16G 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST 
[November, 
the former was meted out with interest in 
the latter month. The result was abnormal 
character in all the earlier blooming varieties. 
So marked indeed was this, that of seven 
plants of Sir Garnet Wolseley (Hewitt), a fine 
p.p.b., one only was true. Then the bloom 
which during March and April promised to 
be early beyond all precedent, and which with 
me commenced in the middle of May, was 
without a parallel slow in development. All 
through June the movement was of the 
slowest, sometimes indeed it seemed posi¬ 
tively retrograde, and expectation was kept on 
the full stretch, whilst insect life demanded 
unremitting attention to save from pitiful evil. 
July followed June, with less than its usual 
warmth, and more of rainfall, and it was 
only when August had set in that we got a 
brief spell of genial summer weather. Never¬ 
theless, wherever there was a sufficiency of 
means for efficient protection, good light, and 
perfectly ventilated glass erections, I believe 
the flowers were large, and the colours and 
character generally fine in a degree never 
surpassed. 
This was our experience, and certainly 
judging from the magnificent flowers shewn at 
South Kensington it was the experience of 
my friends Mr. Turner, of Slough, and Mr. 
Douglas, of Loxford Hall. Oxford and Man¬ 
chester fully sustained this inference. The 
bloom, contrary to early promise, was very 
late but good. 
During the last few years great strides have 
been made, and varieties of much excellence 
introduced, in many cases surpassing and 
therefore displacing the older sorts. This 
has been very marked in the Scarlet Bizarre 
class, which is generally regarded as the 
highest type of development. Here Admiral 
Curzon and Dreadnought, which for excellence 
of properties will probably never be surpassed 
so long as they can be successfully grown, have 
many worthy companions of younger life, and 
therefore, as is usually the case, of more 
robust habit, thus giving greater results for less 
labour, a point always of importance. The 
best with me this year were Arthur Medhurst, 
Ben Simonite, Charles Turner, Edward 
Adams, Fred, George, James M'Intosh, very 
grandly indeed shown by Mr. Turner at 
South Kensington ; John Hines, Philip 
Thomas, Rayner Johnson, and Robert Lord. 
Mercury (Hextall} was very finely shown by 
Mr. Simonite at Manchester, large and 
beautifully marked ; but fine as it was, it could 
not get a place in its class against the brilliant 
flowers of Curzon opposed to it. Wm. Spoor, 
with its smooth, lovely rounded petals and 
well-defined markings, would be one of the 
finest varieties existing, but for its generally 
flushed white. When this drawback is not 
seen it is grand indeed. 
Crimson Bizarres are another rich class. 
In the high-coloured section, Master Fred 
(Hewitt), a variety sent out last season, is 
glorious for its superb markings, colours, size, 
form, and smooth edges. First indeed it un¬ 
doubtedly is of the higher coloured section. 
E. S. Dodwell, another variety of Mr. Hewitt’s, 
is very fine. To be seen at its best it requires 
the aid of a card before complete expansion 
has been attained, as it has an inclination to 
reflex its guard petals, but with this aid it is 
very glorious. Were not Harrison Weir one 
of my own bantlings I might break into 
raptures with its beauties. As it is, I must 
content myself with saying that Master Fred, 
E. S. Dodwell, Harrison Weir, Wm. Skir- 
ving, Rifleman, and J. D. Hextall, are six un¬ 
beatable flowers, and whoever possesses the lot 
will have a rich collection. But some others 
may be enumerated, and of these with me 
Dr. Cronin, Mrs. Gorton, Robert, Shirley 
Hibberd, Squire Dodwell, Stanley Hudson, 
and John Harland w T ere good. They should 
be in every collection. 
In Pink and Purple Bizarres, though fre¬ 
quently there is so close a fusion between 
these and the c.b.’s that separation be¬ 
comes difficult, there are some very beauti¬ 
ful varieties. First and foremost, seniores as 
priores, stands Sarah Payne, unbeatable for 
delicacy of colours, delineation, and cliaste- 
ness of the ground. Unhappily it is delicate 
in habit, and far from robust in its growth; 
but it is unsurpassed and unsurpassable in its 
beauty when well done, and will afford ex¬ 
quisite delight so long as it can be grown. 
Fortunately it is not alone in its class. Sir 
Garnet Wolseley (Hewdtt) is a variety of great 
excellence, and Unexpected (Turner) is also 
grandly beautiful. Some others also of recent 
introduction will repay the attention of the 
