12 



BARR & SUGDEN'S COMPENDIUM 



Saved by our " Sardinian Correspondent " from the following classes, which include some of his newest 

 and best English and French varieties, carefully hybridized, to ensure the amateur against disappointment. 



Dried Specimens of many of these Seedlings may be seen at our Warehouse. 



SEALED COLLECTION OF PELARGONIUM SEED. 



Many of the varieties enumerated are Seedlings raised by our "Sardinian Correspondent," and 



exclusively in his possession. 



345 COLLECTION O (3s. 6d.) 



Contains 12 splendiA varieties, lO seeds each, of IMadematum Pelargoniums. 



346 COLLECTION P (3s. 6d.) 



Contains 12 splendid varieties, lO seeds each, of fancy Pelargoniums. 



347 COLLECTION Q (3s. 6d.) 



Contains 12 splendid varieties, lO seeds each, of large-flowered Pelargoniums. 



348 COLLECTION R (3s. 6d.) 



Contains 12 splendid varieties, 1© seeds each, of spotted Pelargoniums. 



349 COLLECTION S (3s. 6d.) 



Contains 12 splendid varieties of Zonale and UTosegay Pelargoniums. 



CUCUMIS AND CUCURBIT A, Nat. Ord. CucurMta'cece. 

 Picturesque, Curious, Interesting, and Beautiful are the following Ornamental Gourds and Cucumbers 

 The varieties in this our Foreign collection have been selected either for the highly ornamental 

 character of their foliage, the singularity or exquisite symmetry of their fruit, or for the richness, 

 variety, and peculiarity of their colouring ; some are perfect monsters in size and oddity of shape, 

 while others are miniatures of most elegant formation. The colours range from white to crimson, 

 orange and scarlet, blending and harmonizing with olive green, bronze, and the most beautiful bright 

 polished glossy green ; these again are striped, spotted, dappled, or variegated in the most extraor- 

 dinary manner ; others, being self-coloured, are distinct and beautiful. The style of growth is as 

 diversified as the size of the fruit ; some are of the most gigantic structure, others are slender and 

 delicate, and these are invaluable for covering verandahs, trellis-work, or fronts of villas and cottages; 

 where trained round the windows they are exceedingly ornamental, while in autumn their rich and 

 parti-coloured fruit is remarkably picturesque. The strong growers are invaluable for training to 

 trees over summer retreats and arbours, or trailing on rockeries and rooteries, sloping banks, by the 

 margins of ponds, woodland walks, amidst ruins, for large beds on lawns, in orchards, parks, Sfc. 



NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE ON THE GOURD. 



" Speaking of Gourds. I must say a word of their beautiful and varied forms. They presented an 

 endless diversity of ums and vases, shallow or deep, scalloped or plain, moulded in patterns which a 

 sculptor wovdd do well to copy, since art has never invented anything more graceful. A hundred Gourds 

 in the garden were worthy — in my eyes at least— of being rendered indestructible in marble. If ever 

 Providence (but I know it never will) should assign me a superfluity of gold, part of it shall be expended 

 for a service of plate, or most delicate porcelain, to be wrought into the shape of Gourds, gathered from 

 vines which I will plant with my own hands. As dishes for containing vegetables they would be 

 peculiarly appropriate. 



" But not merely the natural love of the beautiful was gratified by my toil in the kitchen garden. 

 There was a hearty enjoyment, likewise, in observing the growth of the crooked-necked Gourd, from the 

 first little bulb, with the withered blossom adhering to it. until they lay strewn upon the soil, big round 

 fellows, Mding their heads beneath the leaves, but turning up their great yellow rotundities to the noon- 

 tide sun. Gazing at them I felt that, by my agency, something worth living for had been done. A new 

 substance was bom into the world. They were real and tangible existences, which the mind could seize 

 hold of and rejoice in. — Nathaniel Hawthorne's Mosses from an Old Manse. 



The fruits when ripe make the most splendid and interesting hall and drawing-room 

 autumnal and winter ornaments. 



slip The following area selection from our mag nif cent collection of Gourds. We are prepared to supply 

 500 varieties, most of which have been described in previous editions of our Catalogue. 



[Those varieties with a (*) are Edible, for Soups and Preserves.] 



THE PRIZE GUST OR LARGE-FRUITED GOURDS. 



These, in addition to being highly ornamental, are invaluable for cattle food. The seed may be 

 » planted in May where intended to grow. 



OUR OWN SELECTION, in Sealed Packets. 



*. d. *• d. 



350 30 Packets, beautiful varieties 7 6 352 15 Packets, beautiful varieties 3 6 



351 20 || „ , 5 6 353 10 „ „ „ 2 6 



354 Splendid mixed, 1/ and 2/6 packets. 



