AUGUST. 
239 
Arthobotrya articulata. Lindssea cultrata was in cultivation, is it so 
still ? And there is an Australian species, called L. linearis, occasion¬ 
ally met with. But there ought to be dozens of them, and it would be 
difficult to assign a reason why there are not. They are all extremely 
beautiful, quite as much so as the Adiantums. Who will be the first 
to prove that the word impossible should not be applied to the cultiva¬ 
tion of Lindsaea ? Here is an opportunity for a man to distinguish 
himself, and such a one as does not often occur. 
Delta. 
THE PELARGONIUM. 
In my floral chit chat during the past season, I have met among my 
friends two opinions upon the Pelargonium, from which I entirely 
dissent, and which I think have been formed without sufficient 
enquiry or examination. One sentiment often expressed is, that we 
are making but little progress in the improvement of this favourite 
flower. Now, if those who think so will do as I have just done—^look 
through the early numbers of the Florist, and compare the portraits of 
the favourites of that day with the flowers that have been raised lately, 
they will see that an immense improvement has been made in size, 
colour, and quality of petal, and I may say in every point of excellence. 
This might be very strikingly illustrated, if we could bring the old 
favourites into competition with the new; but this would be difficult 
if not impossible to do, so fully have the new varieties taken the places 
of the old. 
The other sentiment I refer to is the very opposite; it is that the 
flower has been so much improved there is little room or capability for 
further improvement. This idea I am sure is far from correct. As a 
raiser of seedlings I speak from experience. We frequently meet with 
flowers which, though deficient in some of the requisite properties, such 
as profuseness of bloom, or size, and therefore unfit to be sent out, are 
yet great improvements on other points, and help to show the line and 
way for further novelties. In both size and colour great progress has 
been made, as well as freedom and constancy of bloom, and I see no 
reason to doubt that this improvement will in due time be obtained in 
all the varieties of colour, and be still more extended. 
With the excellent advice that has been from time to time given in 
the pages of the Florist, on the cultivation of the Pelargonium, none 
need to be at a loss, but unfortunately rules are often neglected. Some 
growers—no, it is hardly right to say growers—some who purchase 
Pelargoniums, treat them as if of course they would grow without any 
further care on their part; and we cannot be surprised at the miserable 
result. But with reasonable attention, and following your excellent 
hints, a gratifying head of bloom may be anticipated with certainty. 
The last two or three seasons I have observed with surprise and 
sorrow a return to the old plan of exhibiting yearlings at the metro¬ 
politan shows—showing, perhaps, their first truss of bloom. This is 
both unsatisfactory and unwise ; it had been abandoned for many years. 
