Plate 448. 

 PELARGONIUMS, SULTANA AND HAROLD. 



In once more figuring varieties of the Greenhouse or Show 

 Pelargonium, we caunot but exj^ress our regret that our most 

 celebrated raiser has retired from the field. Our excellent friend 

 Mr. Hoyle of Beading is no longer to be counted as a seedling 

 raiser. After having for a long course of years maintained the 

 foremost place, and sent into cultivation a larger number of 

 really good varieties than (we may say) all other raisers put 

 together, he has now retired with all his honours — his green- 

 houses are pulled down. He will carry with him the best 

 wishes of all who are interested in that beautiful class of plants 

 which he has done so much to popularize and improve, aud will 

 leave to other and younger hands to continue the work he has 

 so successfully prosecuted for so long a time. 



It is not to be denied that the Pelargonium has shared in 

 the general decadence that has befallen all florists' flowers more 

 or less ; and that neither the growers nor exhibitors are as 

 numerous as they used to be. Time, which makes many changes, 

 will most probably bring a change in this respect also ; in the 

 mean time we see that, notwithstanding the perfection to which 

 they have been brought, improvements are stiU being made, 

 the size of the flowers being increased, and the richness of the 

 colouring also more marked. 



Sultana (fig. 1) is a richly painted flower, the top petals being 

 a very deep maroon with a narrow margin of bright crimson. 



