THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 147 



wit!) the keel of a rosy-purple colour. Each blossom is about one-half 

 of an inch across. It is a very neat, showy flowering plant, well 

 deserving a place in every greenhouse, forming a charming spring and 

 summer ornament. (Figured in Mag. of Bot.) 



Ranunculus spicatus. Spike-fruited. — A native of Algiers, 

 where it is common on the hills. The flower-stems rise a foot high, 

 each having from four to six blossoms, of a bright glossy yellow 

 colour, with an orange-coloured spot at the base of each petal. The 

 flower is two inches across, very showy. It is a hardy herbaceous 

 perennial plant, growing freely in the usual soil of a garden, and com- 

 mences blooming in April, being very ornamental. (Figured in Bot. 

 Mag., 4585.) 



Salvia gesneriflora. — This exceedingly rich, ornamental flower- 

 ing; species is figured in the June number of Paxton's Flower Garden. 

 We figured it four years ago, and then, as well as often since, we have 

 recommended the plant to our readers. It is a noble species for the 

 greenhouse, blooming all through winter, and its large spikes of large 

 blossoms, of a fine scarlet colour, render it highly ornamental. It 

 deserves to be grown in every conservatory, greenhouse, dwelling-room 

 window, or pit-frame. 



Seedling Narcissus. — Edward Leeds, Esq., of St. Ann's, Man- 

 chester, has for many years been engaged in raising hybrids of this 

 pretty tribe of flowers, and has been successful in obtaining many 

 beautiful distinct varieties. Three of them are figured in the Maga- 

 zine of Boiang. 1. Narcissus poculiform elegans ; the flowers large, 

 each four inches across, of a creamy-white, the centre cup of a nankeen 

 colour. 2. N. Leedsii ; flowers large, of a fine yellow, the cup of a 

 much deeper yellow, with a margin of bright orange-red. 3. N. 

 superbus ; flowers very deep yellow, with a large bell-shaped cup, 

 which is plaited at its margin. They are charming varieties, well 

 remunerating Mr. Leeds for the interesting pursuit and attention. 



THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 



{Continued from page 127.) 



BY ORION. 



Taking 1836 as the starting point, it will perhaps be as well to notice 

 briefly those varieties which were known and in cultivation previously; 

 and in doing this the writer hopes that he may be excused if, in giving 

 dates, he should occasionally err, as it may perchance happen that the 

 memorandums from which these remarks are taken may have been 

 originally erroneous. The first to be named is the old (and as yet 

 unrivalled for freedom of bloom) Alba multiflora, which at the 

 present time forms the chief ornament of many a cottage window, and 

 is one of those still sold early in the spring by hawkers, &c, as it is 

 also an admirable one for forcing. Admiral Napier is a fitting 

 companion to the preceding while variety, being of a bright pink 

 colour, ami is also a very free bloomer. These two seem to keep up 



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