1869.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 39 



purple and yellow, and yellow edge ; and Albert Victor, the centre of 

 the leaf dark orange red, with dark crimson markings and blotchings 

 of yellow. On the 10th of December last, the foregoing, with others 

 similarly certificated, but all representing the fine golden-leaved strain 

 obtained mainly from C. Blumei and C. Verschaffeltii, were submitted to 

 public auction by Mr J. C. Stevens, and somewhat widely distributed, 

 as no purchaser appeared to take more than two kinds. The most pro- 

 mising, Princess Koyal, was taken by Mr Turner, Slough, at 25 guineas. 

 One or two others fetched 10 to 15 guineas, while the remainder only 

 realised smaller sums. The proceeds of the sale, some £75, is not 

 much in excess of the sum paid by Messrs Veitch and Son last spring 

 for Coleus Bausei alone, which fetched some <£58. It is now univer- 

 sally acknowledged that the prices paid for some of the first batch of 

 hybrids were far beyond their actual value ; and it is not too much to 

 say that among the horticultural records of the year just closed must 

 be placed that outbreak which may well be designated the Coleus 

 mania. 



First-class certificates were also awarded to Mr C. Turner, Slough, 

 for the following Variegated Zonal Pelargoniums : Mrs Headley, very 

 finely coloured, and excellent habit ; Miss Putter, with rich high- 

 coloured markings ; and Mademoiselle C. Nillsson, a pleasing soft- 

 looking variety. In addition Mr Turner had examples of Hayes 

 Ptival, Mr Hugh Berners, Grandmaster, Senior Warden, and Mr 

 Eutter. The plants were of unusual size, and splendidly grown ; 

 and the awards made were intended by the Floral Committee to 

 stamp the particular kinds as eminently ada]3ted for autumn and 

 winter decoration. This is the proper function of a majority of these 

 fine Variegated Pelargoniums, as their beautiful leaves are flowers and 

 foliage in one, and that too at a comparatively barren season, when 

 flowering-stuff is scarce. I hope some of the readers of the ' Gar- 

 dener' will be induced to turn their attention to the cultivation of 

 the Variegated Zonal Pelargonium, as a plant almost unrivalled for 

 winter decoration when the grand leaves are finely developed. Let 

 any one so disposed obtain Mr Peter Grieve's excellent little book 

 on the Variegated Zonal Pelargonium, as, apart from the mass of 

 extremely useful and interesting information it contains as to the 

 history of this tribe of plants, the cultural directions contained 

 therein are of the utmost value to aU who make a fancy of this 

 exceedingly attractive plant. K. D. 



