1884 .] 
NEW CHINESE PRIMULAS.— DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BEST CARNATIONS. 
81 
NEW CHINESE PRIMULAS. 
[Plate 611 .] 
B HE central figure of our plate represents 
one of the finest varieties which has yet 
been produced. It belongs to what is 
known as the fern-leaved section—a 
group of handsome forms which originated 
many years ago in a sport of the common 
kind, from seed, we believe, in which instead 
of the normal palmated outline the leaves took 
on the pinnated form which suggested the 
name of fern-leaved. The flowers in the 
original were of the lilac-rose colour which 
occurred in the earlier forms of this species, 
but by degrees other forms appeared combin¬ 
ing the fern-leaf wuth the various shades of 
colours occurring in the flowers, until nearly 
or quite all the known varieties of hue were to 
be found associated with fern-like leaves. 
The variety here figured as Queen of 
Whites (fig. 1) is one of the best yet 
obtained of this fern-leaved race, and like 
another excellent white sort, the Waltham 
White, has the peculiarity of combining white 
flowers and red-stalked leaves—a condition 
quite unknown in the early days of Chinese 
Primroses, when a red leaf-stalk assuredly 
foretold a red flower and a pale green leaf-stalk 
a white flower. Our present subject is a 
vigorous growing sort, quite one of the best, 
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE 
¥ E now proceed to describe the varieties 
of the class of Rose Flakes, a group 
of very charming flowers— 
Rose Flakes. 
Apollo [Fletcher ).—A seedling from James 
Merryweather, which it follows closely both in 
habit of growth and flower, too closely indeed 
to be shown as dissimilar; nevertheless as a 
younger life it is desirable. Like its parent 
this variety is much inclined to sport to a 
C.B., but as yet the permanency of these 
sports has not been determined. 
Crista-galli [Whittaker ).—A seedling from 
Lovely Ann—a grand old variety in its day— 
raised at Royton, in Lancashire; a very 
beautiful variety, remarkable for its fine white 
ground and very distinct through-markings of 
rich rose. At its best, I know few more 
bea,utiful flowers, but unfortunately it is a 
delicate grower, and therefore requires cam 
and special attention to produce it in its full 
glory. First bloomed in 1808 ; sent out in 
1873. 
with large stout nicely-frilled pure white 
flowers, which are much set off by the presence 
of a central star about half an inch across, 
which is of a pale green distinctly and evenly 
bordered by orange-tinted yellow, a combina¬ 
tion which adds much life and beauty to the 
flower. It is one of Mr. Cannell’s productions, 
and wlien shown by him at South Kensington in 
December last it gained a Ist-class Certificate. 
The Swanley Purple (fig. 2) is a very 
high-coloured and rich crimson-purple; one 
of the later acquisitions and one of decided 
merit, certificated along with the foregoing. 
The variety called Princess Beatrice (fig. 3 ) 
is a very pleasing flower, not well reproduced 
by our chromolithographer. The colour is 
much brighter than our figure represents, being 
of a deep rose-pink or peach-blossom verging 
towards rosy-lilac ; it is a well-formed stout- 
built flov/er, with a yellowisli-green central star 
surrounded by a zone of white, the extreme 
edge being also white. It will be admired for 
its pleasing colour, which is chaste and delicate 
without losing the fulness of tint and tone 
which is necessary to brightness of effect. We 
look upon it as one of the most distinct and 
charming varieties wFich have come under our 
notice.—T. Moore. 
BEST CARNATIONS.—V. 
Delicata [Dodwell ).—A seedling from John 
Keet, which it follows, with the exception 
that the colour is less pronounced. It is 
nevertheless a very pleasing variety, and will, 
I think, win general favour amongst the ladies. 
First bloomed in 1881 ; sent out last autumn. 
Dorothy [Dodwell ).—“A flower of exceeding 
refinement; large, full, finely fo-med ; of great 
substance, and beautifully marked with a pale 
rose, of a most attractive shade. Not offered as 
a class flower, but as one of the most pleasing 
E.S.D. has ever had the good fortune to see.” 
This was the description wherewith I brought 
the variety to the notice of my fellow-lovers 
of the Carnation during the past autumn. I 
refer to it only that the flower is a proof of 
the breadth and comprehensiveness of the 
florist’s taste. During the past year -we had ' 
frequent dissertations in certain garden papers 
on the hard and fast lines of the florist, and 
the narrowness of his views, suggesting in the 
main the hopeless ignorance and narrowness 
of view of the writer. Well, this flower is a 
standing refutation of the charge, for limited 
F 
