1880 . ] 
THE PROPERTIES OF THE FLORIST S GOLD-LACED POLYANTHUS. 
49 
NEW SHOW PELARGONIUMS. 
[Plate 
IIETHER attributable to the influence 
of the Pelargonium Society, as it would 
be but fair to infer, or whether only the 
natural result of progressive development when 
a flower is taken lovingly in hand by the 
hybridist, certain it is that a very fine lot of 
new Pelargoniums of the show class made 
their appearance last bloom-tide, chiefly from 
the collections of E. B. Foster, Esq., of Clewer 
Manor, and the Rev. A. Matthews, of Gumley 
—whose rules for judging Pelargoniums were 
published not long since in our pages. The 
improvement has been most remarkable during 
the last few years, large size, great substance, 
perfect form, and an abundance of bloom being 
the chief points in which the advance has 
been made. A reference to the early volumes 
of the Florist^ in which will be found por¬ 
traits of Centurion, Honora, and Rosamond, 
which were considered gems in those days, and 
a glance at the portraits of those selected for 
our present illustration—for blooms of which 
we are indebted to Mr. 0. Turner, of Slough, 
by whom they will be sent out—will show that 
we are fully justified in speaking highly of the 
year’s results from this point of view. The 
varieties portrayed are from Mr. Foster’s stock. 
Fig. 1 . The Pope. —This is a remarkably 
fine, solid flower, quite new in colour, perfect 
in form, and remarkable for its smoothness of 
surface and its depth of colouring. The top 
petals are clouded over most of their surface 
with a rich velvety-black, which is bordered 
by a bright rosy-purple, such as occurs in the 
outer half of the lower petals, the eye or 
centre being pure white. It is very distinct 
and effective, and was considered fully de- 
PROPERTIES OF THE FLORIST’ 
HAVE now for more than forty years, 
taken great interest in the Gold-laced 
Polyanthus, having grown it from pure 
love when a boy, and having been familiar 
with it as a florist flower for tbe last thirty- 
two years. In 1848, I attended, for the first 
time, the Annual Exhibition of the Middleton 
Auricula and Polyanthus Society, and was 
much impressed with the beauty of the Gold- 
laced Polyanthus, as there exhibited. Since 
1848, I have attended many other Polyanthus 
No. 28. IMPERIAL SERIES. 
511.] 
serving the award of the Pelargonium Society’s 
Certificate of Merit, when shown early in July 
last, as also were the other varieties figured. 
Fig. 2. Alice.— The characteristic of this 
variety is its soft tint of pink, delicate but 
clear, and intensely fascinating. The black 
spot on the upper petals is comparatively 
small, breaking outwards into a few feathery 
lines, leaving a broad margin of rosy pink, 
which is narrowly bordered by the delicate 
tint which pervades the lower petals; the 
centre is white and pure. In smoothness 
and substance of petal, roundness of form, 
and satiny richness of colouring, it leaves 
nothing to be desired. 
Fig. 3. Emperor William. —This is perhaps 
the finest flower of the three, taking all points 
into consideration. Its size is of the largest, 
its form is unexceptionable, its colouring is rich 
and varied, its centre is pure. The petals are 
smooth and lie well when expanded, forming a 
symmetrical flower. The colour of the top 
petals is a bright carmine-crimson, palest at 
the extreme edge, but almost covered by a 
dense veiny clouding of dark maroon ; the 
outer half of the lower petals is carmine-rose, 
slightly pencilled with crimson ; the inner half 
pure white. 
We may take the opportunity to mention 
that on the occasion of the Pelargonium 
Society’s Show this year, which takes place on 
June 29th, the seedlings exhibited for the Cer¬ 
tificate, which is open to competition both to 
members and non-members, will have to be 
accompanied by historical testimonials and de¬ 
scriptive particulars, which must be filled in by 
exhibitors on blank forms, to be had of the 
Secretary for that purpose.—T. Moore. 
S GOLD-LACED POLYANTHUS. 
exhibitions, and have inspected repeatedly 
many collections of choice florist's varieties; 
further than this, I have had the advantage of 
association with the old florists and those of 
our time, and have often heard the florist pro¬ 
perties of the Polyanthus criticised and dis¬ 
cussed, according to the standards laid down 
by Glenny, Harrison, and Slater—our best 
authorities of thirty years ago. Being quite 
familiar with the various properties and faults 
which determined the judgment of the plants, 
E 
