THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 149 



viz., Mr. Catleugh of Chelsea, Mr. Dennis of the King's-road, and 

 Mr. Gaines of Battersea. The first and last named were keen com- 

 petitors at the grand shows 1 , and amongst gardeners it created as much 

 interest as to who should be first, Gaines or Catleugh, as who should 

 be winner of the Derby amongst the sporting world. Mr. Catleugh 

 was then the more fortunate generally, but he was afterwards often 

 well beaten by his rival. Mr. Dennis usually came oft* content with 

 the third place. Now the principal seedling raisers at this time were 

 Mr. Foster, as above mentioned, and the Rev. Mr. Garth, between 

 whom there was as much (loving) rivalry as the " great exhibitors," as 

 they used to be called, But the system of exhibiting seedlings for 

 prizes had not been adopted, and, generally speaking, nothing was 

 known of the qualities of a new flower beyond the recommendation of 

 the raiser or advertiser. Mr. Catleugh, from his extensive business 

 and large connections, was usually the party who had the letting out 

 the new varieties, but it was not done then as now. The novelties 

 were put at high prices in the spring catalogues, but few were sold 

 until the autumn, when reduced prices were taken. The general plan 

 was to take notice of the best varieties, and wait until the increase of 

 the stock enabled the growers to sell cheaper. Many now say the 

 trade is gone, but the contrary is the case ; plants are now advertised 

 at one guinea and one pound ten shillings and sixpence, and, if very 

 good, as much as two guineas is asked, and actually given. But it is 

 very much questioned whether plants advertised at five guineas, as was 

 Gaines' King, Lound's Perfection, Conservative, Rising Sun, 

 and many others, actually met with a sale at those high prices ; and it. 

 is a well known fact that such is the demand now for the good and 

 often-exhibited novelties, that advertisements not unfrequently appear 

 to say that " such and such a variety cannot be supplied any more this 

 season." This fact does not indicate that indifference to novelties as 

 would appear if the remarks from certain quarters were to be believed ; 

 far from it — the legitimate taste is not to be driven out by any fa?ic>/ 

 or running down it may receive from persons whose will or say is not 

 always to be received for law. 



The year 1838 was distinguished by two Jive-guinea varieties appear- 

 ing^ — Gaines' King and Lound's Perfection, the former being in 

 every respect a good thing ; indeed it is now in many collections, and 

 until very lately, when Salamander took its place, has been found on 

 the exhibition tables. This year, too, a handsome striped variety 

 appeared, called Sidonia ; it is grown now in some fancy collections. 

 The Rev. Mr. Garth raised Climax, two guineas; Fosteri rosea 

 two guineas; Invincible, three guineas; Nulli secundus, two 

 guineas; and Queen Mab, two guineas; while Mr. Foster's A dela, 

 thirty shillings; Bleda, thirty shillings ; Faunus, two guineas; Niobe, 

 two guineas; and Orange Queen, two guineas, divided attention 

 with them. Alexandrina, a nice clear white, appeared too at the 

 moderate price of one guinea, and only gave place to Annette some 

 time after. Such were the principal novelties which appeared during 

 the year 1838. 



