THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



SEPTEMBER 1st, 1843. 



PART I. 



EMBELLISHMENTS. 



ARTICLE I. 



PELARGONIUM, variety. Thurtei.l's Pluto. {Stork's BUI.) 



Geraniace.e. Monadelphia Heptandria. 



[Pelargonium, so named from petargos, a stork; the capsules somewhat 

 resembling the head and beak of a stork.] 



No. 1. Thurtell's Pluto. — This very superb variety was raised 

 by Captain Charles Thurtell, R.N., of Somerset Place, Stoke, near 

 Devonport. In order to succeed in raising Seedling Pelargoniums 

 possessing perfect properties, none but first rate kinds should be cul- 

 tivated from which to obtain seed, and such plants should be secured 

 from bees, or they will be likely, even from remote situations, to 

 frustrate intentions by bringing pollen from ill-shaped rejected 

 flowers. (See observations on the Impregnation of Pelargoniums in 

 our last Number, at page 191.) Fully aware of this Captain 

 Thurtell, after an enormous expense in purchasing all the best sorts 

 to be procured, he selected thirty-three to raise seedlings from, 

 rejecting seventy others, though they had been purchased at a cost of 

 about as many pounds value. The result, however, has now realized 

 the expectations of Captain Thurtell, by the production of several 

 seedlings of the very first order ; viz., roundness in outline, propor- 

 tionate equality in size of petals, firmness in substance, and a due 

 expansion of the face of the bloom. We have seen kinds exhibited 

 with proportioned petals, firm in substance, striking in colours, but 

 nearly funnel-shaped in appearance, and which concealed, to some 

 extent, the beautiful colours. Captain Thurtell rejects such kinds to 

 raise seedlings from, and perfection in form is the primary object. 

 Tins being once obtained, everything desired in distinction, &c, in 

 colours can, in due course, be effected. For the considerable pecu- 

 Vol. XI. No. 127. s 



