174 ON CINERARIAS. 
the surrounding foliage. This is the best flower of the season that we 
have seen, deficient only in the size of its blooms. We have had a 
drawing of it prepared, which we purpose to have copied for one of 
our embellishments. 
2nd prize, three pounds ten shillings, Major Foquett, of the Isle of 
Wight, for Magnificent ; rich rosy vermillion, fading to the centre of 
the flower; the upper petals blotched with dark velvety maroon. 
Smooth and firm in texture, preserving its evenness to the last. Good 
size and apparently of excellent habit. 
3rd prize, two pounds ten shillings, Messrs. Veitch and Son, Exeter, 
for Field Marshal (Symonds); bright red, with a dark feathery 
blotch in the upper petals. A showy flower, but a little rough. 
4th prize, one pound ten shillings, Mr. E. Beck, Isleworth, for 
Aurora’s Beam; lower petals bright lake, with white in the centre of 
the flower; upper petals dark crimson maroon, belted with crimson- 
lake. Of general good form, but inconstant in its colouring, and 
seemingly not a good grower. 
The manner in which the merits of the above flowers was determined 
may be mentioned on account of its peculiarity. The schedule spe- 
eified the following regulations :— 
“A person unacquainted with Pelargoniums will receive them from 
the exhibitors at the door of the exhibition-tent, and will place in each 
pot a numbered label, and arrange them on the stage. 
‘«‘ When all the plants are arranged, the exhibitors alone will be 
allowed to enter, and each will be supplied with a plain card. Free 
examination of their merits will then take place ; and after a sufficient 
time has elapsed, and the exhibitors have declared their readiness to go 
to the ballot, they will each write upon the blank card the numbers of 
the plants which they consider should have the first, second, third, and 
fourth prizes, adding their signatures at the bottom. On leaving the 
tent these cards will be received in a box prepared for the purpose, 
and two persons shall then be selected to examine the cards and declare 
the numbers of the winning flowers.” 
Without disputing the correctness of the decisions as to the merits 
of the flowers in the present case, and there could be none as to the first 
and second awards, it is obvious that such a system of deciding the 
true merits of a flower, can never be satisfactory. 
ON CINERARIAS. 
BY FLORA. 
Rire seed may now be obtained from the early blooming plants. If 
this be sown immediately in pots, placed in moist peat (in a hot bed 
frame) the plants will soon be up. “As soon as fit to be potted off, put 
them singly into pots. As soon as the flower-stem appears (not 
previously) an inch or so high, then re-pot them into the usual sized 
blooming pots, in a rich compost. Properly treated, such plants will 
begin to bloom in autumn, and a fine succession of bloom may be had 
through the winter season. 
