1879 .] 
NEW PICOTEES.-GOLD-LACED POLYANTHUSES. 
89 
soon as the plant gets into free growth, give 
liquid manure once a week. When the roots 
have reached the sides of the pot, shift into 
one a size larger, using soil as before recom¬ 
mended. If these directions are attended to, 
the growth will increase in strength, and the 
stronger the growth the more abundant will 
be the blossoms. The rich red and varnished 
appearance of the flowers, and dark green 
foliage, makes this plant a very suitable one 
for a creeper on a light background.— Henry 
Chilman, Somerhij Gardens. 
NEW PICOTEES. 
[Plate 492.] 
F the subjects of our present illustration 
\w\)/ month, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are 
products of the gai'den of the Eev. 0. 
Fellowes, of Shotesham Rectory, Norfolk ; Fig. 
3 of that of Dr. Abercrombie, of Cheltenham; 
both of them raisers long known to fame, and 
whose contributions have enriched the collec¬ 
tions of their fellow florists with many sterling 
varieties. 
Our friend Mr. Dodwell remarks of the two 
former :—“ They are chiefly remarkable for 
the new and lovely shades of colour they pos¬ 
sess—colours which the artist, cunning as is his 
skill, in vain essays to imitate—colours which 
not only are admirable in themselves, but 
which from judicious crosses may be expected 
to give yet larger results in the direction of 
variety. Lady Louisa (Fig. 3) is undoubtedly 
the brightest rose, and most regularly marked 
Picotee yet obtained in its class, and though 
not of the largest size, was deservedly selected 
for a first-class certificate at the meeting of 
the National Carnation and Picotee Society 
in 1877.” _ 
GOLD-LACED POLYiVNTIlUSES. 
HE increasing demand for the true old 
named varieties is one indication of an 
awakened interest in these interesting 
subjects, which awakened interest is, in a great 
measure, owing to the institution of the South¬ 
ern Section of the National Auricula Society. 
When a year or so ago I addressed a caution 
to buyers of named Polyanthuses to be careful 
what they purchased, it was thought by some 
that I appeared to be imputing dishonesty 
to men who were without reproach. I made 
no imputations of this kind. I believed named 
Polyanthuses were palmed off on honourable 
men, who purchased and sold in perfect good- 
faith, and I was desirous of placing these, as 
well as those who purchased to cultivate, on 
their guard. Last winter I bought two plants 
of Jjuck’s George /Tb, and three of Cox's 
Prince Regent. The prices charged were high ; 
but if true, the venture was a wise one, and I 
ordered the plants named. One plant of George 
IV. has flowered, and is quite true, and I have 
evei'y reason to think the other is correct. Of 
the three plants of Prince Regent, two 
have bloomed ; they are quite distinct, but 
neither is worth a place in the border. If 
Cox’s Prince Regent in its true old form were 
in cultivation in the neighbouihood of Man¬ 
chester, it would, no doubt, have put in an 
appearance at the recent Auricula Show at 
Manchester, but there was no sign of it. 
Pearson's Alexander has found its way into 
the South. Mr. Douglas and I have it from 
the same source, and though it is a decidedly 
good thing, we are told it is not true. The 
same is said of Beautg of England., though the 
source from which I obtained mine is so un¬ 
exceptionable that I hope it is correct. It has 
not done well with me, and it did seem to lack 
something of its character for refinement as it 
was grown by Mr. Douglas, and shown at the 
Auricula Show at South Kensington on April 
22nd, but this has not been a Polyanthus year 
generally. With the exception of Lancer, 
which has been very fine, but unusually late, 
my named kinds did not bloom in good 
form. I attribute this to their having become 
so dry at the roots during the long spell of 
frosty weather in the depth of the winter. 
When in Manchester, attending the Northern 
Auricula Show, I made inquiries about King¬ 
fisher. One exhibitor told me he had it, but 
others said it was not the true sort. As figured 
in the Birmingham and Midland Gardeners' 
Magazine for Julv, 1852, it is represented as an 
exceedingly bright red flower, the colours pure, 
proportionate, and distinct, with a golden centre 
and lacing, deeper in colour than wdiat is said 
to be now grown as Fingfisher, and altogether 
brighter in expression. I have received King¬ 
fisher from two persons, but they are not alike 
in habit of growth ; one has bloomed, and I 
am quite resigned to its being spurious; the 
