282 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 31, 1887. 
NOVELTIES OF THE SEASON. 
For the information of those who are on the look-out 
for novelties—and fortunately for horticulture their 
names are legion —we give below as complete a list 
as we have been able to obtain of the floral novelties 
which are to be put into commerce this season ; and 
next week we propose to give the new vegetables—a 
more lengthy list. The experienced gardener who has 
to supply flowers or vegetables in quantity at certain 
seasons knows which of the old or well-recognised sorts 
can best be depended upon for his soil or locality, and 
can pretty well tell when they will be ready for his use 
in all ordinary seasons. There are few gardeners, how¬ 
ever, who do not each year add a few of the novelties 
sent out from time to time to their seed list. Amateurs, 
on the other hand, by reason of their being able to 
gratify their own tastes, are always on the look-out for 
something fresh, and there is no reason why their 
tastes should not be gratified, seeing the great amount 
of pleasure that is derived from watching the develop¬ 
ment of “something new” from the seed leaves to 
the fully matured plant; and in the case of failures 
the amateur has a great advantage over the professional 
in being responsible to himself only. As between 
flower and vegetable novelties, it may be remarked, 
that greater freedom can generally be exercised in 
ordering the former, both by amateurs and professionals, 
because novelty, in the way' of flowers, is always 
acceptable ; whereas in the case of vegetables, a steady 
supply and good quality are most essential points to 
ever bear in mind. 
We have appended a brief description to each 
novelty offered, condensed from the notes and descrip¬ 
tions sent to us by the respective firms whose names are 
mentioned, and have added an asterisk to those which 
have obtained the First Class Certificate of the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Ageratum, “Ada Bowman.”—A new variety, 
raised at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, three years ago. 
It blooms in masses from the time of planting out until 
it is cut down by frost, and requires no pegging down, 
as it is only 9J ins. high ; the trusses measure from 
6 ins. to 7 ins. across. It is of a very effective and 
telling delicate blue colour.— B. S. Williams, Victoria, 
and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway ; Watkins & 
Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W. C. 
Amaranthus tricolor splendens. — A special 
selection of the most richly-coloured forms of the 
species tricolor. It has proved an acquisition to orna¬ 
mental-foliaged annuals.— Hooper & Co., Covent Garden. 
Anchusa Barrelierii. — A beautiful biennial, 
flowering the same season from seed ; 1 ft. high, the 
colour of a lovely sky-blue.— Hooper & Co., Covent 
Garden. 
Aquilegia Olympics fi. pleno.—Splendid new 
variety, very large flowers, rich blue with white centre. 
—Hooper <k Co., Covent Garden. 
Asclepias atrosanguinea aurea. —Fine new species 
introduced from Bolivia ; a greenhouse perennial that 
will flower the first year from seed. Flowers of a 
beautiful shade of red, with the centre golden yellow. 
A plant of simple culture.— Hooper <fc Co., Covent Garden. 
Aster, Carmine.—The richest colour yet secured 
in Asters. Flowers full and very beautiful, intermediate 
between Pteony and Anemone types ; habit half-dwarf 
and very floriferous. Suitable for pots and cutting.— 
Thomas Laxton, Bedford. 
Aster, Diadem.—A lovely new type of Aster of 
strikingly attractive appearance. The plant is of dwarf 
pyramidal compact habit, and bears a great profusion of 
double flowers, of which the two or three outer rows of 
petals are pure white, and the inner petals bright rosy 
crimson. —James Veitch <Ss Sons, King’s Hoad, Chelsea. 
Aster, Dwarf Victoria, Dark Scarlet.—A very 
brilliant and striking colour, this being the first scarlet 
one of the well-known Dwarf Victoria class ; one of the 
best for habit and size of bloom.— Watkins & Simpson, 
Eoieter Street, Strand, W. C. 
Aster, Scarlet King.—An entirely distinct Aster, 
of dwarf habit of growth, specially adapted for massing 
or bedding purposes ; grows about 8 ins. high, and 
each plant bears from twenty to thirty large and 
perfectly formed blooms of deep scarlet colour.— 
Edward, Webb <k Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge. 
Aster, Triumph, Deep Scarlet.—This is the most 
beautiful and most perfect of all dwarf Asters, not only 
in the habit of the plants, hut also in the form and 
beauty of the flowers, which measure from 2J ins. to 
3 ins. across, the petals being beautifully incurved. 
The colour is pure scarlet when beginning to bloom 
changing when in full bloom to deep satiny scarlet.— 
Watkins & Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W. C. 
Aster, Webbs’ New Princess.—A splendid variety 
for decorative purposes ; of pyramidal habit of growth, 
producing a. dense mass of richly-coloured and finely- 
formed flowers. —Edward Webb <b Sons, Wordsley, 
Stourbridge. 
Carduus giganteus.—If sown early in spring, this 
Thistle soon attains gigantic dimensions ; the secon 1 
year the flower-stalks shoot up 9 ft. high ; the foliage 
is dark green, elegantly and deeply cut.— Hooper <k Co., 
Covent Garden. 
Carnation, Germania.—New yellow self tree or 
perpetual Carnation, of robust and branching habit and 
deep rich canary colour.— Hooper <£• Co., Covent Garden. 
Carnations, Jubilee. —Border Carnation, rich 
scarlet, brilliant and effective ; blooms freely. Upton 
Rival.—Border Carnation, with flowers of a delicate 
terra-cotta colour. —F. <k A. Dickson & Sons, 106, 
Eastgate Street, Chester. 
Chenopodium atriplicis Victoria.—An ornamen¬ 
tal-leaved plant of very beautiful colours, changing 
from buff to the deepest violet-crimson, delicate rose to 
the most brilliant red, and from the palest to the 
darkest green.— Hooper <k Co., Covent Garden. 
Chrysanthemum, Golden Cloud.—A handsome 
strain of the annual Chrysanthemum, and valuable for 
any purpose where cut flowers are in demand. It 
produces its large and bright golden-coloured flowers 
freely under ordinary cultivation.— Edward Webb <k 
Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge. 
Delphinium, Stock-flowered, Rosy Scarlet.—A 
new colour among annual Larkspurs, and a welcome 
addition to the Stock-flowered section, whose flowering 
season lasts until late in the autumn. —Hooper & Co., 
Covent Garden. 
Delphinium, Zalil.—This is described as resembling 
D. ajacis, with dark green and finely-laciniated leaves; 
each branch bears a spike of flowers 8 ins. to 16 ins. in 
length. The individual blooms are somewhat larger 
than a shilling, and of the finest shade of sulphur- 
yellow. It flowers from May until August.— Watkins 
<k Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W. C. ; Edward 
Webb <£• Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge; Hooper <£ Co., 
Covent Garden. 
Dianthus, Webbs’ New Champion.—A double 
form of Dianthus chinensis (Indian Pink), of beautiful 
shape, very double, and rich and varied in colour.— 
Edward Webb <k Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge. 
Gloxinia, Heatherset Hybrid. — A grand strain of 
Gloxinia, the flowers of which measure from 3 ins. to 
4 ins. across, are all erect, with large open throats, thus 
displaying to the fullest perfection their gorgeous 
colourings, which are of every conceivable shade from 
pure while to rich purplish black, mostly profusely 
spotted in the throat, and some having the limb heavily 
marked with colour, without spots. — Hurst <£• Son, 152, 
Houndsditch, London. 
Hibiscus californicus. — A new perennial species, 
with large white flowers like the handsome H. palustris ; 
foliage large and oval-shaped.— Hooper <£■ Co., Covent 
Garden. 
Hypericum aureum.—A beautiful new St. John’s 
"Wort, growing from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and bearing 
large yellow flowers throughout the summer. Of a 
dense and compact habit of growth, and perfectly hardy, 
it will be valuable for cutting.— Hooper <k Co., Covent 
Garden. 
Lupinus albo-coccineus nanus.—A new' variety 
of very dw r arf growth, forming handsome compact 
bushes of about 1 ft. in height and breadth. The 
flower-spikes are from 3 ins. to 5 ins. in length, of a 
rich rosy crimson colour half way up the spike—from 
thence to the apex pure white, and of delicious 
fragrance.— Edward Webb <k Sons, Wordsley, Stour¬ 
bridge. 
Marigold, African, Lemon Queen.*—Lemon- 
yellow colour, blooms nearly as large as the orange 
variety, and quite as globular and compact. For 
exhibition it is also unrivalled. —Bobbie <k Co., Rothesay. 
Marigold, African, Prince of Orange.*—Deep 
rich orange colour ; flowers from 5 ins. to 6 ins. in 
diameter, perfectly globular and compact ; unequalled 
for exhibition.— Bobbie <£• Co., Rothesay. 
Mimulus, Jubilee Queen's Prize.—A distinct 
and very dwarf form of Carter’s Queen's Prize Mimulus. 
Flowers 3 ins. in diameter ; colour crimson-brown with 
gold eyes and throat. —James Carter <k Co., 237 and 
238, High Holborn, W.C. 
Myosotis dissitiflora alba.—Pure white flowers, 
equally as large in size as those of the original blue 
variety, which is such a general favourite.— Watkins 
<L- Simpson, Exeter Street. Strand, W. C .; Hooper <& Co., 
Covcnt Garden. 
Myosotis, Blue King and White Queen,—Blue 
and white-flowered varieties, of neat and bushy habit. 
Flowers large and most freely produced ; intense blue, 
and pure white ; invaluable for spring bedding.— 
Edward. Webb <t- Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge. 
Nasturtium. The Pearl.—This adds a new colour 
to the section of the tall Nasturtium. "White-flowered 
the more valuable, as the lighter shades are rather 
scarce amongst them.— Hooper <£.■ Co., Covcnt Garden. 
Ostrowskia magnifica.—New tuberous-rooted 
Campanulaceous plant from Buchara ; it forms a tall 
hush 4 ft. to 5 ft. in height, with oblong, egg-shaped, 
serrated leaves, standing in whorls round the stem, 
crowned by a slender panicle of erect, long-stemmed 
flowers, which are bell-shaped, 3 ins. long, with five to 
nine, hut mostly with seven incisions ; colour either 
lilac or dark blue. — Watkins <£• Simpson, Exeter Street, 
Strand, W. C. 
Phlox Drummonai flmbriata.—This is described 
follows by the raiser : This might be designated a 
new race. In habit it resembles the ordinary Phlox 
Drummondi, but is more compact and slender, which 
gives the whole plant a compact, tree-like appearance. 
The height varies from 20 ins. to 22 ins .—James Carter 
& Co., 237 <£• 238, High Holborn. W.C. ; Watkins <fc 
Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W.C. 
Phlox Drummondi, Star of Quedlinburgh. —This 
has been selected from Phlox Drummondi fimbriata, 
and is generally 4 ins. dwarfer, and the habit slightly 
more compact. The centre teeth of the petals are from 
four to five times as long as the lateral ones, and project 
beyond them like little spines. Thus the flowers 
appear to have a long-pointed, distinctly marked, 
regular star-like form, with broad white margins on the 
petals.— Watkins <£ Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, 
W.C. ; James Carter <£• Co., 237 <k 238, High Holborn, 
W.C. 
Poppy Mephisto Rose.—A very large flower of a 
purplish rose colour, with a distinctly marked white 
cross in the centre.— Hooper <£• Co., Covcnt Go/rden. 
Primula sinensis Holborn Ruby.—A new and 
very distinct form. The flowers are of immense size, 
borne well above the beautiful Fern-leaf foliage (as large 
as the “Queen”) ; colour, rich rosy ruby; eye very 
unique.— James Carter <k Co., 237 <fc 238, High Holborn. 
Primula sinensis fimbriata, “Magenta Queen.” 
—A new variety of very compact habit of growth, very 
vigorous and robust, with leaves of a dark green colour. 
The blooms are very large, measuring upwards of 2 i ins. 
in diameter, of very good substance, and a bright 
magenta colour, with a small bright lemon eye ; quite a 
new colour in Primulas.— B. S. Williams, Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries, Vpper Holloway; Watkins <£• 
Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W.C. 
Primula sinensis, Snowflake.*—A pure white 
Fern-leaved Primula. Flowers large, of fine form, 
massive substance, and exquisitely fimbriated at the 
edge, well displayed in immense pyramidal trusses above 
the dark green, beautifully curled foliage. —James 
Veitch d: Sons, King's Road, Chelsea.. 
Pyrethrum Golden Feather, Double Pure 
White-flowered.—Equal to the finest strain of Golden 
Feather, both in habit and colour. The flowers are 
like miniature snow-white Asters, and form a sheet of 
pure white bloom ; very suitable for cutting. —James 
Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Holborn, W.C. 
Ricinus Cambodgensis — A native of Cambodia. 
It attains 5 ft. to 6 ft. in height, and is of vigorous 
growth. The main stem and leaf-stalks are of shining 
ebony-black ; the leaves are very large, palmate, 
regularly divided, and richly coloured.— Hooper <k Co., 
Covent Harden. 
Saponaria, Scarlet Queen.—This really distinct 
addition to this charming genus is destined to replace 
the well-known S. calabrica. It is more compact, the 
stems are of a dark purplish green colour, and the 
flowers rich scarlet-crimson ; very beautiful and novel.— 
James Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Holborn, W.C. 
Statice superba.—This differs conspicuously from 
St. Suworowi in having feathered or plumed flower- 
spikes similar to the feathered Cockscombs. It grows 
to a height of from 18 ins. to 24 ins., each plant pro¬ 
ducing a large number of beautiful spikes or plumes. 
The main flower-stem rises 6 ins. to 8 ins. above the 
plume. The individual flowers vary in all shades of 
colours from pure white to deep rose. — Watkins <k 
Simpson, Exeter Street, Strand, W.C. 
Stock, Intermediate, Williams’ Crimson Gem. 
—An acquisiiion of considerable merit, on account of 
its charming and decided colour. It is of a dwarf 
compact habit, the central spike and lateral branches 
producing a great profusion of rich crimson blooms of 
