1.94 THE FLORIST. 



hybridising certain Moss Roses with a strong-growing variety 

 of the Alba Rose, with the view of obtaining a vigorous- 

 growing Moss Rose, with the distinct and beautiful characters 

 of the former. It would seem that his labour was not alto- 

 gether misapplied, for the appearance of this variety would 

 lead us to conjecture such a parentage. The growth is ex- 

 ceedingly vigorous, more robust than that of the Moss de 

 Luxembourg ; and the flowers, which are abundantly produced 

 in June and July, have in one stage the blush edges and deep 

 pink centre of the Alba Rose. It recently received a certificate 

 from the National Floricultural Society, by which the buds 

 are described as well mossed. As it frequently forms shoots 

 four feet long in one season, thickly clothed with good foliage, 

 it will make a short Pillar-Rose ; but whether grown as such, 

 or on a stem, the plant should be well thinned in pruning, 

 and the shoots left shortened but little, to induce a profusion 

 of flowers. 



We may remark that the entire stock of this beautiful Rose 

 is at present in the possession of the Messrs. Paul, and that 

 it will be first offered for sale, we believe, in November of the 

 present year. 



This is the second new Moss Ross that we have had the 

 pleasure of introducing to our readers ; Moss Lanei, figured 

 in a former volume, being the first. Is not this something in 

 so limited a family, and both such flowers as will undoubtedly 

 stand the test of time ? 



THE PELARGONIUM. 



In the Florist for May, page 117, speaking of the Pelargonium, you 

 say, " The plants grown for exhibition about London are exceedingly 

 fine this season." As an ardent admirer of this charming flower, I 

 was pleased with the prospect you thus held out, that the exhibitions 

 of them would be unusually gratifying ; but the result, to my own 

 mind, has been of a mixed character ; for though some of the collec- 

 tions have been admirable, both in cultivation and quality of bloom, 

 I must own that many have appeared to be very inferior even to 

 former years ; so much so, that in some cases it was impossible to 

 recognise old acquaintances. My impression is, that many of the 

 exhibitors cling to the old sorts long after they have been surpassed ; 

 and another thing is, they appear to pay more attention to the size of 

 the plant than the goodness of the bloom, probably stimulating the 

 growth too late to perfect the flowers. How far the decisions of the 

 judges in past seasons may have led to this, I am not prepared to say; 

 but my idea is, the quality of the flower has been sacrificed to the size 



