54 THE FLORIST. 



nificant as not to have its claims upon our sympathy and regard. 

 Now, of all the tribe of weeds, there is a proverb of 2000 years* 

 standing, that those belonging to the sea are of least account ; and 

 yet doubtless many that " go down to the sea in ships, that do 

 business in great waters," can with me bear witness to the deep 

 feelings of interest, even to emotion, they are calculated to excite. 



For instance, when the above announcement was made, " We 

 are in the weed, sir," many amongst our number were soon looking 

 over the ship's side ; those who were returning to England for the 

 first time mechanically followed. Yet what was there to see } Scat- 

 tered upon the face of the glittering waters, in single pieces and in 

 patches, was a yellow sea-weed. And was that all? Yes, and a 

 delightful all it was. India had been left, the Cape rounded, St. 

 Helena called at for letters, the line crossed, the southern constel- 

 lations had given place in our night-watches to Charles's Wain and 

 the Polar Star ; and here we were on a Sunday morning, with de- 

 licious weather, looking upon a simple yet unerring sign that we 

 were now fast and assuredly drawing towards Old England. It 

 spoke to all 



" Of home, and friends, and that dear time" 



long looked forward to ; and many of us blessed the stream of the 

 Gulf of Mexico for bearing us this certainty of our whereabout. 



For myself, I spent that afternoon in one of the boats on the 

 quarter, looking with delight at our noble ship, as with well-filled 

 sails, low and aloft, she made music with the merry waves which 

 seemed to laugh around her and wish her joy, as she pressed through 

 them, flinging them from her broad bows in foam and showers of 

 spray. 



I have grown, and successfully too, many flowers ; have enjoyed 

 floricultural triumphs ; but I can truly say, that nothing of the kind 

 has ever produced in my mind such exuberant delight, such emotions 

 of hope and anticipated enjoyment, as were always created by a 

 sight of these 



WEEDS OF THE OCEAN. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 



Before proceeding to give the list in detail, it may perhaps be as 

 well to say a word or two respecting the flowers which form the 

 subject of our Plate. They were raised by Mr. E. G. Henderson of 

 the Wellington Nursery, St. John's Wood, who has been very suc- 

 cessful in producing many fine seedlings of various kinds, and were 

 figured from plants exhibited at the Worton-Cottage Meetings. As 

 the Plate will speak for itself, it is unnecessary to say any thing 

 respecting the flowers represented, beyond stating, that being com- 

 pact and handsome growers, they will be found useful additions to 

 every collection. Annexed is the list alluded to : — 



