THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 305 



this season were Bertha, Clarinda, Marian, at one guinea ; Lu- 

 cretia and Orpheus, each at two guineas, comprising little of any 

 note. This gentleman seems about this time to have " rested from his 

 labours," perhaps taking breath to accomplish a " greater stride," as he 

 has since done, but changing gardeners may have had somewhat to do 

 with the apparent mediocrity of flowers raised by him about this period. 

 Anacreon, Cunard, Nitidum, Phosbus, and Pictum, all at one 

 guinea each, owed their origin to Mr. Garth; but these, like Mr. 

 Foster's flowers, all " paled their fires," contrasted with Mr. Beck's and 

 Mr. Lyne's new strain of this rapidly increasing popular flower. Mr. 

 Cock had one, Melpomene, at one guinea. A nice bright variety, 

 named Mrs. Brock, also at one guinea, was first sent out. Mr. Hoyle, 

 it seems, made a stand this year, but only to come out the following 

 season with renewed vigour. Mr. Beck having now fairly " entered 

 the lists," it is only doing him justice to state that his flowers generally 

 possessed "stoutness of petal," one quality which ought never to be 

 dispensed with ; " good growing habits," very desirable to exhibitors ; 

 " freedom of bloom ;" and, lastly, a "geneial constancy," that is, few, 

 if any, "sporting." 



To resume progress : as just stated, Mr. Hoyle " made up " a 

 formidable array of celebrated names in 1849. *Crusader, at two 

 guineas, heads the list ; and who that has grown this beautiful variety 

 will not agree in saying, " What a pity it is such a fine flower should 

 possess sucli a weak ' running habit ?' " in consequence of which it 

 never has been an exhibition flower, but its popularity is still great. 

 Abd-el-Kader, Belle op the Village, *President, Rolla, 

 *Sparkler, and Terpsichore, each at one guinea, are all beautiful 

 things in general. Sparkler, however, proved to be a " racer," being 

 always given to " sporting." The same raiser's Flamingo, Pro- 

 metheus, and *Superlative, with some others, at fifteen shillings, go 

 towards making-up a good long dozen. Topping's *Brilliant must 

 here be mentioned as being exhibited successfully many times; it soon 

 became the rage, and, as a fine large scarlet flower, it stands at present 

 unrivalled ; the price was two guineas, which did not prevent its getting 

 into pretty general cultivation ; but it was soon discovered that, noble 

 flower as it is, it would never be what is termed suitable for exhibition 

 purposes, being, like Crusader and some others, of" uneven habit." 

 A good dark variety, named Euegans, at one guinea, quite a novelty 

 indeed, and another very dark flower, Rebecca, at half a guinea, both 

 raised by Mr. Topping, with the beautiful Virgin Queen (sent out 

 by Mr. Rendle at thirty shillings), all coming from the " west of 

 Engl and," showed that there were many " good men and true " render- 

 ing much service to that progress here undertaken to chronicle. Mr. 

 Story sent out, through Mr. Beck, his pair of Mont Blancs, *No. 1 

 and No. 2, for a guinea and a-lialf. No. 1 was the best, but has failed 

 to displace " Pearl" perhaps from its having a bad habit. Mr. Beck's 

 own flowers this year were, *Delicatissimum (very beautiful, but, 

 alas, with a bad weak habit), Emilia, Princess, Refulgent, Sun- 

 down, *Star, and Symmetry, each at one guinea. Mr. Beck was 

 tempted to let out also a " fancy " notched variety, called * Harlequin, 



Vor.. xix. No. 60.— N.S. 2 c 



