104 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



firmly once and for all what they should be called. The oldest 

 P. quercifolium that I can trace is majus (1774), then denticulatum 

 (1789), fencillatum (1794), and undulatum (1795). Of the Glutinosums 

 the oldest type, dating from 1777, pencillatum, also 1777, ' Lady Lums- 

 den ' (date unknown) and the really charming filici folium, and pinnatum 

 are the most interesting forms ; the rest of both classes I pass over in 

 silence! Their aliases are as many as those of the classic burglar. 

 Next in antiquity comes a charming trio, gratum (1778) (the ever- 

 popular Cinnamon-scented), abrotanifolium (1791), and artemisoides 

 (1817). P. tomentosum (the Peppermint-scented) (1790) appears to 

 stand alone ; so do P. echinatum album (* Moulton Gem ') (1789), and 

 echinatum rubrum (' Ariel '). I have come across no other forms of . 

 these so far. 



I have left the oldest introduction of all (with the exception of 

 capitatum of the same date), viz., P. cucullatum (1690), to the last, as 

 except for its double form it appears to have no near relations, though 

 possibly mollis, conspicuum (1810), Eollisson's * Unique,' and * Mrs. 

 Kingsbury ' may claim kinship. Andersonii, known in 1817, * Scarlet 

 Unique,' 'Moore's Victory' ('Lady Mary Fox'), 'Lothario,' and 

 ' Shrubland Pet,' form a brilliant and conspicuous group, though with 

 the exception of the first-named I know nothing of their dates or 

 history. 



I have not included in the foregoing slight sketch any of the many 

 varieties I have under non-botanical names, such as * Fair Ellen * and 

 'Fair Eosamund,' 'Duchess of Devonshire,' 'Mrs. Douglas,' 

 * Mrs. Maitland,' etc., for every collector seems to have different names 

 for them, and it is high time, now the attractions of the scented 

 Pelargoniums are beginning to be appreciated, that some expert should 

 settle the nomenclature once for all. 



And now as to the matter of collecting specimens. Do let me point 

 out that one of the chief charms of a collection such as mine is that 

 money cannot buy most of the varieties; barely one dozen of 

 my 100 varieties have come from nurserymen. They are the spoils of 

 about ten years' careful — and, let me add, sometimes extremely exciting 

 — search and exchange. What triumph of orchid hunter in Borneo 

 can beat the thrill of joy with which from the depths of a dirty and 

 disreputable cabaret in the heart of the Ardennes one emerges with a 

 treasure in one's arms, fruit of a long and stormy bargaining with M. 

 and Mme. les Proprietaires ? As to exchange — words will not express 

 my gratitude to the many kind and generous fellow-collectors to whom 

 I am indebted. From the old village postman (whose gift of a sprig of , 

 gratum practically started my collection) to the courteous Curator ^ 

 of Kew Gardens, all have combined to overwhelm me with kindness. | 

 My best friend was the result of answering a chance advertisement in 

 a garden paper ! From that generous Irish lady, my collaborator in 

 this article, whose collection puts mine to shame, nearly half my 

 specimens have come. We have never met, and that is the case withf 

 many another " friend by post," but the kind letters I receive from myl 



