248 
THE FLORIST. 
Picotees have advanced towards perfection as rapidly as Carna¬ 
tions have been slow ; and the former are decidedly the greater 
favourites. Much improvement has taken place in the manner of 
shewing these flowers of late, yet much remains to be done. So¬ 
cieties, in printing their list of prizes, should state dimensions of 
boxes, and other particulars, and enforce uniformity among the exhi¬ 
bitions, or provide stands for the purpose. In the Midland Counties 
we have seen them shewn in bottles ; and though the flowers gene¬ 
rally were good, yet the mode of shewing entirely destroyed the 
agreeable effect that would have been produced by proper arrange¬ 
ments. 
The greatest drawback to a general good bloom was the sudden 
change from so much cold rain in April to the burning hot weather 
in May ; and those who took the precaution of slightly shading 
their plants in the heat of the day, were well repaid for their trouble. 
“ Haythorn’s hexagon garden-net” is admirably adapted for the 
purpose, and has the advantage of being reasonable in price. In 
Seedlings there has not been a large number of first-rate flowers 
brought forward, but rather a falling off from the previous season. 
In Picotees, the best we have seen are Burroughes’ Lorina, light 
P. E., and Jenny Lind, light R. E.; Fellows’ La Polka, heavy rose; 
E. Matthews’ Juno, light P. E., ditto Witch, of the same class. A 
good light purple was shewn at the Surrey, we believe by Mr. San- 
dilands. Mr. Matthews has two good light purples, Blanche and 
Ann Page. Borrenger’s Miss Turner, heavy R. E., and England’s 
Queen, are also fine flowers. Marris’s Prince Albert, heavy P. E., 
is a noble variety, having a good number of well-formed and well- 
arranged petals, without confusion, in the centre ; and Prince of 
Wales, heavy R. E., is equal to the former : these are about the best of 
their respective classes. Ely’s Jenny Lind is a chaste heavy P. E., but 
not large; Youell’s Gem, light R. E., has proved to be fully up to the 
description given of it in No. II. of The Florist, and is a very desirable 
varietv. 
a/ 
Those sent out last season, many of which may not be generally 
known, but are deserving a place in every collection, are the follow¬ 
ing—First must stand May’s Juliet, a noble light-edged variety, fine 
substance, with beautifully formed petals and flower. Burroughes’ Amy, 
light P. E., has well maintained its high character. Headley’s Venus, 
heavy scarlet, a fine variety, and very good grower; ditto King James, 
heavy, R. E., a little undersized, but the best of its class, and very 
attractive. May’s Jessica, heavy P. E.; ditto Portia, heavy P. E., have 
been produced in very superior condition. Edmond’s Jenny Lind, 
and Ernest, both light R. E., have fully maintained the opinion given 
of them last season. The former is the better of the two, but small 
compared with the latter. Mrs. Trahar, a flower that had raised so 
much expectation, has been quite a failure, being little more than 
semi-double. Cox’s Regina is one of the best formed, light P.E., 
but rather small. Holliday’s Countess of Spencer is a flower in the 
heavy P. E. class, and a very good flower it is ; also Holliday’s Queen 
of Roses, heavy rose E., a flower of good promise—we believe these 
