JULY. 
137 
JOHN HOYLE PELARGONIUM. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
We mentioned this flower at page 122 of our last volume as being, at the 
time we wrote, the flower of the season so far as show Pelargoniums were con¬ 
cerned ; and such it proved to be. None of the many fine sorts which made 
their appearance during the blooming season came up to it either in quality or 
in beauty. We may now add that, for distinctness and richness of colouring, 
and for all the properties desirable in a flower, none of the varieties of the 
present season will be found to surpass it. 
Our figure, from the pencil of Mrs. Dix, gives a very good representation 
of the peculiar characters which John Hoyle presents, though, as in the case 
of other of our high-bred flowers, to obtain an exact picture is an impossibility 
—the rich effect of the natural colouring is not to be reproduced by art. 
We very strongly recommend this variety to the notice of Pelargonium 
fanciers, who have not obtained plants at its first distribution, as being, in our 
opinion, the best which has yet been obtained, and one which must be regarded 
as a standard flower for years to come. M. 
CHRONICLES OF A TOWN GARDEN—No. XVIII. 
The era of spring gardening came to a close early in June, and now the 
summer occupants of the garden are in the ground, bronzed and burnt up b) r the 
blazing sun. Really “ bedding stuff” is passing through a severe ordeal, and the 
“ parched ground ” seems to supplicate the sky for a refreshing shower. It will 
come in the Great Giver’s own good time ; and my neighbour Farmer Smith 
prayerfully trusts that this fine weather may prevail until his plentiful hay 
harvest is gathered, unusually heavy this season. And so even conflicting 
interests appeal even at Heaven’s footstool, as they do daily to the children 
of men. 
But how this hot sun brings out the gay and beautiful blooms of my 
Pelargoniums ! Spotted Gem is very fine and free-blooming, so is its grand 
French cousin Guillaume Severyns. The more sober-looking Wonderful, a 
“ welcome guest ” with me, but cast out by this time from many a collection 
that is much more valuable and select than mine, is still very fine. Some of the 
deep-coloured French spotted varieties, also look quite charming in company 
with two or three plants of old Calceolaria Sultan, that has a profusion of bright 
crimson blossoms, almost unrivalled in brilliancy of colour, though destitute of 
fine form. Intermingled with these are two or three plants of Coleus nigricans, 
the same number of Helichrvsums, a plant of Centaurea ragusina, that has 
' shown a few bright yellow blossoms, and some dark and light Fuchsias. 
These last are grown on stems about 3 feet in height, and the heads (they are 
old, but very free-flowering kinds), are masses of flower. Plenty of water is 
required now, plenty of air, and shading from the sun. They occupy a stage 
on each side of a small and unpretending conservatory, through which the 
front door of the house is reached. This is a great advance on the window of 
the sitting-room; and I am thankful, deeply so, for the more favourable cir¬ 
cumstances. 
And yet the old and homely appliances are not forgotten. The window- 
boxes are filled with bedding stuff, and being kept well watered, are far ad¬ 
vanced ahead of those that occupy the beds on the grass plat. An edging to 
one of them is formed of the little bright yellow Sedum acre, now in full 
flower, hanging down over the front of the box, and as soon as this is out of 
VOL. IV. H 
