552 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 3, 1890. 
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Auricula Notes. 
Looking back upon the exhibition of Auriculas made 
at the annual meeting of the National Auricula Society 
last week, it must be admitted that Simonite’s Rev. 
F. D. Horner is the most useful green-edged Auricula 
we have in cultivation. It was generally shown on this 
occasion, and it is one of those flowers that seems to 
improve under cultivation. Like Prince of Greens, it 
has the misfortune of a weak tube, but the paste is 
good, the black body colour well defined, and the green 
edge deep in colour and smooth. It may be said to 
bring us one step nearerto a perfect green edge. Horner’s 
Monarch, which is now in several hands, is also a very 
good green indeed, and promises to make a standard 
exhibition variety. I think it is early in flowering also, 
and a plant of this variety shown by Mr. Henwood in 
his twelve, which took the 2nd prize at the Drill Hall, 
was decidedly stale, and consequently told against him. 
I think he will defeat the champion before long, but he 
will have all his work to do to accomplish this wish of 
his heart. Some thought his twelve equal to the Rev. 
F. D. Horner’s, but with all my desire to see this 
energetic and determined young grower taking 
so high a position, I really could not endorse this 
opinion. But it was a near thing. 
I like Mr. Barlow’s Greenfinch because so distinct on 
the edge, a vivid green, and tube, paste and body 
colour all in keeping. Now the Rev. F. D. Horner 
and Monarch possess characteristics that cause them to 
resemble each other somewhat, but either of these and 
Greenfinch would make two distinct varieties. My 
only fear is whether it is a robust grower ; if it is, the 
sooner Mr. Barlow is able to put it into commerce the 
better. Old Colonel Taylor was seen to great advan¬ 
tage, shown by Mr. G. Wheelwright; it had a bold 
dense white paste, not peculiar to this variety, and it 
was placed second to Mr. Horner’s Emerald in the 
green class. Prince of Greens was sparingly shown ; 
and Lancashire Hero in its green dress was seen in two 
or three collections, but it is difficult to say it is a 
strong green in that character. 
Of grey edges there is nothing among the new 
aspirants to fame that can beat George Lightbody, and 
when well done it is so good that I cannot conceive it 
will be (distanced for years to come. Rachel (Wood- 
head) and George Rudd (Woodhead) are two useful 
flowers ; amd Mr. Douglas had his Mabel in good 
character. Lancashire Hero was scarcely seen ; and 
Richard Headly, a capital grey, is too late in flowering 
to be seen to the best advantage the third week in 
April. I think that of the newer grey edges Rachel 
and Mabel are the best. 
I think of all the sections the white edges show out 
most gloriously. What a beauty Horner’s Magpie is ! 
The Rev. Mr. Horner had a plant of it with eight 
finely developed pips ; and Mr. Douglas had it good 
also. I think it not unlikely that Rachel should 
properly be classed among the white edges, but it is a 
grey also at times. The Rev. Mr. Horner had four 
white edges in his twelve, viz., Magpie, Atalanta, 
Snowdrift, and Desdemona, all of his own raising. 
Conservative was very finely shown by Mr. A. J. 
Sanders, in such excellent form as to be a strong white, 
and if it would always come like it, it would be a most 
useful flower. Acme was well shown, a thoroughly 
sure and reliable variety. 
There are now so many showy seifs that it is but 
seldom one thinks of exhibiting C. J. Perry. At the 
head of the violet seifs must be placed Barlow’s Mrs. 
Potts. If Mr. Barlow had not raised anything else, 
this one would have made for him an honoured name 
among raisers. There was scarcely a collection that 
did not include this variety. It is not so strong in the 
tube as one could desire, but it has other very fine 
qualities. True, it is a rather tall grower, but it is yet 
a noble self. Mrs. Douglas is still useful ; but there 
was scarcely a plant of Sapphire to be seen. In Iris 
and Favourite Mr. Horner has some promising blue 
seifs that are charming in colour. The best dark self is 
probably Black Bess, a variety of excellent properties ; 
and Heroine is very fine also. These two will probably 
head the list for some time ; they are good growers, 
and to be depended upon. In Laurre, Daphne, and 
Dimple, Mr. Horner has very promising flowers, but 
whether they will ever get into commerce remains to 
be seen. 
Everyone was charmed with the golden self Butter¬ 
cup ; it was such a floral surprise to see such a finely 
finished flower, after what we have seen among the 
fancy varieties. Though unusual, it is yet curious to 
note that the leading growers look upon a yellow 
self, however good, as weakening a stand. I may be 
heretical in my opinion, but I should think that on the 
ground of variety and novelty it should be a source of 
strength. But it appears just a little difficult at times 
to compass the methods of the florist.—A. D. 
The Florist’s Laced Pink. 
“ Wild Pink’s ” further article in a late issue 
(,p. 488), compels me to offer a few further remarks, 
which I promise shall be the last upon the subject you 
will receive from me. 
In his previous remarks, p. 438, he quotes “ Loudon ” 
three times over in support of his case, and when I 
prove that “ Loudon ” is against him, he turns upon 
the latter by condemning him as an unreliable author, 
and he also finishes up by stating distinctly, and 
incorrectly , that I agree that the plant mentioned by 
the Rev. G. E. Smith was D. Plumarius. On 
reference to the last paragraph of my remarks, p. 472, 
it will be seen that I stated nothing of the kind. 
What “Wild Pink” emphatically said in the first 
instance was that the Pink originated from D. 
Plumarius, but this he has failed to prove to be the 
case. [?] 
For his future guidance I will quote the remarks 
upon D. Plumarius from that wonderful old work, 
seventh edition, “ The Gardeners’ Dictionary of Plants” 
(published 1768), by Philip Miller, F.R.S., gardener to 
the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, Botanic 
Garden, Chelsea, and member of the Botanic Academy 
at Florence. ‘ ‘Dianthus Plumarius (Linnaeus). —Species 
of plants, 411. A small single Pink of a pale red 
colour, so is not cultivated in gardens.”— James 
Thurstan, Finsbury House, Richmond, Cardiff. 
The National Pink Society. 
I AM glad to be able to inform “ R. D.” and others 
through your valuable paper that the prospects of a good 
show of laced Pinks at the Aquarium in June are 
encouraging. At the same time I am somewhat dis¬ 
appointed at the few replies which I have received in 
answer to the circulars sent out. Doubtless I have 
not been fortunate in pitching upon the right people, 
but they will turn up in good time I have no doubt. 
There is always more difficulty in rehabilitating an old 
favourite than in puffing a new one into notoriety. I 
am happy to say that the money for our small prize 
list has been promised, and what is more important, I 
have been assured by several large growers that they 
will add to the display of Pinks at the Aquarium in 
connection with our first exhibition, even if they do 
not compete for prizes. I have, however, no fear that 
our modest prizes will all be competed for. 
Everything now depends upon the weather and the 
season. If I may judge by the state and condition of 
my own small collection, Pinks will be early this year, 
as they were last, and that of course will to some extent 
interfere with the quality of the show. Our first effort 
is naturally a tentative one, and as the committee 
thought it best to take advantage of the opportunity of 
exhibiting at the Aquarium, where we shall secure a 
larger number of visitors than at any other place, not 
excepting the Crystal Palace, our rules and regulations 
have had to be subordinated to those arranged by the 
superintendent of the Aquarium shows. Nevertheless, 
I am preparing a draft, based upon Mr. Jame3 
Thurstan’s admirable suggestions, which I hope to be 
able shortly to submit for adoption and use on a 
future occasion. There is much more which I should 
like to say to Pink growers, and to those who have 
shown an interest in our efforts, but unfortunately I 
have to go to Scotland this week, and cannot spare 
time to write more. That must also be my excuse to 
those members of the committee whom I had hoped to 
have met at the Aquarium on Tuesday, for disappointing 
them, I must, however, add that I have had promises 
of new seedlings from several growers, and an amateur 
who claims to have more than 100 good varieties has 
promised to forward a fair sample. 
Mr. S. Barlow is working energetically in the cause 
in the north, and under the circumstances I think his 
idea of forming a separate northern branch, with an 
exhibition at one of the Manchester shows, is com¬ 
mendable.— Ranger Johnson. 
Pelargonium, Duchess of Fife. 
This is a new Pelargonium of the decorative class, as 
the petals are slightly crisped or undulated round the 
margin, but not to the same extent as occurs in the 
varieties represented by Madame Thibaut. The flowers 
are produced in dense or compact clusters, and for that 
reason would appear to be well adapted for cutting. 
They are pure white with the exception of a slight rosy 
purple feathering on the middle of the two upper petals, 
A fair-sized specimen was exhibited at the Royal 
Botanic Society’s Show on the 23rd April, by Mr. D. 
Phillips, Langley Broom, Slough, who received a 
Floricultural Certificate for it. 
Tree Carnation, Madame A. Warocque. 
The variety here named was raised from the well- 
known Souvenir de la Malmaison. The dwarf compact 
habit and the broad deeply glaucous leaves are those of 
the parent, and the size of the flower and arrangement 
of the petals are also the same ; but the latter are 
scarlet, or rather of a vermilion-red, sometimes with 
paler stripes towards the base. It was exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, at Regent’s Park 
on April 23rd, and received a Floricultural Certificate. 
Auricula, Magpie. 
This is a white-edged variety of the show class, raised 
by the Rev. F. D. Horner. The tube is of a clear 
yellow, the paste dense and regular in outline, 
and the body colour of an intense purplish black. The 
green edge is densely strewed with farina, making 
it a white-edged variety of the florist. The leaves are 
broad, obovate, and mealy at the margins chiefly. It 
appears of vigorous constitution. A plant was shown 
by Mr. J. Douglas, Great Gearies, Ilford, at the Royal 
Botanic Society’s show on the 23rd ult., and he 
received a Fmrieultural Certificate for it. 
New Varieties of Primula Sieboldi. 
Lilacina makginata. —The flowers of this variety are 
large, with obcordate segments,' and white, bordered 
with a distinct shade of lilac, merging gradually into 
the white ground colour. The whole of the outer 
surface is lilac. Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, received a Floricultural Certificate for it at 
the Royal Botanic Society’s show on the 23rd ult. 
Alba magnifica. —The flowers are large and pure 
white, as indicated by the name ; but a distinguishing 
character may be found in the segments,' which are 
rhomboid or lozenge shaped, trifid, and toothed. 
Ruby Queen. —The rosy purple flowers are of large 
size, with a small white eye. The segments are 
obversely heart shaped, and obsoletely crenulate at the 
margin. 
Harry Leigh. —This shows a tendency towards a 
blue shade as seen in Bruce Findlay, but the colour is 
much less intensified, and not so good or choice, 
although quite distinct. The segments are obversely 
heart-shaped. 
Mrs. Ryder. —In this instance the flowers are 
white, with a delicate rosy pink border. The obcordate 
segments are distinctly crenated at the margin. 
The above five varieties were exhibited by Messrs. 
Ryder & Son, Sale, Manchester, at the same time and 
place as Lilacina marginata, and they received Flori¬ 
cultural Certificates for them. 
-— — 
NARCISSUS BICOLOR MADAME 
DE GRAAFF. 
This is certainly one of the finest of all the modern 
improvements amongst Daffodils, and the pity is it is 
yet so scarce in cultivation. It is certain to find many 
cultivators and admirers in the near future. The 
flower is of great size, and nodding, owing to the 
bending of the top of its stalk below the ovary. The 
tube is turbinate and green, tinted with yellow. Tho 
broadly ovate, much imbricated segments are pure 
white, like those of Empress and Grandis. The corona 
is of great length, widely spreading, and plaited at the 
mouth with a strongly revolute, doubly crenate rim, and 
is of the palest primrose colour, ultimately fading to 
white. It is one of those things raised by Mr. de 
Graaff, of Leyden, and who also raised Glory of Leyden. 
Although it is yet but thinly distributed in this country, 
it gives evidence of having a strong constitution, and 
gives considerable increase by offsets annually. It first 
made its appearance in this country about three years 
ago, and appeared again in fine form at the Daffodil 
Exhibition and Conference at Chiswick in April last. 
It was again exhibited by Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent 
Garden, at the second spring show of the Royal Botanic 
Society on the 23rd ult., when a Floricultural Certifi¬ 
cate was awarded it. Our illustration will give an idea 
of the size and beautiful form of the flower, especially 
the corona ; but it must be seen to realise the beauty 
of its delicate colours. 
