ANTIRRHINUMS. 
251 
plants may very well be left two or three years in the same place, 
and only require to be cut into a proper size, and when left in 
this way have a very good appearance through the winter, fully 
equal to the small shrubs usually employed to clothe the beds 
with when cleared of their summer occupants. 
In relation to the production of seedling varieties, we may pre¬ 
sume to offer a few words for the guidance of those who delight 
in the pursuit, as an assistance to their selection of kinds for 
perpetuating. Hitherto colour and size have been regarded as all 
that could be required of such flowers ; as the plants, however, 
possess every characteristic of a florist’s flower, and the varieties 
are now becoming so numerous as to threaten an inundation of 
the market, it will be well to apply some test by which their re¬ 
lative value may be determined. We know something of the 
horror which the bare mention of “ properties” seems to inspire 
in the feelings of certain growers, but without an ordeal of the 
kind, all interest in the family will speedily dwindle and decline 
to a mere apathetical endurance. The standard by which we shall 
in future determine the merits of such as may be sent us will 
relate first to the form; and as the face of the flower is the most 
conspicuous part, it should receive first attention : the sepals or 
upper division should be free of indenture or notch either on the 
front or margin, the outline to be rounded horizontally, and the 
edges continued down on either side to meet those of the lip, 
which should agree with the upper part in every respect, each 
beiiig a counterpart of the other ; the throat or tube should be 
proportionately stout and rounded; the mouth or portion which 
covers the orifice of the tube of the same size as the lip or upper 
sepals, thus dividing the diameter of the flower into three equal 
parts, the lip forming one, the mouth another, and the sepals 
the third portion. The colours should be boldly defined, distinct 
one from another, and striking; the flower-spike stout, erect, and 
well filled with blossoms, and the plant of neat compact habit 
and a copious bloomer. 
We are again indebted to Mr. J. Fowle, nurseryman, &c., of 
Brixton, for the specimens from which our drawing was made ; 
they are seedlings of the present season, selected from his large 
collection, and have received several prizes at the metropolitan 
exhibitions of the past summer. Editor. 
