THE FLORIST. 
301 
THE PELARGONIUM. 
No one would have supposed, from the plates in the last volume of 
Sweet’s Geraniacce, that such beauties in form and colour were in store 
for those who should carry on the pursuit of raising Seedling Pelargo¬ 
niums. It would be idle to tell of the success of those extensive raisers, 
Edmund Foster, Esq. and the Rev. H. Garth. To them, for a length 
of time, every succeeding season brought its reward. Latterly they, 
and many others, with ourselves, have found the difficulties of obtain¬ 
ing novelties greatly increased. But this should not deter us from per¬ 
severing, particularly whilst we know that there are colours and beau¬ 
ties to be developed, only partially obtained hitherto. It may give 
some idea of our attempts at improvement to state, that we raise from 
two to three thousand seedlings annually, and no doubt many others 
raise nearly or quite as many. Some would fain have us believe 
that the interest in the flower is declining. This led us, during 
the past season, when attending the principal exhibitions in and 
near London, to observe if this was the case—if the Pelargonium- 
tents were deserted, as had been stated — if the interest in the 
seedlings was diminished ; and we can confidently assure our readers 
that we saw nothing of the kind. The Orchids were surrounded by 
a crowd of admirers, wondering at their beauty and singularity; but 
the Pelargoniums had their full share of visitors, and we may add, 
more notes were taken of them than of the Orchids. The former 
were visited as strangers, the latter as familiar friends. There was 
a time when seedling.raisers had their own tent at the Metropolitan 
exhibitions, w r hen their various productions were placed together to 
the greatest advantage. Of late years they have been scattered here, 
there, and every where, without any regard to arrangement for 
suitable light or situation for their examination. As connected 
with the Horticultural Society, we have pleaded for the restora¬ 
tion of the seedling-tent, but it has been in vain. The day has not 
yet come to attempt it; but we believe it is not very far distant 
when a combined effort upon the part of the most influential florists 
will make the lovers of florist’s flowers quite independent of the frowns 
or favour of Councils, either by strengthening what exists, or esta¬ 
blishing a new society on the broadest and best principles. 
In attempting to convey our ideas upon the points forming the 
excellence of the Pelargonium, as a florist’s flower, we may freely 
state that we have no wish to be considered an authority. Some, for 
whose opinions we have great respect, differ from us in many par¬ 
ticulars. It is not to be expected that whilst the judgment of man¬ 
kind differ, more or less, upon almost every subject, a perfect har¬ 
mony should exist where taste and cultivation of the eye are so 
much concerned as they are in the admiration of flowers. Many of 
our readers may, perhaps, consider, that what florists term points of 
excellence in their productions a-re arbitrary notions, having no foun¬ 
dation but in caprice. This is a great mistake. What we consider 
necessary to form a first-rate flower is attained by high cultivation, 
