1884.] 
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BEST CARNATIONS. 
39 
tone as the parent, and it has a far better 
habit of growth. One of the 1879 batch sent 
out in 1881. 
Eccentric Jack {Wood). —Kaised at York 
some ten or twelve years since, and thought 
some seven years back to be amongst the very 
best of the class. Latterly, however, it has 
much degenerated, and is now headed by 
several sorts to be hereafter described. 
E. S. Dodwell {Hewitt). — Kaised at 
Chesterfield, from Admiral Curzon. We have 
in this variety an illustration not only of the 
sportiveness in colour characteristic of the 
tribe, but of the departure from habit and 
colour of the grass of the seed-bearing parent 
—a departure far less frequent than change of 
colour in the flower, though far from being 
rare. Undoubtedly, one of the best c.b.’s in 
cultivation, and, though inclined to sport, 
likely long to remain so. The petals are large, 
finely formed, smooth, of great substance, and 
richly marked with deep crimson and purple. 
A good grower ; somewhat early in bloom. 
First bloomed in 1878, and sent out in 1881. 
Graceless Tom {Wood). —Raised at York 
some twelve or fourteen years ago, and in its 
youth one of the finest Crimson Bizarrfis pos¬ 
sible to be seen ; symmetrical in form, rich 
in quality, glorious of colour, and definite in 
marking ; but, like all things of earth, even 
those most lasting, it has been transient in its 
beauty. From vigorous growth it has passed 
rapidly to the feebleness of age, and its glory 
has surely weaned. Nevertheless, there is yet 
so much of the beautiful remaining that I 
think it w'orthy the exceptional treatment of 
permitting the plants to bloom once in two 
3 'ears only, this being the only mode known 
to me whereby its blooming powers ma}’' be 
sufiiciently maintained. 
Gracilis {Dadwell). —A light c.b. of fine 
form and pleasing appearance. A seedling 
from Lord Milton. First bloomed in 1879 ; 
sent out in 1881. 
Harrison Weir {Dodwell). —The best c.b. 
I have yet had the pleasure to offer to my 
friends. A seedling from Rifleman, c.b., but 
very distinct in colour, it rivals that variety 
in the excellence of its habit, form, quality, 
smoothness, definite markings, and substance. 
Is a vigorous grower, and has the further 
great merit of being a free seed bearer. First 
bloomed in 1879, and sent out in 1881. 
Jack Bunsby {Dodwell). —A seedling from 
Rifleman, c.b., very large and full of colour ; 
fine for the home stage. 
Joe Bagstock {Dodwell). —Another seedling 
from Rifleman, c.b., large and full, and very 
glaring on the home stage. Classified by Mr. 
Turner as a p.p.b., but, in my experience, it is 
more generally a Crimson Bizarre. One of the 
1879 seedlings. 
John Harland {Adams). —Raised by Mr. 
Edward Adams, of Swalwell, Gateshead. “ A 
fine flower, petal broad and smooth, outline 
good, and white extra, short only of bizarre.” 
This was the description given to me by Mr. 
Rudd seven years since, and he has good war¬ 
rant for saying “ white extra.” During the 
past season I had one of the finest flowers I 
ever saw for beautiful white ground and definite 
markings, and though, to some tastes, a larger 
proportion of bizarre and colour may seem 
desirable, I cannot feel or admit that flowers 
of the John Harland type, less full of colour, 
are without beauty of the higher order, or un¬ 
deserving of our warmest admiration. First 
bloomed in 1878, sent out in 1875. 
J. D. Hextall {Simonite). — A glorious 
flower—one of the best of the many grand 
productions of my friend ; supposed to have 
been originated from Jackson’s Captain Stott 
(as the mother plant), set with pollen from an 
unnamed seedling. Seven j^ears ago I thought 
it the best c.b. in my collection ; and it is yet, 
I think, one of the best six. In form, sub¬ 
stance, shape, and smoothness of petals, pure 
white and rich definite markings, it can scarcely 
be surpassed. It is very dwarf in its habit of 
growth, with a leaf very unlike its mother 
parent; but these diversities of nature, amongst 
the most interesting of the incidents of seedling 
growing, so far from provoking dogmatic con¬ 
clusions, will assuredly, I think, raise in every 
well constituted mind deeper reverence and 
veneration for the limitless powers of the In¬ 
finite. Sent out in 1874. 
John Simonite {Simonite). — Another of Mr. 
Simonite’s excellent varieties. A seedling from 
Jenny Lind. Unfortunately, like its parent, it 
is somewhat hard in its habit of growth, and, 
save in a warm season, does not open kindly 
into bloom. But in its best state it is very 
fine, so glorious in its colours and definite in 
its style of marking. The petal also is large, 
well formed, of good substance, and the white 
ground pure and rich. Sent out in 1876. 
Lord Milton {Ely ).—Raised froni Wm. 
Caxton, C.B., and sent out in 1836. This is 
the oldest c.b. now on my list. For many 
years this variety held an undisputed pre¬ 
eminence. Now, however. Lord Milton has 
many rivals and some superiors, though even 
yet, despite an inclination to sport, which age 
seems in no way to check, it deserves cultiva¬ 
tion. In its best character, indeed. Lord 
Milton leaves little to desire save it be size 
and a few more petals. It has a finely-shaped 
gently-cupped petal of good substance and 
smooth edge, the white ground clear, with rich 
and refined colours well distributed in distinct 
bold stripes. A good grower, compact in habit. 
Marguerite [Dodwell ).—A seedling from 
the above, following the parent type, but with 
lighter colour. A good grower. Sent - out ii: 
1882. 
