Plate 190 . 
VERBENAS, CONSPICUA, MBS. NICHOLS, AND 
GENERAL BAZAINE. 
We are indebted to the well-known firm of Messrs. Low and 
Son, of the Clapton Nursery, for the opportunity of figuring 
these very new and striking varieties of this favourite flower; 
and we think that it will be at once seen that they are likely 
to be valuable additions, notwithstanding the large number 
already to be found in our catalogues. 
Verbenas are now so largely exhibited as cut-blooms, that 
the objection which has been made that so many of our 
newer varieties are not self-coloured, but eyed flowers, has, 
comparatively speaking, little weight, for they form a very de¬ 
sirable contrast in the stands. We think it, however, a great 
mistake to have (as the Royal Horticultural Society has done) 
offered prizes for single cut-blooms in stands. We know how 
necessary it is, even for the permanence of the blooms, that 
they should have some support, and even when exhibited in 
three or five trusses, they often flag before the day is out; much 
more will that be the case when only one bloom is shown. 
The opinion that we formed of those sent out last year has 
been, we are glad to find, borne out by the results, Lord Leigh 
having maintained its pre-eminence as the best flower of the 
season; and we cannot but hope that those now figured will be 
of permanent interest. 
Conspicua , Fig. 1, is a flower somewhat novel in its character ; 
the colour is a deep rosy-purple, with a distinct crimson edge 
round the eye, which is large, and a good white; the truss 
is large; and the individual pips of good size. Mrs. Nichols , 
Fig. 2, is a very beautiful light flower; the colour a delicate 
blush-white, with a crimson-shaded eye, star-shaped, not solid, 
