July 10.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
229 
place them behind each, so as to be seen as little as 
possible ; tie a piece of broad soft bass mat to each stick, 
of sufficient length to embrace the leaf; bring it round 
the leaf, and tie it rather close on the front of the leaf. 
These sticks will keep the plants steady till they make 
new roots, and take such hold of the compost, as will 
enable them to support themselves without the stick, 
which may then be removed. As soon as they are 
all potted and tied, give a good watering, and replace 
the plants in the orchid-house. Place them in such 
part of it as is not quite hot enough for the xErides, 
Saccolabiuins, and similar plants, and yet warmer than 
will suit Gattleyas, or plants from the hills of Guate¬ 
mala; there let them remain and grow strong till they 
show flower. Their treatment, when in that state, as 
well as the treatment of the second section, must be 
deferred till the next paper. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
MR. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
At the Surrey Zoological Gardens there were four 
seedling Geraniums exhibited in fine condition. They 
were shown for the prizes given by Mr. Lockner, and 
also for certificates; and they were thus placed:— 
Optima, first; Ariadne, second; Enchantress, third; and 
Rubens, last, the first three had certificates. We have 
had occasion to notice these flowers before, but they 
were in fine condition on this occasion. Optima, dark 
and crimson; Ariadne, lighter; Enchantress, more ap¬ 
proaching a red shade; and Rubens, more purple in 
the tint. Anybody may safely grow all four, if they do 
not come out at too high a price. Rubens is of a good 
general form, but the upper petals crumple a good deal. 
A fancy Geranium, Ambrose’s Richard Gobden, is not so 
new in colour as it is good in form; but it is an im¬ 
provement, and was awarded a certificate. 
Pansies. — Of these there were several novelties; 
Swansdown, a white, and Black Diamond, a black, were 
awarded certificates. The former is a yellowish white, 
and no advance on White Sergeant, as a white ; if it gains 
a trifle in form, it loses it in colour. Black Diamond is 
unquestionably the darkest self we have; it was shown 
out of condition, and small, but there is every chance of 
its being useful on account of its colour, notwithstand¬ 
ing an indentation in the lower petal. National was 
exhibited. This is a noble flower, of excellent general 
character; the field a straw colour, but all alike. This 
will be among the most striking of show flowers; for 
although we should prefer a pure white or a pure yellow, 
a cream colour, or pale straw colour, equally pure, has 
nothing to disqualify, except in class showing, where it 
must be excluded, because it is neither yellow nor white. 
A very striking pink Optima was exhibited in great 
numbers, perhaps thirty or forty blooms. It is a great 
acquisition, very full of petals, beautifully laced, and the 
form above the average. We should have liked the edges 
smoother and more obtuse, but there is too much good 
about it to reject it for a fault or two. It had a certifi¬ 
cate. A certificate was also granted to a flower not to 
be looked at the same day. 
A seedling Ranunculus, called Madona, was shown 
among others. It was thin, but a very striking colour, 
and the petals were of the very best character. The edge 
was the brightest scarlet we know of. This had no cer- 
I tificate. 
Some Verbenas were shown, the best of which was 
Cynthia, a large whitish variety, with a dull, rosy eye, 
j but a very deep notch. 
Antirrhinums were shown in abundance, as coarse 
and ugly as can be imagined. This flower is becoming 
quite a weed—every move seems for the worse; not one 
in a thousand is so good as the old Pictum, which is 
bright red on a white tube. 
National Flortcultural Society. — Mr. Hoyle’s 
Geranium, Optima, was distinguished on this occasion 
by a first class certificate; we have noticed this flower 
before. Rubens, Enchantress, and Ariadne, had certifi¬ 
cates, not of the first class, and Attraction was com¬ 
mended. The distinctions are:—The first class certifi¬ 
cate intended to be awarded to really fine novelties of 
good property; certificates, without the words “ first 
class,” are given, or rather professed to be given, to good 
novelties that are worthy; and commendations to things 
having some one good point, which is mentioned in the 
award. Optima is, therefore, set down at the highest 
value that can be put on a flower by the society. Three 
others, at average good general character, and a fifth, is 
commended for its colour. We have no fault to find 
with these awards further than this remark conveys, 
what could they have awarded to Optima if it had been 
better? For, be it remembered, it is not without its 
faults. 
The Pansey, Kossuth, sent by Mr. Rogers, was 
shown in capital condition, and received a certificate. 
It is, as we have stated, a self, and we are glad we 
saw it shown without any indentation on the under 
petal. Richard Cobden, a fancy Geranium, which we 
have already mentioned favourably, had a certificate. 
The Pink, called Optima, had a first class certificate. 
This is a fine, full pink, which everybody will want 
to grow; but we should have been better prepared for 
the highest award had the inner petals been more 
obtuse; a certificate, without the words “first class,” 
would have pleased us better, unless the society have, 
in the background, a yet more distinguished honour 
for things that may come better. The Pink, Mrs. 
Maclean, is a remarkable colour and style, but it is 
too flat and thin; nevertheless, if any flower is likely, 
from its novel appearance and the absence of any 
grievous fault, to have many buyers, Mrs. Maclean is 
that flower. The purple is new. It was not noticed, 
but it might safely have been commended for its novelty. 
The Pansey, Swansdown, a yellowish white, had a certi¬ 
ficate. We noticed this at the Surrey. Verbenas. —Of 
these Mr. Smith exhibited two; one, a well-formed blue, 
fine flower, with large truss, broad petals, and as good a 
form as we possess; this was called Orlando, and had a 
certificate, which it deserved ; the other was larger and 
brighter than St. Margaret's, but with all its size it was 
deeply notched, and the indentations conspicuous; it 
was commended; this was called Kooh-inoor. Abun¬ 
dance of worthless Antirrhinums, Petunias, Calceolarias, 
fancy Geraniums, and other subjects, of no interest 
whatever. 
Pansies (Kossuth). —Three blooms of this Pansey, Kos¬ 
suth, received from Mr. Rogers, came in good order and 
in good time to compare it with all our best seifs, with 
which it may fairly range; but in all three of the flowers 
there is an indenture on the under petal. This, however, 
may not be permanent. 
Seven Seedling Pansies [Oxford). —Not one worth 
naming. We cannot undertake to judge in the country 
at such short notice; we are full of engagements till the 
7tli of July. 
(TF.)—Send Advertisements direct to the office on or 
before every Thursday to appear the next Thursday. 
Calceolarias. —Many Calceolarias have reached us 
this week, but none at all approaching a good one. One 
could easily fancy they were all from the same seed. 
Roses ( A.D. ).—No. 1 is Striped Unique, and a very 
fine rose it is, but not new. Nos. 2, 3, and -I, are too thin 
to do any good. 
Tansies (Emily). —You must persevere. Numbers 3 
and 5 are good for nothing as varieties, but you will do 
well to throw all the rest away immediately, and save 
