332 



THE FLORIST. 



LISTS OF PELARGONIUMS. 

 I AM favoured with the following most valuable and interesting returns* 

 and I would wish to observe that lor practical utility we must all 

 acknowledge them to be worthy of the " good cause," and from which 

 doubtless all must prolit. Here we see strongly developed the ideas of 

 perfection entertained, firstly by our raisers, and secondly by our cul- 

 tivators ; and we are enabled to mark the types of excellence which, in 

 the several opinions of our best growers, are here set forth. One raiser 

 remarks : " I thought you would not care for raisers' opinions, as they 

 are too much interested." Of course they are interested, but growers 

 are also equally interested, inasmuch as annually they have to rely 

 on the integrity of raisers for the supply of new varieties, without which 

 the best cultivated collections lose half their charm. Another return is 

 modestly prefaced with the question, " Which of the annexed should I 

 now discard ? " The answer may be gleaned from the general body 

 of the returns. 



A third gentleman writes that he must refrain from complying, not 

 having during the past season closely gone into the merits of the 

 flowers, and will not risk to return lists founded on the statements of 

 others. 



There are those who, not complying, may perhaps consider them- 

 selves incompetent, others may be too idle to take upon themselves the 

 task ; as to the latter class I would urge of them to leave the pursuit at 

 once. Not take the trouble to do a public good, indeed ! 



And further, as these returns have each been made independent of 

 the other, an illustration is given of the general estimate held of certain 

 varieties, and of the similarity of ideas which pervades those now closely 

 interested in the growth of the Pelargonium. 



In conclusion, I must state that the raisers' names are indicated by 

 the initial letter, as A Arnold, B Beck, D Dobson, F Foster, Fqt Fo- 

 quette, G Gaines, H Hoyle, T Turner. 



Fancies will be treated of in the next number. 



John Edwards. 



