NOVEMBER. 
233 
PELARGONIUM DR. HOGG. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
The subject of our present plate—Pelargonium Dr. Hogg—was raised from 
the original stock of Beaton’s hybrids, by Mr. Wm. Paul, of the Nurseries, 
Waltham Cross. Beaton’s race is now so widely known, and so generally 
appreciated, that it scarcely requires any commendation at our hands. The 
majority of kinds have been planted extensively in the Royal Gardens at Kew, 
and at Battersea; and while by means of their introduction the range of colour 
among Pelargoniums is materially extended, it is also found that these hybrids 
flower more profusely and are less spoiled by the weather—be it sun, wind, or 
rain—than the kinds derived from other sources. Alexandra, Amy Hogg, 
Indian Yellow, Duchess, Glowworm, Orange Nosegay, Mrs. Wm. Paul, and 
Waltham Seedling are now almost universally known and appreciated; and 
their successors Fairy Queen, Nimrod, Peach Nosegay, Rebecca, St. George, 
Sir J. Paxton, Lord Chancellor, Tiara, Salmon Nosegay, and Waltham Lilac, 
have already found their way into many of our principal gardens. Dr. Hogg, 
which is as yet in the hands of the raiser and will not be sold before May, 1867, 
is an improvement in form on the preceding, and has more of the blue or purple 
shade of colour than any previously announced. When shown in the subdued 
light of the exhibition tent it has some resemblance to Amy Hogg, but when 
seen in masses out of doors, in the full clear light of day, it is of an entirely 
different shade of colour; and the plant is of so dense a growth, and the 
flowering so free, that it is worthy of a place in the most limited flower garden. 
The subject of the present illustration will form one of a set of new 
varieties selected from many thousand seedlings which will be first offered for 
sale in the spring of the coming year. 
A FEW WORDS ABOUT BEDDING PLANTS. 
The season now closing has been on the whole very unfavourable for 
flowers out of doors. May was very dry with a good deal of sunshine, which 
made it warm in the middle of the day; but for the greater part of the month 
the nights were exceedingly cold, with very cutting northerly winds, and, in 
consequence, bedding-out was commenced later than usual. About London, 
even, there was scarcely anything done up to the end of May. With June 
came fine refreshing rains, which set every person to work planting out; but 
these fine rains were followed too soon by very bright, hot, sunshiny weather, 
just at the time the days were at their greatest length. This dried up the soil 
before the newly-bedded plants got established, so that frequent heavy water¬ 
ings became a necessity to keep the plants alive. The early part of July was 
fine ; but with the close of the month came heavy, drenching rains and violent 
gales of wind, which shattered Roses, Calceolarias, Geraniums, &c. Since then 
the weather has been very wet, with rarely two consecutive fine days up to the 
present time (loth of October), rendering the harvest tedious for farmers in 
this part, and causing serious results to the crops. 
Had the beauty of our flower gardens depended entirely on flowering 
plants, as it did in days not long gone by, their appearance would not have 
been as gay and beautiful during the last two months as they have been. 
Variegated-leaved Geraniums and other ornamental coloured-leaved plants 
have amply made up for the loss of flowers; and the rains, which have been 
so injurious to the flowers, have brought out the foliage in all its beauty. I 
VOL. v. M 
