306 THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 



at fifteen shillings, about which the less said the better. Mr. Foster's, 

 without being anything very striking, served to keep his name before 

 the public: Alonzo, Armada-superb, Lamartine, Lalla Rookh, 

 Oxdine, Norah, Phyllis, and Victory were the principal. Mr. 

 Whomes, late gardener to Mr. Foster, gave the world some novelties ; 

 foremost was Windsor Castle, at one guinea, really a handsome 

 flower, but approaching the " fancy " class too much ; Queen Victoria, 

 also one guinea, if it had the constancy of its namesake would have been 

 an acquisition. It may here be remarked, that Queen Victoria 

 flowers have often appeared on plants of Windsor Castle ; so, perhaps, 

 both derived their origin from the said seed-pod. Mr. Gaines's 

 Aspasia and *Meleager, each at two guineas, were passably good, 

 and complete the list for this year. 



To those who grow the above-named flowers (for few are yet dis- 

 carded), it would be superfluous here to enlarge on their respective 

 merits ; but for the information of those who are not growers of them, 

 it may be stated that the varieties which showed the greatest amount 

 of progress were Crusader, Brilliant, and Delicatissimum. The 

 principal feature of this year, however, was the Seedling Pelargonium 

 Exhibition held at Upton Park, near Windsor, and which has been 

 continued (under improved management) elsewhere since. The results 

 of this gathering together must be introduced under the year 1850, to 

 which period we are now arrived. Mr. Foster must be mentioned first, 

 as his flower, *Gipsy Bride, distanced all others, though from its being 

 small, and of a terribly bad weak habit, it has disappointed many 

 anxious purchasers ; but for their consolation it may be safely asserted, 

 that when an average-sized flower is obtained it lias the most good 

 points (of course only the bloom is here meant) of any variety yet 

 raised, and until another larger and better one is produced, may be con- 

 sidered the " standard of perfection " hitherto reached. But this is 

 only an illustration of what remains to be yet accomplished. The best 

 flower yet raised is of under average, size, and bears the character of 

 being one of the worst to cultivate. Mr. Foster's other flowers were 



*CoNSTANCE, CONSPICUU.M, NARCISSUS, ArMADA IMPROVED, and 



Alderman : the latter was sent out as Black's, that being Mr. Foster's 

 gardener's name. It should be noted that to Mr. Bragg, of Slough, 

 was entrusted the letting of them out, whiten he did for the first time at 

 very moderate prices ; but the stock of Gipsy Bride being small, two 

 guineas was the sum fixed for it. The next flower to be mentioned 

 must be the one which obtained the second prize at Upton Park, Major 

 Foquet's *Magnificent ; and if the award was to have been for the 

 best flower, taken "all in all" must have been placed first. This 

 variety, now become so popular, was sent out by the raiser ! a circum- 

 stance winch must have prevented a large " first year's/' sale : the price 

 advertised was two guineas. The third-placed flower was *Field 

 Marshal, another west of England gentleman's production, Mr. 

 Symons, Messrs. Veitch of Exeter, sent it out at a guinea and a-half ; 

 Mr. Beck's Cuyp, *Emily, Governor, *Loveliness, Painter, Pet, 

 and *Rosalind ; all more or less contributed to keep up this raiser's 

 reputation. The same cannot be said of Clown and Singularity, 



