plants as they could. We have never ourselves admired the 
curious forms and devices into which Yew and Box have been 
clipped, but where all was in keeping, and they formed the ad¬ 
juncts of an Italian garden, they were just tolerable. Moreover 
being naturally stiff and formal in their growth, one does not 
feel that it is such a violation of taste; but when one used to 
see the Pompons grown on a single stem, and then trained 
like a round table, and sometimes three or four feet through, 
or else run up into a pyramid as formal as it could well be, 
suggesting more the idea of a floral bottlebrush than anything 
else, there was an instinctive feeling that this was entirely a 
mistake. We are happy to say that the death-blow seems to have 
been given to this system, and we believe that now generally the 
plan is adopted of training them more as the Pelargonium has 
been for so many years exhibited. For those however who wish 
to grow them merely for their own greenhouses, a much less 
amount of training is necessary, and a few stakes judiciously 
placed will answer every purpose. As a general rule, what is 
wanted there, is not a few plants that shall fill up space, but a 
number of small ones, so that variety may be attained; and 
therefore less training is desirable. 
The three varieties which we have now figured are con¬ 
sidered by Mr. Salter of great merit, although the unfavourable 
character of the season did not permit him to exhibit them at 
the time when the Floral Committee was held in November, as 
they were not then in bloom. Our plate contains Fairest of the 
Fair (Salter), fig. 1, delicate lilac-blush with silvery tips, very 
double and fine dwarf habit, will be found a valuable addition 
to the most select collection. Mary Lind (Smith), fig. 2, a free- 
blooming variety of a dwarf compact habit, offering a unique 
combination of colour, the upper side of the petals being lilac- 
blush, and the under side purple, giving the flower a new and 
distinct appearance. Julia Engelbacli (Smith), fig. 3, golden- 
yellow with brown points, very double, free and excellent habit, 
a beautiful and attractive plant, either for the conservatory or 
exhibition. 
