286 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



its way for a short -nhile it will sadly disfigixre the plant by 

 turning the beautiful glossj' leaves brown. 



I will here append a list of sorts which were exliibited in 

 smaU pots by Mr. W. Paul at the first spring Show at South 

 Kensington. I have reduced the number to about a dozen and 

 a half distinct varieties which seemed to be the most desirable : 

 Adamo, Dante, De la Eeine, Tar. rosea, Eugene Massina, 

 Graudis, Guillaume III., II Cygno, La Reine, Laviniii Maggi, 

 Marie Theresa, Prima Donna, Princess Charlotte, Rubens, 

 Targioni, Teutonia, Valtavaredo, Vicomte de Nieulant. I do 

 not say that this is a list of the best sorts in cultivation ; of 

 course no Ust is complete without the old Double "White, Fim- 

 briata. Lady Hume's Blush, Imbricata, and a few others well 

 known. I can, however, confidently recommend them to be 

 added to the most select collection. — J. Douglas. 



SHOW PELARGONIUMS. 



While the slightest improvement in any of the various 

 classes of what are called zonal Pelargoniums is sure to be 

 heralded, and there are enthusiastic admirers of Nosegays, 

 Bicolors, Tricolors, Plain-leaved, Hybrid Nosegays, and any 

 other divisions into which this class may be split up, the far 

 more beautiful classes of Show and Fancy Pelargoniums find 

 few to say a word for them, or admii'ers either to grow or praise 

 them ; and yet are they well worthy of a better chronicler than 

 I can be. It is all very weU to say, " Oh ! there is so Uttle 

 improvement in them, the same colour's appear' over and over 

 again " — the complaint, by-the-by, always made against a 

 flower which the speaker does not himself patronise — but there 

 is really only one reason they are not the fashion, and we are 

 ever slaves to fashion in flowers. At one time Coleus rises 

 up ; everyone is mad after them — for no other word but mad 

 is applicable to the absurdities into which the horticultm-al 

 world ran about them. At another time it is Tricolors ; special 

 shows, special prizes, are held and given for them. Then it 

 is Zonals. " Haye you seen Mr. Tomkins's Ruberrima magni- 

 fica, or Mr. Jones's Sultan of all the Scarlets?" So Show 

 Pelargoniums had then- day. I am old enough as a florist to 

 remember when noble ladies used to throng to Catleugh's at 

 Chelsea, and were glad to bear off a Sylph or Joan of Arc at 

 five and three guineas a-piece. But, alas for favour ! now 

 *' none so poor as do them reverence." Yes, I am wrong : 

 there is one — Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough, who through evil 

 report and good report has fostered, as far as he was able, a 

 taste for them. He has every year brought out a number of 

 new seedlings of both Mr. Hoyle's and Mr. Foster's strain, and 

 of such esceUeuce that the Floral Committee have always 

 awarded some of them certificates, a proof that they are in 

 advance of those already grown. He does this from pure 

 love for the flower — I mean that the space occupied by the 

 plants he could much more profitably employ with more paying 

 things. 



When one now goes to an exMbition in June it is undeniably 

 a great loss no longer to see the glorious plants that Bailey, 

 Fraser, and Tui-ner used to dazzle our eyes with ; but fashion 

 has so willed it, and we must only patiently submit. Perhaps 

 as fashion, as well as history, repeats itself, and the young 

 ladies of the present day, with their high-heeled boots and 

 short skirts, might sit for the portraits of their gi-eat grand- 

 mothers in theu' youthful days a hundred years ago, so we 

 may yet again see those glories of the past revived. That the 

 flower has not degenerated, and that improvements may stiU 

 be made, is clear from looking at the varieties which made their 

 appearance last year, and from what I saw at Nottingham of 

 those for the present season. I have been indebted to Mr. 

 Tm'ner for the opportunity of blooming those of the past season 

 in my own little greenhouse, and have made the following 

 notes concerning them ; they may be of use to some who may 

 be induced to attempt their gi'ow'th. 



Admiration. — A remarkably fine and distinct flower, with a 

 not very large spot on the upper petals, suiTounded with orange, 

 with a narrow lilac margin ; the lower petals pale lilac rose. 



Black Prince. — A large flower. The top petals intense black ; 

 lower petals deep rosy crimson, richly veined ; a clear white 

 eye. Altogether a flower of very refined character. 



Charlemagne. — Soft salmon peach, with medium-sized spot 

 on the upper petals. A good and pleasing flower. 



Duke of Edinburgh. — An exceedingly rich flower. Top petals 

 intense black, -with a very nai*row edge of bright ci'tmson ; the 

 lower petals deep crimson strongly veined with maroon. One 

 of the most attractive flowers we possess, and of very good habit. 



Eldorado. — A purple flower with a violet .shade on the lower 

 petals, quite a new colour ; black spot on the top petals, shading 

 off to crimson. Large flower, and the habit dwarf. 



Holkar, — Orange maroon, a dark flower, with nearly black 

 top petals. Very great substance, and of good quality. 



Magnificent. — A large finely shaped flower, deep lilac rose 

 colour; top petals black, and rose edge. 



May Day. — Lower petals soft pink, black spot on the top 

 petals. A large and smooth flower, of good shape. 



Pacha. — A very riclily coloured flower ; top petals with black 

 spot, crimson margin ; lower petals pencilled with crimson ; 

 clear white centre. 



Pollie. — Distinct and handsome ; colour a rich deep crimson ; 

 black spot on the upper petals, narrow crimson margin. 



Sultana. — Top petals marked with black, narrow lilac edge, 

 clear white centre, Dwarf in habit, and of good gro'niih. 



Warrior. — Black spot on the upper petals ; colour a rich deep 

 crimson ; smooth. Of good quality and habit. 



There is one thing that has struck me with regard to Pelai'- 

 goniums — Why, as prizes are oft'ered for new varieties of Roses, 

 of Hyacinths, &c., it would not answer to offer them also for 

 new varieties of the Pelargonium, say of the last season ? It 

 might encourage their cultivation, and give people an idea of 

 the progress made. — D., Deal. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 BIRMINGHAM EXHIBITION. 



From your report of the proceedings of a meeting of the local 

 committee held on the 14th lilt., I understand that ilOO is placed 

 at the disposal of the implement committee for appropriation, 

 by the award of five gold medals, in the following manner : — 

 One for the best horticultural building, one for the best hot- 

 water apparatus, one for vases, &c., one for garden machinery 

 and tools, and one for wirework, &c. Now, with regard to those 

 awards which come under the last three headings, I apprehend 

 that after the question of la"wn mowers has been decided, the 

 judges will experience Uttle difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory 

 selection of such of the remaining meritorious articles as come 

 within these classes ; but with regard to the " best " horticutural 

 building I am not so sanguine. By what standard of excellence 

 are these structures to be judged ? Is the all-prevailing con- 

 sideration of cheapness to be the criterion ? because many of 

 the buildings exhibited at our hoi-ticultural shows during the 

 last few years have fallen little short of a disgrace to their ex- 

 hibitors. Inferior materials, and bad workmanship, covered with 

 wretchedly coarse paint, in gaudy colours, and ticketed " for 

 sale, cheap," seem to have been the heau ideal of a horticultural 

 sti'uctm'e suited to the public taste. Is it to be a consideration 

 of size, quantity erected, construction, or novelty in design, or 

 good materials and workmanship, or utility, or of interior 

 arrangement, &c. ? because upon matters of construction, and 

 what is really the best form of house for each respective pur- 

 pose, our horticultural doctors agree to differ. Again, of what 

 is the building to consist — a conservatory, vinery. Peach house, 

 pinery, orchard house, plant-stove, pit, or hand-glass ? I am of 

 opinion that some instmctious shoiild be issued, and the build- 

 ings classified, otherwise one class of building will be competing 

 against an opposite class, instead of against a similar building 

 of its own class, and this will create certainly much confusion 

 and dissatisfaction. 



Now a word respecting the " best hot-water apparatus." This 

 is really a knotty question, and one by no means capable of an 

 easy reply. The first queries which seem at once to present 

 themselves are — 1st, Is the apparatus" to be working or not ? 

 2nd, By what test is the apparatus to be certified as being " the 

 best?" 3rd, Is this competition to resolve itself into the long- 

 talked-of trial of boilers '? If so, where are the conditions and 

 regulations by -which such trial is to be governed? 4th, By 

 what special points are the judges to be giiided in making their 

 awards ? And finally, what are the quahfications necessary to 

 constitute a competent judge capable of giving a just decisioniu 

 this important matter ? 



I am of opinion that the judges should be men of scientific 

 attainments, men of good position, and entirely outside the hor- 

 ticultiu'al world, as engineers, &c. They should be above 

 suspicion of allowing themselves to be " button-holed " by any 

 of the competitors, or likely to be influenced by the considera- 

 tion of any trade or personal interests. The fact is, that 

 favoui'itism begets jobbery, and not unfrequeutly bi-ings com- 

 petition into ridicule, instead of making it a medium by which 

 the best productions become honoui'ed by the best awards. — S. 



ACROZAMIA SCLEROCARPA. 

 This, one of the most elegant of known Pahns, is very com- 

 monly found throughout the whole of Brazil, Guiana, and the 



