1871.] 
ON PELARGONIUMS.-II. 
51 
irrespective of form, and his perseverance was rewarded by success, for he over¬ 
came the great difficulty, by obtaining the first break into distinct and novel 
colour, the achievement of which renders easy the production of innumerable 
shades and hues, which by careful breeding may be improved in form. 
In attempting a review of the leading varieties at present in cultivation, I 
purpose speaking only of those that I have tested in my own house and garden, 
or which have come under my immediate observation. As an amateur I cannot 
be expected to be familiar with all the varieties deserving notice. Omissions 
must not, therefore, be imputed to design. To go through the lists in our 
Florists’ catalogues would be an endless and useless undertaking ; I would rather 
suggest their entire obliteration, and to commence anew ; for amongst the few 
good, they contain hundreds of varieties utterly useless and obsolete—useless 
alike for pot-culture or bedding purposes. 
To my mind, in the Pelargonium, as in all other flowers, “ form ” stands far 
before display. There can be no denying the attractiveness of the noble trusses 
with gorgeous colours of many varieties which I shall include in the decorative 
class, but I much prefer the flower one can gaze upon with admiration for its 
4 >' 
perfection of symmetry. I therefore follow the order of my suggested classifica¬ 
tion, first giving my idea of the points essential to constitute the Florists’ flower, 
viz., form, size, substance, with smoothness of texture, and depth or body of 
'Colour. Each petal should be large and boldly rounded off, the top and side ones 
as nearly as possible equal in size, the lower one large and lip-like, that is, 
elongated from side to side. The petals should considerably overlap each other, 
should possess leather-like substance, and should slightly reflex, so that the pip 
may present a firm unbroken circle, with a slightly convex surface. Thickness of 
petal ensures a corresponding body or density of colour. For perfection of truss 
we require persistency of petal, and length with robustness of foot-stalk, so that 
each pip stands forth in its allotted place, constituting an even, convex, and 
unblemished truss. With regard to size of truss, I am of opinion that for this 
class a moderate number of large, well-expanded pips, having room to stand out 
conspicuously, is more in character with Florists’ qualifications than an 
immoderately large number forming a crowded truss. 
Having given my ideal standard of what the Florists’ flower should be, I fear I 
must confess myself at a loss to produce an example. The nearest approach to 
it we possess at present in the Scarlet section is, I believe, universally admitted 
to be Mann’s Lord Derby. In size of petal this is considerably in advance of 
Flipper or Dr. Lindley, and in size as combined with form, of any variety yet sent 
out; but judging it as regards perfection, it is deficient in substance, and conse¬ 
quently in density of colour ; its petals fairly overlap, the top and side ones 
expand to flatness, but the lower one has a great tendency to kick up or to 
become concave, which spoils it. Nevertheless, as yet, Lord Derby may be 
said to stand alone, as the nearest representative of the Florists’ class. 
d 2 
