of Ploicers by Cross Fertilization. 99 



thus in the camellia the semi-double red, sometimes so called, 

 the rosea or Middlemist's of most catalogues, impregnated with 

 the single white, produced the three splendid varieties known as 

 Press's eclipse, punctata, and rosa mundi, all of which were 

 raised from one capsule of seed. Here we see in these kinds 

 a resemblance to both parents in the foliage. They are each 

 handsomely shaped, but the flowers of eclipsis are better formed 

 than either of the others. The warratah, or anemoneflora, is 

 the parent of a major part of the new varieties; but, in general, 

 the seedlings raised from this are not near so perfectly formed 

 flowers as those raised from the rosea. They most always par- 

 take too much of the character of the fema'e parent, and have 

 one or more rows of outer petals, and the centre of the flower 

 filled with small ones, frequently intermixed with stamina. There 

 are, however, some exceptions, as we may instance eximia, 

 which was raised from the warratah, as it is in shape very similar 

 to the double white. It should be remarked, in raising new 

 varieties of camellias, that it is desirable that they should 

 approach as near as possible to the form of the double white — 

 that generally being considered as a standard, as regards form. 

 We know of but one, in addition to the eximia, of all the Eu- 

 ropean or American seedlings, which has this form, and that is the 

 celebrated Floyii, which, in our opinion, far excels all the col- 

 ored varieties. Of this latter kind, we know not its parentage. 

 As this tribe is now attracting the attention of florists, we hope 

 that those who are raising seedlings will not let this thought es- 

 cape their notice, as it is better to have a few, and have them 

 splendid, than a large number possessing little or no beauty. 



The geranium has long been noted for its superb varieties, 

 and at one time, in England, the new sorts were in great demand, 

 and brought an exorbitant price. The Geranidcece of Mr. 

 Sweet spread a taste for this tribe, which brought it into very ex- 

 tensive cultivation, and no collection was complete without the 

 new geraniums. But the publication of this work was suspended, 

 and the taste for the plants gradually lessened until they were 

 unfashionable; this was, of course, a sufficient cause to abandon 

 their growth, however so beautiful they might be; and although 

 they are at the present moment again becoming more generally 

 cultivated, yet they will not ever in England be so highly appre- 

 ciated as they were once. In this country the taste ior them is 

 on the increase, and we shall probably soon see many superb 

 collections. But the varieties are of English or French origin, 

 and as yet few attempts have been made to produce new sorts 

 here; we cannot account for the apparent neglect of experiments 

 in the raising of seedlings, unless it is that the plants aresiot yet 

 sufficiently in demand. We hope, however, that our amateurs 

 will soon boast of their seedling geraniums, as well as of camellias 



