A class of distinct habit, free bloomers, mostly fragrant foliage, good
for bedding out. Of these we have only had Madame Glevitsky of Bavarian
origin. Color, upper petals a fine vermilion, veined and spotted with
purple, under petals vermilion.
We were much pleased with Pelargonium Filicifolia Odorata for its finely
cut leaves of a Fern-like appearance and pleasing fragrance.
Our specimens of the various classes were from the extensive and superb
collection of Mr. John Saul, of Washington, D. C. Among them was one
which originated in his establishment and was named for his wife. It
belongs to the "Regal" class. The habit is compact and very free
flowering, producing large trusses of flowers the color of which is a
rich glowing vermilion, with light center and light margin to the
petals.
We are indebted to Mr. John G. Heinl for specimen plants of two "New
Monthly Pelargoniums," now offered for the first time to the general
public. Of the origin of one, _Fred Dorner_, we have this account given
in a letter to Mr. Heinl, from Fred Dorner, Esq., of Lafayette. Mr.
Dorner says:
"Six years ago I undertook to grow some Pelargoniums from seed. I
procured some very choice seed of Ernest Benary of Erfust. The seedlings
grew finely. About midwinter one commenced to bloom, and to my
astonishment kept on blooming for ten months, during which period it was
never without flowers. The plants grew to a good size and at one time I
counted forty-seven good-sized trusses on it. The winter and
everblooming quality, with the large and beautifully colored flowers,
makes this Pelargonium a great acquisition to the amateur as well as the
florist. I have seen here in Lafayette plants in windows blooming all
winter, and it is acknowledged here to be the best and easiest kept
house and window plant, blooming from nine to ten months in the year."
_Freddie Heinl_ originated with Mr. John G. Heinl, who says it is a
sport from _Fred Dorner_; it is lighter-colored and the flowers are
somewhat larger. That these are both a rare acquisition is evident from
the testimony of such florists as Mr. John Thorp of Queens, and Mr.
Henry A. Dreer of Philadelphia. Mr. Thorp says, "There are no
Pelargoniums equal to them and they have a decided right to be called
perpetual." Three months later he writes: "I am more than ever impressed
with their superiority over any perpetual blooming varieties, and they
must take foremost rank." Mr. Dreer says: "The Pelargoniums have proven
very satisfactory. They flowered during the greater part of the summer,
and are now full of buds."
The colored lithograph, which Mr. Heinl says is a good representation,
shows them to be very beautiful. We should think that to call a plant so
dissimilar in foliage and flower a Geranium, would be a misnomer, why
not equally such to call a Geranium a Pelargonium?