SEPTEMBER. 195 



of the plant. Such were the impressions made upon my own mind ; 

 and if I am in error, I hope you, or some of your able correspondents, 

 will set me right. Mr. Turner's collections, both in May and June, were 

 every way worthy of the praise universally bestowed on them ; they 

 were certainly magnificent, shewing many of the newer varieties in 

 great beauty. This is a point of much moment; for if the same varieties 

 are to be shewn year after year, the interest in these shows must 

 languish, and the bank of Pelargoniums, however fine as plants, will 

 become as little attractive as the Ericas apparently have become. But 

 I hope better things ; the new flowers are neither wanting in numbers 

 nor novelty ; and I have noted the following, as having been shewn 

 with good effect, of new flowers recently sent out : Magnet, Colonel 

 of the Buffs, Mokanna, Chieftain, Enchantress, Optimum, Ariadne, 

 Medora, Leonora, Ganymede, Zaria, Gertrude, Oscar, &c, all good; 

 and of seedlings not yet sent out I noced Pilot, Governor-general, 

 Carlos, Duchess of Wellington, Nonpareil, Virginia, Regalia, Mary, 

 Zeno, Attraction, Rival Queen, Fair Ellen, Lucy, Rosa, &c. as very 

 desirable and promising, and well fitted to replace the defective old 

 sorts, which ought to be discarded. Cloth of Gold appears also very 

 attractive in its colours, being very dark top and bright orange lower 

 petals ; it received a silver meaal at the Regent's Park for its 

 approach to Scarlet as well as Regalia at the previous show. Vir- 

 ginia I heard received a first-class certificate at the National Floricul- 

 tural Society? and Carlos a certificate of merit : perhaps this decision 

 was right ; but 1 had placed Carlos first in my own estimation. I 

 hope to see them both, as well as the striking and beautiful Nonpareil, 

 both in the new class for new flowers, and also in the large collec- 

 tions. I fear the idea of size of plant is a great barrier to the growth 

 of new varieties, and I should be glad to see the judges try to remedy 

 this fault ; and perhaps if they were to withhold the prize from 

 inferior collections occasionally, it would have a beneficial effect. It 

 is quite possible to grow a plant in one season from a cutting suffi- 

 ciently large to shew a good head of bloom. Inquirer. 



[Our correspondent is evidently a close observer of what is doing 

 with the Pelargonium, and we generally agree with his opinions, 

 although there are a few omissions, probably from not attending all 

 the exhibitions. It is much to be regretted that our great societies 

 have discontinued awarding prizes to deserving seedlings ; small 

 prizes would cause all the leading flowers to be brought forward, and 

 thus give the public an opportunity of judging for themselves. — Ed.] 



NATIONAL CARNATION AND P1COTEE SOCIETY. 



The third annual meeting of this Society was held, in accordance 

 with public announcement, at York on the 3d and 4th ult. From 

 the extremely cold, wet, and ungenial weather which had prevailed 



