26 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
been made, as also in form, smoothness, and substance as well as quality 
of petal. 
It is just twenty years since the Florist was commenced, and I should 
like to see the plate of Pelargoniums—the leading Pelargoniums of that day 
—issued with the first number, exhibited at the next May and June shows 
along with such flowers as Mary Hoyle, Progress, Congress, William Hoyle, 
Example, Victor, Boyal Albert, &c., &c. The comparison would be very 
instructive, and I shall be surprised if the improvement is not universally 
pronounced to be wonderful. 
The Pelargonium family includes so many distinct forms that we are 
liable to fall into confusion in speaking of them. I have heard the “ large- 
flowered ” section spoken of as 11 show" varieties but this term is not dis¬ 
tinctive. If all the groups are to be equally called Pelargoniums, I see a 
convenience, at least, in adopting for these, the sectional name of Large- 
flowered. 
Heading. G. W. F. Hoyle. 
CANNAS IN FLOWER GARDENS. 
S bedding plants I am of opinion that this race of plants is destined 
to play an important part in modern flower gardening. The culti¬ 
vation of Cannas is simple, and they are, moreover, rapidly in¬ 
creased by division of the roots, as well as from seed; but when in 
possession of a few old stools the former mode is preferable. We had 
one large bed in the flower garden here this season, edged with large plants 
of Centaurea ragusina, which looked well from the day it was planted until 
frost marred its beauty. I winter my plants in a warm house without pots, 
and in February divide them, and grow on rapidly until bedding-out time. 
Wrotham Park, Barnet. John Edlington. 
THE OSBERTON SWEET-SCENTED FLOWER GARDEN. 
)T is to be regretted that the present style of flower gardening, with its 
gorgeous masses of colour, excludes most of our favourite fragrant 
plants from being employed in it, for as a rule they are not effective 
enough to be made use of for massing purposes. Yet a garden 
wholly without perfume, is like a Pine Apple without flavour—beautiful 
to the eye, but worthless to the taste. Such a flower garden, therefore, though 
certainly pleasing to the eye, loses much of its interest from the want of 
perfume. Now, although under the present style we cannot make use in 
the parterre of many of our most fragrant plants, yet we may at least have 
some retired spot where these may be planted and fully enjoyed. At 
Osberton we have a separate garden, the exact counterpart of the coloured 
