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THE NEW DOUBLE CRIMSON THORN.

(Crataegus Oxyacantha coccinea fl.-pleno.)

WITH AN ILLUSTRATION.

THE subject of our present plate, from the pencil of Mr. Fitch, is so intense in its colouring, that we find, on comparing the drawing with the flowers on the original tree, that the latter are even deeper and brighter than those which are here represented. The flowers from which our sketch was taken, were supplied by Mr. W. Paul, from his nurseries at Waltham Cross. As a hardy ornamental tree for planting in the shrubbery and flower garden, we look upon this Thorn as the grandest acquisition that has been obtained for many years; and as a forcing plant it is equally desirable, for the young plants appear to flower freely when only a few inches high. This, indeed, has been sufficiently shown by the examples which have been exhibited by Mr. W. Paul at the Royal Horticultural Garden, South Kensington, and at the Royal Botanic Garden, Regent's Park, several times during the spring of the present year.

As there has been some doubt created in the mind of the public as to whether there are not two new double Crimson Thorns, issuing from different establishments, under similar names, we are glad to be able to dispel the mystery. We speak advisedly when we say that the plants shown by Mr. William Paul, and the branches shown by Messrs. George Paul & Son, are identical both in leaf and flower. The variety is a sport from the double Pink Thorn, and originated in the beautiful and well-kept garden of Christopher Boyd, Esq., of Cheshunt Street, near Waltham Cross, where it still exists. It has, therefore, never been the exclusive property of any one nurseryman.

The history of the sport is briefly this: About seven or eight years ago some flowers of this intense hue were observed on a plant of the double Pink Thorn, and on examination it was found that a strong branch had started up from near the centre of the tree, with leaves as well as flowers differing from its parent. The branch was encouraged, and year by year increased in size, retaining the colour and character originally observed. The parent plant is apparently about twenty-five years old, 30 feet high, and as much in diameter, measured from the outermost branches at its greatest width. There is still only one stout central branch of this deep colour; the other branches, which are profusely adorned with flowers, being of the original pale pink so well known to horticulturists. When looking at the tree recently, so great was the contrast between the sport and the original, that we could not rid ourselves of the impression that the parent variety was in this instance paler than usual, and we asked ourselves whether the colouring matter had not been drawn from the larger surface and intensified in this particular branch by one of those secret processes which the student of Nature is often called upon to behold and wonder at, without being able to account for or explain. This may be fanciful, but here is certainly a lusus nature worthy of the attentive consideration of our vegetable physiologists.

We do not hesitate to advise every one who has a garden, to purchase this plant at once. We hear, on good authority, that the stock in the hands of the nurserymen is at present limited, and not only will those who purchase now secure the best plants, but those who delay may not obtain any. Moreover, plants purchased in pots now may be grown and established so as to flower well either in or out of doors next spring, whereas if re

VOL. VI.

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moved from the ground in the autumn of the year they can hardly be expected to do this.

It may be added to complete the history of the plant, that it has won First-class Certificates at the exhibitions of the Royal Botanic Society and the Royal Horticultural Society, and, also at the Great International Horticultural Exhibition of 1866.

P.

NEW AURICULAS.

THE spring of the present year has been somewhat singularly productive of new Auriculas. For some years past there has been a comparative lull in the production of new varieties, which is not to be wondered at, seeing how little variation there is in the Show Auricula, and how many of the seedlings annually bloomed must of necessity be but a repetition of what is already known. Indeed, it is said that that veteran Auricula-grower and raiser, Mr. Geo. Lightbody, of Falkirk, deems himself fortunate if he should succeed in getting one first-class flower from among a thousand seedlings. The area of the cultivation of the Auricula is also one of limited extent. It requires a floral enthusiast to some extent, to make a successful Auriculagrower; and probably if any one would desire to see a manifestation of this kind of enthusiasm, pure and simple, he could not do better than attend the annual meeting of some Auricula society, where he could not fail to be touched by the genuine earnestness of many of those who make the cultivation of this flower "a hobby."

Foremost among the new flowers stand two fine grey-edged varieties, raised by Mr. Turner, of Slough. The first, Charles Turner, has a welldefined ground colour of violet crimson, the eye yellow and well formed, clear white paste, stout and smooth, and narrow grey edge, the pips finely formed and stout, the truss erect and bold, and the habit excellent. The second, Colonel Champneys, has a ground colour of bright rosy purple with regular narrow edging of grey, a good eye, and clear smooth white paste, the pips well formed and stout, forming a bold truss; the habit also first-rate. These received first-class certificates at the second spring show of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park. Other new flowers in this division are Annie and Eliza, seedlings raised by Mr. John Pink, Coburg Road, and awarded first-class certificates at the recent meeting of the South Metropolitan Auricula Society. The first, Annie, has a well-defined ground colour of rosy purple with narrow grey edge, clear white paste, smooth and regular, pips stout and well formed, of fine quality and great promise. Eliza has a very dark brown ground colour with broad edging of grey, white paste, clear and smooth, and pips of fine form and substance. Another notable new greyedged flower is Mrs. Butcher, raised by Mr. John Butcher, of Camberwell, and awarded a first-class certificate at the South Metropolitan Show. The ground colour is dark crimson, well-defined and regular, with broad grey edge, clear white paste, very smooth, pips large, of great substance, and forming a bold and erect truss.

At the same meeting a similar award was made to Miss Oliver (Pink), a white-edged flower of considerable promise, the ground colour dark crimson with deep edging of white, and clear white paste.

Of self flowers, Mr. Turner had two very fine representatives of this division, which were awarded first-class certificates at the Regent's Park Show-namely, Cheerfulness, rosy purple ground colour, with smooth white

paste, pips stout, of good size and outline, but a little rough as shown, Owing to being somewhat out of condition-it is nevertheless a flower possessing fine properties; and Crown Prince, ground colour rosy mulberry, changing with age to dark crimson, pips large, bold, smooth, and of fine form, truss and habit good. John Penn, raised by Mr. Butcher, has a rosy crimson ground colour dashed with violet, the pips stout and smooth, but the paste hardly large enough according to the recognised scale of properties.

Much more numerous have been the accessions to the Alpine class, which has become greatly improved during the last few years in the hands of Mr. Turner and others. Both in the size and in the colour of the flowers is the improvement noticeable, and the latter evidences new and beautiful shades that bid fair to earn for this flower a high popularity. The plants are strong and lusty in habit, and they will bear a considerable amount of exposure to wet and cold. It was generally observable in these Alpine varieties that the ground colour proper formed but a small proportion of the margin surrounding the paste. The marginal colour to the somewhat indistinct ground colour prevailed so much, that in giving a popular description of these new flowers they shall be classed in accordance with the presence of the prevailing hue. These showy marginal colours were either bright crimson, purple or violet, or buff, the latter invariably distinguishing those flowers which possessed least quality.

Of the crimson hues the following were selected for awards :-Lustre (Turner), bright yellow paste, surrounded by a glossy dark ring of ground colour, margined with bright claret crimson, flowers large and smooth, a striking variety; Constellation (Turner), in the way of Lustre, but a larger flower, both paste and ground colour being of greater dimensions, the latter being also darker and the margin brighter, pips large, a bold and showy variety. These two were awarded first-class certificates at the Royal Botanic Show. Defiance (Turner), rich claret crimson ground colour diffused throughout the margin, bright yellow paste, pips large and stout, a bold and striking flower, though a little rough; Vivid (Turner), dark ground colour, each segment of the pip broadly margined with lively rosy crimson, flowers large and smooth, truss dense and erect, being, as was remarked at the time, a true Auricula truss; these were awarded second-class certificates at the Royal Botanic Show. Emma (Pilcher), has a ground colour of rosy crimson suffused with purple, sulphur paste, good pip, and smooth; awarded a second-class certificate at the Royal Horticultural Society, and afterwards a first-class certificate at the South Metropolitan Show. Rifleman (Butcher), glowing dark crimson ground colour margined with a narrow edge of a paler hue, clear yellow paste, pips large and bold, a novel and striking flower; and Jane Webster (Butcher), ground colour intense dark crimson margined with a lighter hue, pips stout smooth and fine; these were awarded first-class certificates at the South Metropolitan Show. Wonderful (Turner), is a flower of extra size, the ground colour formed of dark velvety blotches at the base of the segments, which are showily margined with bright rosy crimson, clean and smooth bright yellow paste. Landseer (Turner), has a bright claret crimson ground colour, with pale yellow paste, producing large and showy trusses of flowers. President (Turner), dark crimson ground colour with margin of fiery claret crimson, a very striking variety. Sparkler (Turner), is in the way of President, but the ground colour is not of so dark a shade, truss fine, bold and striking.

Shades of violet purple and lilac were seen in the following flowers :Echo (Turner), velvety crimson ground colour margined with rosy violet,

pale sulphur paste a little restricted in size, pips large, smooth, and of good quality; and Fascination (Turner), rich dark ground colour with narrow margin of pale violet, pale sulphur paste, pips smooth and even, a very pleasing and effective variety; these were awarded first-class certificates at the Royal Botanic Society. Lady Middleton (Butcher), has a dark crimson ground colour margined with violet, and pale sulphur paste, a flower of fine properties; awarded a first-class certificate at the South Metropolitan Show. Bertha (Turner), has a dark crimson ground colour, and is distinctly margined with pale purple on each segment of the pip, pale greenish yellow paste; awarded a first-class certificate at the Royal Horticultural Society. Jessie (Turner), is of a rich velvety crimson ground colour with narrow margin of rosy-violet, bright yellow paste, flowers large and fine; awarded a secondclass certificate at the Royal Botanic Show. Other flowers of this prevailing hue of colour were Princess (Turner), dark ground colour with margin of clear violet changing to rosy violet with age, a novel and handsome flower; and Annie (Turner), narrow dark circle of ground colour, broadly edged with rosy crimson and lilac, clear white paste, smooth but thin flowers.

The presence of more than two tints of the ground colour has given rise to a division that has been well denominated "Fancies." These are represented by Trumpeter (Turner), rich dark red ground colour, bordered with pale rosy crimson, and margined with rosy buff, large and smooth yellow paste, the pips large and very novel; and Selina (Turner), dark blotch of ground colour, bordered with rosy violet, and edged with a paler hue, which becoming very pale with age deprives the flower somewhat of its attractiveness-awarded second-class certificates at the Royal Botanic Show. Novelty (Turner), has a dark ground colour, bordered with pale violet and edged with buff, pale yellow paste, a novel and striking flower; awarded a secondclass certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society. Marion (Turner), has a silken velvet ground colour, bordered with rosy crimson and distinctly margined with pale violet, and is a very striking flower, but wanting in quality. This list, extensive as it is, by no means exhausts all the new varieties of the present season; it gives the cream of these new and beautiful forms, which appear capable of being indefinitely multiplied by means of careful crossing and seeding.

Οτο.

ORMSON'S PARADIGM FRUIT AND PLANT HOUSES.

THE difficulty which gardeners and pomologists generally, more especially those whose gardens lie in exposed situations, experience in combating successfully the destructive effects of cold easterly winds and spring frostsevils which usually occur just at the time when fruit trees are putting forth their tender blossoms has led to a very general desire for cheap glass houses, since they are not only useful in securing a crop, but also in prolonging the season of supply. Neither expensive walls nor costly coverings can be thoroughly relied on for enabling the cultivator to cope successfully with the elements; for even when spring frosts have been rendered harmless by these appliances, a sunless summer or an excessively wet autumn will often prevent the elaboration of the sap and ripening of the wood, which are necessary to the fertility, if not, indeed, to the very life of the plant. Among other plans for coping with these evils, that of Mr. Ormson, as exhibited in the eastern arcade of the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at South Kensington, and publicly announced under the name of Paradigm

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