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JOTJBNAL OF HORTICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. [ August u, leos. 



lowest temperatures, and these, again, by dry and wet 

 periods, by bright light, and hazy misty light. Keeping this 

 in view, among many introductions to geography we were 

 much pleased with a rapid glance at one by the Kev. Mr. 

 Heale ; and among cheap atlasses we were umch pleased by 

 those issued by Mr. Dower, and others, chiefly because there 

 were sectional lines, that gave one no bad idea of the physical 

 outline of a country. There are, no doubt, more perfect 

 and finished atlasses by Keith, and others, but at a high 

 price. We have several times heard high opinions of Knight's 

 "Cyclopaedia of Geography," and judging ii-om the general 

 works of that publisher, we liave great faith in it, and mean 

 to have it some day ; but a young gardener cannot easDy 

 find a couple of guineas for a single work. So far as we are 

 concerned, we should say that for gardeners there is a want 

 of a " Physical Geography," which at ready reference would 

 give us many of the particulars of plants in theii' native 

 homes. Perhaps the most interesting facts that have come 

 to our knowledge have appeared in the " Horticultural 

 Transactions," under the auspices of Dr. Lindley, who in 

 this respect, as well as the science of gardening generally, 

 has laid gardeners under great obligations, l^erhaps the 

 most practicaDy useful of all that has been yet published 

 as bearing on tlie physical geography of plants, are a series 

 of tables compiled by Mr. Thompson, in the "Jom-nal of 

 the Horticidtm-al Society," Parts II. and III., for 1849, 

 giving us the names of jilaces in almost every part of the 

 world ; the latitude and longitude of these i^laces ; in many 

 cases the elevation of these places above the level of the 

 sea ; the mean temperature of these jJaces for every month 

 in the year ; the mean temperatiu'e of the year ; tlie mean 

 temperature of the seasons, winter, spring, summer, and 

 autumn; the difierence between the hottest and coldest 

 months ; the general diiference between summer and winter ; 

 the number of years in which the observations have been 

 taken, and the hours of observation. These tables give so 

 much the infonnation of volumes, that we iii'mly believe 

 that the great Hoi-ticultiu'al Society could exert its power 

 in no more beneficial way than in i>ublishing the tables 

 separately, with clean paper for observations between each 

 leaf. We feel quite sui'C if the Society disliked doing this, 

 though we do not see how, that if they gave leave to 

 one of our enterprising pubbshers, the sale would be sm-e 

 to remunerate the outlay, as at present we do not know 

 where there is so much of physical geogi'aphy, so usefid in 

 letting us know what plants fi'om such places require, to be 

 found in anything like the same amount of space. We 

 would urge this all the more for our own benefit, as well as 

 that of others, as the continued illness of oiu' worthy co- 

 adjutor, Mr. Beaton, prevents him helping us in this respect. 

 With liis wondi-ous memory and vast geographic lore, which 

 enable him to traverse the liills and dales of a country as if 

 he had actually strode over them in a pedestrian tour, we 

 had strong hopes that he woidd do for physical geography, 

 as respects the cultiu'e of plants, quite as much, if not more, 

 than he did for elucidating the mysteries of cross-breeding 

 and hybridising. We do hope that he will yet be amongst 

 us, ready to answer as well as to instruct, and then this 

 peculiar branch will engage a share of his attention. Mean- 

 while there is every inducement to the young gardener to 

 take every opportunity of storing up facts connected with 

 physical geography. 



In conclusion, we must apologise for the random nat\u-e of 

 these remarks, indicating rather what is most worthy of 

 attention than telling how such knowledge is to be gained. 

 That would be to make a cyclopsedia rather than an 

 article, and we have found time merely to write the above 

 rapidly. In addition to all the simple things we have said, 

 we would, as a parting legacy to our young fi-iends, say — 

 " Be courteous, and sensitive as to the feelings of others." 

 It is commonly repoi-ted that perliaps the most honoured 

 gardener of the age owed the grand step of his advancement 

 to his courtesy and good manners. A nobleman had asked 

 bJTTi for a beautiful Rose-bud, and in cutting it he carefully 

 removed all the prieldes with his knife before presenting it 

 and the thoughtfnlness and gracefidness of the act was not 

 forgotten. It may be all a myth, as many such tales are ; 

 but the grace and attractiveness of kind courtesy win ever 

 be facts to attract, let rough unmannerly people tliink and 

 act as they may. — E. Fish. 



A AVORD IN FAVOUR OF THE SCARLET 

 AND ZONALE PELARGONIUMS 



AS EESPECTINQ THEIK POSITION IN THE EXHIBITION 

 SCHEDULES FOK IHtii. 



Now that the summer exhibitions liave taken place and 

 passed away, there is a resting time for exliibitors, ;md aU 

 who are interested in the display of plants and flowers, 

 cabnly to consider what may be done while preparing the 

 schedules of our great exhibitions for 1864 to render the 

 exhibitions more attractive, and to suggest such improve- 

 ments as will further the objects and interests of horti- 

 cultiu'e. It is notorious that for the last few yeai-s bttle or 

 nothing has been done to vary the routine of the schedules ; 

 and it has been very frequently remarked diuing the past 

 season that there was a great sameness in the plants exhi- 

 bited ; that certain collections cany off the same prizes 

 wherever they are sent. The same awards are annually 

 offered ; and it is a well-known fact that plants, after re- 

 ceiving awards at one exhibition, have been left under the 

 care of the officials of one society till they were required 

 for competition at another, where they have also obtained 

 similar prizes. Now no reasonable person will say that this 

 system can in any way promote or forward the interests of 

 horticulture. The public begin to remonstrate at such pro- 

 ceedings, and justly call for a reformation. 



There is, however, it must be admitted, some diffi culty in 

 obviating tliis objectionable state of things ; and it can 

 only be overcome by ignoring all precedents, and entering, 

 regardless of individual exhibitors, upon a new system. 

 All selfishness must be abandoned, and a mutual desire to 

 make our horticultural meetings more attractive must be 

 the sole and true motive for action. These remarks apply 

 to every society whose object it is to promote horticulture. 

 It would be well to ask whether it is necessai-y that such 

 large collections should be requii'ed and such high prizes 

 offered, or at any rate be repeated, for the same class of 

 plants during the season. We ai-e treading now upon 

 tender gi-ound ; and it may be said ^vith much propriety 

 that the cost of gi-owing these specimens is very consider- 

 able, and that the remuneration in the shape of prizes is 

 not at all adequate to the time and care devoted to their 

 cultivation. But siu'ely this is not altogether a question 

 of pounds, shillings, and pence : more noble and generous 

 motives must be assigned to the professional exliibitors. 



There is a satisfactory pleasiu'e and an honoiu'able emu- 

 lation among oui' principal professional exhibitors, which 

 induces them to endeavour to take a high position in the 

 hortieidtural world. By way of suggesting something new 

 and desirable to be inserted in the schedules of 1864, let us 

 take one class of plants alone, which have been hitherto 

 overlooked and neglected. Here much interest would be 

 excited, and an entii-ely new feature be introduced, by offeiing 

 prizes for the various classes of the Scarlet and Zonale 

 Pelargonium. It is easy to imagine what a brilliancy they 

 would add to our later exhibitions when flowering plants 

 have become scarce. Were they shown under the same 

 restrictions as the ordinary Pelargonium they would be 

 equally worthy of cidtivation. There is a gTeat vai-iety of 

 foliage and colour, and if classified and exhibited as scai-lets, 

 salmon (rose or pink), and white, the effect would be most 

 beautiful. 



It is much to be desired that our principal Pelargonium- 

 growere would give this suggestion theii' attention, and 

 that they would commence at once, while they have much 

 spare room in their houses, the necessary and preliminary 

 training of specimens. It is impossible to oveiTate the 

 beauty of well-grown specimens of this class of flowers, 

 many of the best varieties of which ai-e at present unknown 

 to the floral world. Let Messrs. Tiu-ner, Eraser, Henderson 

 and Bull set the example, and it will be immecUately fol- 

 lowed ; there are many admirers of the Scai-let Pelargonium 

 who will be ready to contribute then- aid. If the councils 

 or managers of our societies will offer liberal prizes for com- 

 petition, a most interesting and at least one novel feature 

 will be gained for the exMbitions of 1864. 



The Fkost on the 19th of JtJLT in this neighbourhood 

 was severe, sufficiently so to cut-off the Kidney Beans and 



