Plate 217 . 
ACHIMENES EOLLISONII. 
There seems to be always a clanger in pronouncing how far 
flowers are capable of improvement, and when the limit of 
progress has been reached, for it has been said frequently that 
we could not expect anything further in this section of plants, 
while in various quarters this year some very decided advances 
on former varieties have been made. 
We were much interested, for example, when in Paris this 
summer, by seeing, at the celebrated establishment of Thibaut 
and Keteleer, some very curious varieties of both Achimenes 
and Tydcea. Those in the former section had been obtained by 
crossing Achimenes with Sinningia , the result of which had been 
a number of varieties most curiously spotted, and retaining the 
characteristics of both parents. Then we have also seen that 
Mr. Parsons, of Welwyn, so long and so favourably known for 
his success in hybridizing these beautiful flowers, has brought 
forward some very fine varieties, amongst which Bose Queen 
seems likely to hold as conspicuous a place in its class as Mauve 
Queen has done; while the Messrs. Rollison have also struck 
out into a new path, the result of which is shown already in 
the very beautiful variety now figured. 
“Achimenes Bollisonii ,” say the raisers, “is a cross between 
Achimenes gloxiniflora and Achimenes Shecirii, raised by us. It 
flowered for the first time in June last, and is without exception 
the largest and most beautiful variety obtained by seed from 
the Achimenes section of plants. It flowers during the months 
of June, July, and August, and will be found an invaluable ac¬ 
quisition to the greenhouse and conservatory, being robust in 
habit and a very free-flowering plant. The colour is a pur¬ 
plish-lavender, the lobes being very large and smooth on the 
