1884.] 
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BEST CARNATIONS. 
53 
well named after a lady whose life of self- 
sacrifice and devotion to duty has made her 
name a household wmrd, and enshrined it in 
the hearts of a grateful people. A most beau¬ 
tiful variety, if not the best, certainly the most 
distinct of its class. A glorious flower truly, 
full sized, well-formed, smooth, of fine sub¬ 
stance, and definitely marked with a deep 
imperial purple on a ground of perfect purity, 
it is the admiration of all who see it. Habit 
of grass compact; a good grower, but not 
prolific. 
James Douglas [Simonite). — Raised from 
an unnamed seedling crossed with Mayor of 
Nottingham. This is indeed a grand produc¬ 
tion of my friend and brother. Sent out in 
1876. Mr. Simonite, in his modesty, has 
ascribed the leadership of the class to Dr. 
Foster (as it is developed in the North, with 
its colour-giving air), but with me, and also 
with Mr. Douglas and other friends in the 
South, James Douglas is unquestionably the 
better variety. It is of the largest size, has 
a superb white ground, and is beautifully 
marked with a bright purple. Petal large, 
smooth, and of great substance. ■ A good 
grower. Like most of its class it is early in 
bloom. 
Juno (Baildon ).—Raised at Halifax. A 
flower apparently of the Squire Trow family. 
A fine variety, having a well-formed petal, 
with a clear, rich white, and well defined, and 
well distributed markings of bright purple. A 
good grower, and early in bloom. Sent out 
in 1858. Shown by Mr. Turner at the Slough 
show in extra fine condition last season. 
Mayor of Nottingham [Taylor). — Sent to 
me by the late Mr. James Taylor, of Sneinton, 
near Nottingham, in the autumn of 1857, as a 
seedling, then first bloomed, for trial. Mr. 
Taylor was not certain of its origin, but I have 
little doubt it was a cross between Meynell 
and Lord Byron (Taylor), or some of the 
varieties originated from Meynell. As a seed¬ 
ling it w'as superb, leaving little to be attained, 
fine in form, stout in substance, distinct in the 
character of its markings, good white, good 
petal, and a good grower. Age has somewhat 
dimmed its beauties ; but though sometimes 
too heavily coloured, it is yet fine, and being a 
good seed bearer, a most desirable sort. Early 
in bloom. 
Mayor of Oxford [DodwelD .—A seedling 
from the above, with lighter colour and some¬ 
what more refinement than has been seen in 
the parent in these later years. Full-sized, 
well-marked, and well-formed. A good grower. 
First bloomed in 1881; sent out in 1882. 
Prf.mier [Milwond). — Raised at Derby, by 
my old gardener Milwood, some time before he 
became my gardener. First bloomed in 1837. 
In its day this was in my opinion the best of 
this very beautiful class, being rich in every 
essential of a high-class flower; and it held 
this place long beyond the ordinary life (some 
twelve to fifteen years at the most) of a Carna¬ 
tion. But now Premier has reached the sere 
and yellow leaf, though I yet keep the variety, 
and by allowing it to bloom everv second year 
only, am reminded of some of its past beauty. 
Sarah Payne [Ward ).—The Pink and 
Purple Bizarre sported to a p.f., glorious in¬ 
deed in either character. Eight years ago a 
sport from this variety was sent to me under 
the name of Sporting Lass, but this sport was 
apparently occasioned by bad health, as the 
plants never thrived; the flower was poor 
both in colour and character, and after a 
season or two died. Five years ago, however, 
the strongest plant of my stock—and Sarah 
Payne to be good cannot be too robust—broke 
into a F.f., and the produce from this plant 
has kept me supplied since. It cannot, how¬ 
ever, be pronounced constant, any more than 
the p.p.B. may be called constant, part of 
the growth every season having returned to 
the bizarred state, or sporting to rose and 
crimson. Therefore I consider the name 
should not be changed. 
Squire Meynell [Brabbin ).—Raised at 
Yoxall Wood Lane, in the neighbourhood of 
Burton-on-Trent, and first bloomed and shown 
(then as a seedling) in 1831 or 1832, this is 
the oldest variety I grow, a veritable patriarch 
of Carnations. In its best days it was indeed 
a grand variety, and even yet will reward the 
patient cultivator with glorious flowers. It is 
a good grower, of good size, full, has a finely- 
shaped petal, good substance, fine white 
ground and rich colour—a dense purple when 
first opened, but changing as the flower ages 
to a beautifully clear lilac. To be seen at its 
best the plants must be strong ; any therefore 
of weaker growth are stopped, and the ener¬ 
gies of the plant being thus thrown into the 
grass, the strength needed is obtained for the 
following season. Very few indeed of the 
older varieties can be had fine without this 
indulgence. 
Squire Trow [Jackson ).—Raised atStaken- 
bridge from Elliott’s British Queen p.f., and 
sent out in 1847. This is another of the 
varieties which belong most to the past, and as, 
though it was a good useful flower, it never 
occupied a place in the very first rank, the 
attention of the cultivator may probably now 
more profitably be given to younger competi¬ 
tors for his favour. 
Squire Whitbuurn [Dodwell ).—A seedling 
from Mayor of Nottingham, first bloomed 
in 1882, and sent out last au umn. “A fine 
addition to a limited class ; the petals stout, 
broad, and smooth ; the white pure, and the 
flakes of a rich clear purple, very distinct.” 
My friend Mr. Simonite, when he saw it 
first in the collection at Loxford Hall, was dis- 
