208 Floiicultiiral and Botanical Notices 



Botanical Collector to China. — Mr. Fortune, who we 

 announced some time since as having been selected by the 

 London Horticultural Society to proceed to Canton to ex- 

 plore the botanical resources of that country, sailed in the 

 month of March for Hong Kong, in the ship Essex, amply 

 provided with the means of forwarding the objects of the 

 society, and furnished with most valuable letters of intro- 

 duction both from her Majesty's government and from nu- 

 merous private individuals. In addition to his duties as an 

 agent of the Horticultural Society, Mr. Fortune will occu- 

 py himself in the collection of objects of Natural History 

 in general, and no doubt he will reap a rich and abundant 

 harvest. {Gard. Chron.') 



New Pelai^goniums. — The love for this beautiful tribe of 

 flowers appears to be on the increase; till within a short 

 period, few, if any, seedlings of merit have ever been raised 

 in the country. We are gratified, however, to find that 

 gardeners and amateurs are giving their attention to the 

 production of new varieties ; there is certainly no reason 

 why we should not equal, if not excel, our English florists 

 in the splendor of our seedling pelargoniums as well as in 

 camellias and other planls. If amateurs would only attend 

 to the impregnation of the flowers with the same care that 

 they do camellias, the results would be quite as successful. 



Great improvement has been effected in the form of the 

 flower of the Pelargonium within a few years ; it is now al- 

 most entirely changed. The narrow and curled petal and 

 loose truss is now altered for the broad and smooth petal and 

 circular outline of the flower; the colors, too, are purer, 

 and the texture of the petals firmer. What even four years 

 ago would have been considered a fine variety, would not 

 now be allowed a place in a collection of twelve sorts if 

 exhibited for premium. 



The premiums oflered by the Massachusetts Horticultu- 

 ral Society, for the last three years, have had a tendency to 

 bring the pelargonium into more extensive notice, and to 

 induce cultivators to attempt the growth of seedlings. The 

 most successful of those who have attempted this is Mr. W. 

 Meller, of Roxbury, who has raised several very splendid 

 varieties. At a late meeting of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, the premium for the best twelve varieties 

 of cut flowers, shown in trusses, with the foliage, was 

 awarded to Mr. Meller for a stand consisting entirely of 



