SEPTEMBER. 261 



becoming too long for one number ; it \vill be better, therefore, to 

 postpone this part of the subject till next month, especially as I hope 

 to have an opportunity of personally examining the results of the 

 diiferent modes during the interim. 



Helminthion. 



PELARGONIUMS. 



You ask me for a few remarks upon the flowers raised here, and 

 figured in your present number, and also for a Uttle gossip on seedlings. 

 I am afraid I cannot say much that shall be of service to any young 

 beginner at seedhng raising, or that has not been already given in 

 previous numbers of the Florist ; and yet the succession of amateurs 

 requires, perhaps, that information of this kind should occasionally re- 

 appear in your pubUcation. Conqueror is a seedhng from Neatness, 

 Lydia from Prince Arthur, and Laura from Rosa. I\Iy flowers are 

 very rarely crossed by hand, and none of the above are the results of 

 that mode of obtaining seed. Indeed, I have found it so far from 

 encouraging that I hardly ever resort to it. I beheve the best plan is 

 to select the very finest flowers in cultivation, and to place them 

 together in groups according to their shades of colour, lea\^ng them open 

 to the fi:ee visits of the bees. In gathering the seed, it is carefully 

 placed, each variety by itself, and so^vn and potted off, with the 

 necessary labels. At the end of the blooming season, by comparison , 

 it is found which flowers bring good varieties and which do not ; and 

 this is important to mark, for it will often be observed that the very 

 best in every particular are useless as breeders, whilst some inferior 

 in many pomts bring capital flowers. It is also very curious to 

 observe how difficult it is to get certain colours ; for years I have tried 

 to obtain a flower of merit ^\dth Rosamond's colours, and had not suc- 

 ceeded until last season, when I was pleased to see the one now figured, 

 and named Laura ; I shaU be much disappointed if this variety does 

 not please when well grown upon a two-year- old bottom ; and in my 

 opinion no correct judgment can be formed of the merits of a flower 

 unless seen on a plant of that age. Conqueror must, I think, please 

 everybody, and Lydia, from its distinct colour, freedom of bloom, and 

 habit win, I imagine, do the same. Silenus I also think a very 

 desirable flower, but many have preferred to the above, some of 

 the other varieties Dobson and Son have selected to send out. I may 

 state frankly that my taste differs from many others, and many 

 flowers which are greatly admired at the exhibitions are not prized 

 by me ; and since the public taste is against my judgment I ought, 

 perhaps, to consider myself to have erected a wrong standard. I 

 have already in your pages given an opinion that a flower which 

 requires dressing has an unpardonable fault ; but here, again, the 

 public voice is against me, as was shown in a httle discussion in 

 your pages some time back. However, there are many points upon 

 which all parties are agreed, and perhaps we may term them 



