FANCY GERANIUMS. 
185 
One correspondent, founding his suggestion on the old name 
of “ Pencilled Geraniums,” applied to the previous class, proposes 
the present shall be called “ Annular Geraniums,” on account of 
the band of colour which usually encircles each flower; but as 
this band is not necessarily present in each variety, some being 
without colour on their lower petals, and others having it in the 
form of blotches, we think “annular” would be a misdescription, 
or at least would not properly apply to the whole class. 
Then we are reminded by several friends that the class is of 
continental origin, our Gallic neighbours claiming the merit of 
being the first to discover its beauties, and therefore the term 
“French,” would be just and appropriate. Now with every 
desire to yield honour to whom honour is due, we must beg to 
demur to this appellation. It is true, the cultivators of France 
adopted the class at a period somewhat antecedent to ourselves, 
a circumstance which has happened with other flowers, and in 
those cases, though the growers of each country have started 
from the same point, by pursuing different courses, dictated by a 
variation in taste, they have arrived at such opposite results as to 
destroy all connexion in the races of the two countries. A fami¬ 
liar instance of which is presented in the carnation; and as we 
are about to task our skill in improving these pelargoniums, it 
is at least probable that in a few years the distinction will be 
equally great; the Gallic appellative would then be as unsuitable 
as to call our fine varieties of the tulip “Dutch bulbs.” 
Fran^oise recommends them to be called “ Mignons,” a term 
sufficiently expressive of their pretty neat style of growing and 
flowering ; but we confess a partiality to our own language, and 
would rather find a name for them in English. 
The majority of our correspondents are in favour of a poetic 
rather than a strictly descriptive term, or at least they recom¬ 
mend that the first shall not be sacrificed in a vain endeavour to 
secure a concise accuracy, which, however desirable, is hardly 
attainable, on account of the ever-varying character of seedlings ; 
with this idea we fully concur, and therefore propose they 
shall be named, as are the little Rosa Lawrenciana and Indica 
minor ; a corresponding degree of miniature beauty exists between 
the two families, and hence we think they may with equal per¬ 
spicuity be denominated “Fairy Pelargoniums.” 
in. 
16 
