THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[September 18 . 
386 
heat ancl excessive drought. We are told by travellers, 
that the monkeys search for, and drink with avidity, 
this, in such climates, precious element. In writing on 
variegated plants we had occasion to mention one or 
two species of these line plants, because their foliage 
was coloured. At present we will describe a few more 
that are worthy of culture. 
Tillandsia amcena (Pleasing T.); Brazil.—Flowers 
white, tipped with blue. A small-growing species, with 
spikes of live or six handsome flowers; leaves about six 
inches long, hellicd out at the base, and of a light green. 
Very desirable. 3s. 6d. 
T. bulbosa (Bulbous T.); Jamaica.—The base of the 
leaves forms a hard knotty process, which has the ap¬ 
pearance of a bulb—hence its second name. The leaves 
are narrow and curiously twisted. Flowers scarlet and 
blue. A pretty species. 5s. 
T. Morellianit (Mr. Morell’s T.); S. America.—This 
has been lately introduced to English gardens from the 
Continent. It has handsome, graceful foliage, the under¬ 
side is striped with powdery white bands. They are 
about half-a-yard long, and bend gracefully backwards 
towards their extremity. The flowers are of the deepest 
azure blue, springing out of scarlet bracts or floral 
leaves. It lasts a tolerably long season when in bloom. 
Decidedly the handsomest of the tribe at present in cul¬ 
tivation. It is at present rare, and the price is high. 21s. 
T. purpurea (Purple T.); Brazil.—To the unpracticed 
eye this appears to be a plant of the Pine-apple kind ; so 
nearly does it resemble that species that even gardeners 
have mistaken it for the fruit-bearing Annanassa. The 
flowers spring from the centre of the plant; bracts 
white; corrolla long, and of the deepest purple. A fine 
species, but unfortunately does not last long in bloom. 
2s. 6d. 
T. strictA (Upright T.); W. Indies.—This is the 
smallest of the genus, but though a very minion amongst 
its fellows in size, it is equal in beauty to the largest. 
The whole plant does not exceed four inches in height, 
but perhaps in the whole range of the kingdom of Flora 
there is not a more exquisite gem when in blossom. 
The leaves are of a silvery green, about four inches 
long, recurved and aggregate. The flowers spring from 
the apex of the plant; they are white at the base, largely 
tipped with the most beautiful ultra-marine blue. They 
bloom in succession, and, therefore, last a considerable 
time in flower. Difficult to increase—hence it is scarce 
and dear. 21s. 
Culture. —The first four species should be grown in 
pots, in a rich, light compost, formed of fibrous loam, 
sandy peat, and well-decayed leaves, in equal parts. They 
will grow much larger and finer if plunged in a mo¬ 
derately heated tan-bed, in a pit. Pot them frequently, 
till the flowers appear, and then remove them into the 
stove to bloom. After the bloom is over, keep them 
rather cool and dry, till fresh suckers are formed; for 
mind ye, unknowing ones, the plants of the whole of 
this tribe only flower once. If a large plant is desired, 
the suckers or side-shoots may be allowed to remain 
attached to the old stool, but when they have attained a 
considerable size, the old centre may be cut away. In¬ 
creased by dividing the suckers from off the old stool or 
plant. 
The last-named specie, T. striata , thrives best fast¬ 
ened to a block of wood, with a little moss attached to 
it. It will, however, require strict attention in keeping 
it well supplied with moisture, either by syringing daily, 
or dipping frequently in tepid water. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 
MR. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
The Show at the Surrey Gardens was, perhaps, the 
poorest in Dahlias that has taken place there, partly 
because it was a fortnight too early for the general 
bloom; partly because since the Society reduced the 
number of seedlings from six, as established by the 
Metropolitan Society, to three, which enables the most 
uncertain flower to be shown, and, therefore, destroys all 
confidence in seedling awards; and partly because the 
exclusive nature of - the Society has caused a general 
falling off. Of the seedlings we can say but little, there 
being of the most of them but three blooms, and in them 
nothing to indicate certainty ; Dr. Frampton was an ex¬ 
ception, for besides putting up three blooms, according to 
the regulations, the raiser staged eight to ten others. Of 
this flower we gave the first opinion. It is the best of the 
season so far, and the judges seem to have acted upon 
this everywhere; for it has first-class prizes wherever 
the awards are worth having, and even where they are 
not it gets commended. Some critics on flowers, like 
the critics of literature, think they show their judgment 
by detecting faults, accordingly there were not wanting 
persons who found out that it was too small; dealers 
said just the same of Princess Radzville, and, moreover, 
discovered it was good-for-nothing because the petals 
reflexed. In the same manner they have condemned 
the King of the Dahlias, because it reflexes; really good 
properties, however, in both cases, compensate for one 
fault; and, like Princess Radzville, which they cannot 
show without The King, will, in spite of its great fault, 
be universally grown and shown. The Dahlia, to be 
perfect, should be round in the outline, two-thirds of a 
ball in form, the centre well-up to the surface, the petals 
numerous and close; in other words, very double, and 
the whole of them placed symmetrically from the face to 
the back. Now The King has all these points in per¬ 
fection. But the Dahlia should have one or two more 
beauties, which The King has not; the petals should be 
cupped, and free from ribs or puckers; The King is 
confessedly a reflexed flower. The petals are not free 
from puckers or ribs; but it is absurd to condemn any 
flower for a fault which is not fatal, while it has all the 
main beauties or perfections. We have not such another 
Dahlia for form. Sir Frederick Bathurst, Queen of the 
East, Fearless, the Duke of Wellington, Toisson d'Or, 
and some others, can occasionally be caught very beau¬ 
tiful, and very nearly of perfect form, but it is the height 
of absurdity to pretend that the very best can equal The 
King in form. If our “properties of flowers" are to 
form the standard, and nobody has ventured to dispute 
it as an authority, there is not in the whole family so 
complete a model. The new flower, Dr. Frampton, is 
the nearest to perfection, because, with the desired form, 
it has a very pretty cupped petal; moreover, it is a light 
variety, and we are short of light varieties of any really 
good stamp. The size is against it, while the pre¬ 
sent vulgar taste for size and coarseness prevails, but 
this is already declining. Ordinary people begin to see 
that coarseness is the inevitable result of large growth, 
and compactness as certainly the accompaniment of 
moderate culture. There were, at the Gardens, many 
seedlings exhibited to a great disadvantage, grown evi¬ 
dently for size; it was in vain to look for either com¬ 
pactness or symmetry, but we will not criticise any 
flower upon the sight of three blooms. Hollyhocks have 
a very pretty acquisition in the King of Roses, a beauti¬ 
ful rose colour; and Satisfaction, of a darker pinky 
shade; both had certificates. The Fuchsia, Nil Despe- 
randum, was shown in good style by Mr. Smith; as was 
also Diadem, which we have already noticed as reflexing 
like the Montagon Lily. Beauty of Deal, a white, with 
crimson corolla; and Elegant, white, with pink corolla, 
were both very pretty, but not sufficiently decided to 
bear a high price. Antirrhinums were, as irsual, abun¬ 
dant, but disgustingly weedy and worthless; not a striking 
colour among the whole lot, and there were scores. 
Among the plants the most remakable, so far as novelty 
