the foliage richly marked with broad 
bands of yellow, green, and crimson ; many of these are only recent 
productions, and will be sent out in 1859. We believe Alma to be the 
best of the older ones of this breed for a bed ; it grows and blooms freely, 
retains its beautifully white margined foliage and bright scarlet bloom, 
and does not run to green sports as Flower of the Day is apt to do. 
As a striking and pleasing variety we think highly of St. Clair ; its 
foliage is rather inclined to be uneven, but the lovely peach-coloured 
blossoms are very attractive. A variegated variety of Ivy-leaf Gera¬ 
nium was pointed out to us—not as a new plant, but as one which 
many consider a pleasing variety. This we know to be a frequent 
sport from the old Ivy-leaf and of very little importance. The old 
Manglesi we consider to be yet by far the best Geranium for margins 
to beds, using it as Golden Chain, i. e., .picking off the blooms con¬ 
stantly as they appear. 
We noted several very striking varieties of silver variegated Gera¬ 
niums, many of which we thought of strong and robust habit; they 
were pointed out as new and important, and certainly as pot plants they 
were very handsome objects. We are inclined to think that the finer 
varieties of those charmingly foliaged Geraniums, such as Culford Beauty, 
Fontainbleau, Golden Admiration, &c., are perhaps more beautiful in 
pots than in beds out of doors. Certainly a few specimens in pots for 
autumn display are invaluable,'and under glass the rich markings are 
more strongly developed. Among these Geraniums we noticed some 
pretty specimens of Lady Plymouth trained as standards about two feet 
high, and very beautiful they were—quite the plant for an ornamental 
vase in the conservatory or drawing-room. We were also informed by 
Mr. Henderson that they had received a great acquisition—a seedling 
in the Nosegay section raised by our indefatigable friend Mr. Beaton. 
We understood this new Geranium to be a cross retaining the Nosegay 
blossom with the dwarf compact habit of the Tom Thumb section. We 
- have no doubt, from what was stated, that this variety is a first-rate 
thing. In rich moist soils the Nosegay sorts are apt to grow too 
strongly, a fault which this cross variety may not possess. We can 
recommend this Nosegay section of Geraniums as very valuable for pot 
plants for the conservatory in autumn ; and as they now vary in colour 
from white to crimson, they make a pleasing display, without much 
trouble in cultivation. 
In a quarter of the nursery grounds we found a number of dwarf 
Dahlias planted out separately, so as to show their varied habits, faults, 
and merits. The following we noted as decidedly good: Titian, the 
best yellow, dwarf and free bloomer; Alba floribunda mana, pure 
white, free bloomer, with a dwarf compact habit; Captain Ingram, a 
good crimson variety ; the Crystal Palace Scarlet, dwarf purple; Ze- 
z 2 
