258 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[July 24. 
worth notice. We do not profess to understand how a 
named flower exhibited last year can be submitted this 
year as a seedling, unless it be upon the ground of its 
all being in one hand, thus Mr. Turner exhibited as a 
seedling DodwelVs Mary Picotee, a noble well-made 
flower, with a narrow edging very perfect. It had a 
certificate and deserved it; although the white is not so 
pure as some, it is free from spots or stains, and its creamy 
shade does not much detract from a good flower. Prince 
Arthur was commended, we hardly know what for. 
Mr. Townsend exhibited six Potentii.las, under number, 
which should not be. No 3 was a deep brown crimson, 
and No. 4, bright scarlet orange, both promising, because 
new and striking; we saw no distinguishing mark to 
them. Phlox Mayit, exhibited by Mr. Henderson, was 
striped purple and straw, but a bad scollopped form. This 
was commended, nevertheless. Picotee, Cassandra, 
was a flower of good substance, with not enough petals 
to make three rows, and, moreover, scollopped a good 
deal. Diadem, larger, fuller of petals, deeper feather on 
the edge, and not without bars and spots, and edges 
rather rough. Pink, Titus , by Mr. Edwards, very large 
loose petals, guttery, and soft, but, withal, the best of the 
large varieties. Gladiolus, Rosamundi, shewn with a 
dozen others by Mr. Staines, was worthy of notice, 
which the remainder were not; it was a brilliant scarlet 
with white ribs, and the name given is in bad taste. 
Antirrhinum, Sulphur colour, shown by Mr. Edwards, 
had a first-class certificate. Now, although we admit it 
was superior to the other sulphurs, it could not deserve 
a first-class certificate. Calceolarias from Mr. Major 
had travelled badly. They were much the same as 
hundreds we have seen this year; No. 1 was, however, 
an advance ; No. 9 and 11 pretty. Fuchsias, one named 
Diamond was the most ill-grown plant we ever saw, 
evidently crowded up among others, and drawn up like 
wires; but it was as perfect a specimen of reflexing as 
we could wish. It turns back like a Martagon lily, 
and exposed a noble corolla. The petals are too narrow, 
but it is a gain for all that, and when well-grown will 
astonish the growers. L'Elegant, white and deep pink 
corolla, reflexes a little and gracefully too, but it is no 
advance on our whites. Ariel turns up its sepals like 
four hooks, not gracefully, and is no real advance. 
Another called Banks, No. 1, was clearer, white, re¬ 
flexing a little, short, thick, broader sepals, and may 
come on among the pale varieties. But the only 
novelty among the fuchsias was Diamond, ill as it was 
grown. Verbenas, National, is a compact, good-trus¬ 
sing variety, dull red. Koh i noor was shown again; 
we do not alter our first decision; it is not of a good form, 
the divisions show too plainly. A plant of Purple Rival 
was commended. A dirty purple fancy Geranium, 
most unaccountably named Fire-ball, was commended, 
though there are many scores of better ones. A seed¬ 
ling Strawberry, Windsor Castle, was a most noble 
variety. 
At the London Floricultural, Mr. Hunt showed a 
number of seedling Pansies, Mr. Smith Verbenas and 
several other flowers, of which we shall say more. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS CULTURE. 
The Pelargonium. —Like the fuchsia, this beautiful 
genus is now a true florists’ flower. It lias been brought 
to its present state of comparative perfection by the 
same means,—hybridizing. The first that we remember 
was named Davcyanum. It was raised by a Mrs. Davy, 
the wife of a nurseryman of that name, who resided 
somewhere near Chelsea. It was said that Mr. Davy 
kept it in his own possession till he had 200 plants, 
which lie sold at five guineas each. It caused quite a 
sensation in the floricultural world, and hybrids were 
raised from it by scores. Mr. Loudon, in his first edition 
of the Hortus Britanicus (1830), enumerates 202 of 
hybrids, which he denominates garden varieties, very few 
of which are now shown, if at all in existence. Davey- 
anum was a free-flowering bright-coloured variety, and 
would most likely be now considered one of the fancy 
class. We should be glad to see it if alive yet in any 
out-of-the-way place in the country. 
Propagation. By Seed. —This is the only way to 
raise superior varieties. To improve those already in 
cultivation ought to be the aim of every raiser of seed¬ 
lings. The first and most important point is form, the 
next is substance, the next size, and the last colour. 
To these may be added habit and truss; save seed only 
from such as possess already these points approaching 
to perfection. Hybridize such, that is supposing there 
is in the collection a well-formed flower, but deficient in 
substance, size, colour, habit, or truss; then take the 
pollen from such varieties as possess the needful requi¬ 
site, and dust it upon the stigma of the properly-formed 
flowers. In all attempts to hybridize, let the one to bear 
the seed possess the property of form. This is the corner¬ 
stone of success. In order to obtain the other proper¬ 
ties wanting, cut off the anthers of the well-formed 
variety before the pollen cases shed their contents; and 
the moment the hybridizing is performed, cover the 
flowers with a close fitting cap of fine muslin net, to 
prevent insects from carrying strange pollen to the 
stigma dusted with pollen from such varieties as have 
the desirable properties. When the seed is ripe, gather 
it carefully, and divest it of its arills, or feather-like 
appendages, wrap it up in paper, and keep it in a dry 
drawer, in a cool room, till spring. Sow it early in 
March, and place it in a gentle heat; a hotbed that has 
been at work for a few weeks will answer admirably. 
Sow in wide shallow pots, well-drained, in a light rich 
compost, press the seed down gently, and cover it about a 
quarter-of-an inch. If the seed is good, it will quickly 
germinate, and should then be removed from the hotbed, 
and placed upon a shelf in the greenhouse near to the 
glass. Water very moderately, or the plants will be apt 
to damp off. As soon as the seedlings have made their 
second leaf, pot them off singly into two-inch pots, in a 
compost of loam and leaf-mould, in equal parts, with a 
liberal addition of river sand, finely sifted. Replace 
them on the shelf, and shade for a time from hot sun¬ 
shine. If all is well and properly done, with the neces¬ 
sary amount of water, the seedlings will soon fill these 
small pots with roots. They must then be re potted into 
a size larger pot, and may then be treated in the same 
way as such as have been propagated by cuttings. Keep 
them close to the glass, and give abundance of air on 
all favourable occasions. As soon as the weather will 
permit, place them out-of-doors, upon a bed of ashes of 
sufficient thickness to prevent worms from entering the 
pots. The situation should be an open one, the grand 
object being to ripen the wood, and induce a stocky or 
bushy habit, so as to insure them flowering the follow- 1 
ing season. The size of pots to flower them in need j 
not be more than four-and-a-lialf inches. When there 
is a fear of autumnal frosts, remove them into the green¬ 
house, and place them on a shelf, at such a distance ) 
from the glass as will serve to keep them dwarf and j 
bushy. There is no need to top them in the manner j 
recommended hereafter for plants raised from cuttings, | 
the object being not to make fine specimens, but to get j 
them to flower as quickly as possible the spring follow¬ 
ing. Whenever that takes place, then commences the 
difficult task of selection. Many a flower may be showy 
in colour, an abundant bloomer, and apparently a beau- , 
tifiil variety; but if it is deficient in one point, and ! 
more especially the important one of form, it is useless | 
as a florist’s flower. This brings us to consider what 
arc the properties of a first-rate Pelargonium. Form is 
