FEBRUARY. 



9 



NEW PELARGONIUMS. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION-. 



The accompanying plate represents some of the more desirable novelties 

 amongst Pelargoniums which appeared in the course of the last season, and 

 which owe their origin to the well-known names of Hoylc, and Beck, and of 

 the late Mr. Foster. We believe the plants are all in the hands of Mr. Turner, 

 to whom, as well as to the respective raisers and growers, we owe our obliga- 

 tions for the blooms we have figured. 



The season of 1862 was a remarkable one as regards the exhibition of 

 seedling Pelargoniums. Their name was legion ; and amongst the many 

 which appeared there were few that would not take a fair position amongst 

 the older standard varieties. Those we have selected as specially worthy of 

 illustration are : — 



Fig. 1. Regina formosa, one of the most perfect of the rose-coloured series ; 

 raised by Mr. Beck. 



Fig. 2. Conflagration (misnamed Competitor on the plate), a fine crimson 

 red ; raised by Mr. Foster. 



Fig. 8. Royal Albert, a noble carmine rose of large size ; from Mr. Hoyle. 



Fig. 4. Belle of the Ball, a subspotted rose, very prettily marked, and 

 usually rather larger than in the sample figured; raised by Mr. Foster. 



Fig. 5. Royalty, a very distinct rosy carmine, first-class every way ; from 

 Mr. Foster. 



The groups which have been most largely augmented are those with rose- 

 coloured and those with crimson flowers. Of the first set, the two we have 

 figured— namely, Prince Albert and Regina formosa, stand first in merit. Royal 

 Albert is one of the largest varieties known, fine in shape, and of a clear 

 carmine rose below, clouded with dark maroon above, and white at the centre. 

 Regina formosa, though full-sized, is smaller, and differs in having the upper 

 petals almost wholly black. Canopus, raised by Mr. Beck, is a flower of well- 

 marked character in this group, and is distinguished by the smaller size of the 

 black spot on its upper petals. Cynosure and International, the former 

 one of Mr. Beck's, the latter one of Mr. Foster's, are other good roses. 



Amongst the crimsons, Conflagration, which we figure, is one of the darker 

 of the series. Illuminator, from the same raiser (Mr. Foster), comes amongst 

 the brightest, being of a brilliant carmine scarlet, with a clouded blotch almost 

 black on the top petals. Of Mr. Beck's novelties, Vesuvius, classing with the 

 brightest, with Ardens, Fervens, and Bellatrix are all good flowers ; the three 

 last somewhat rosy-tinted. 



To the roses which verge towards purple each of the raisers already named 

 has contributed. Mr. Hoyle's flower, Lord Palmerston, is probably the best ; 

 but the Fidelia of Mr. Beck, and Improvement of Mr. Foster, are welcome. 

 The distinct tint of these varieties renders them very desirable, both in the 

 exhibitions and in private collections. 



Of rosy-tinted flowers partially spotted on the lower petals, Belle of the 

 Ball, a light carmine with markings of crimson, and Royalty, of a more decided 

 rose-tint, with deeper crimson markings, are two fine and distinct sorts. They 

 were both raised by Mr. Foster, as also was Merrimac, a large flower of this 

 set, with the lower petals very much veined. 



Monitor, Landseer, and Caliban are well-marked and desirable sorts of the 

 distinctly spotted series ; the two first raised in Mr. Foster's garden, the last 

 in that of Mr. Beck. The improvement made in this group in respect to form 

 has been very great ; while the diversity of colour and marking presented by 



VOL. II. c 



