162 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



state iu so short a space of time as for tlie most part suffices for tbe 

 full development of all the characters of common green-leaved and 

 dark-zoned kinds. Comparative slov^ness of production, and a 

 great and increasing demand, are sufficient, therefore, to account for 

 the high prices usually charged for these plants, especially in the 

 first season of the distribution of new varieties ; and the leading 

 kinds are likely to be costly for many years to come. After all, 

 thirty to sixty shillings is but a small sum for a fair-sized plant of 

 such* a splendid variety as Sophia Cusach or Jetty Lacy, in the first 

 distribution ; and that the distributors of varieties known to be of 

 the very best quality find a ready sale at such prices, and have rather 

 to complain of the slowness of the propagation than of any unwill- 

 inf^ness on the part of the public, proves that the first price is not 

 hy amateurs of means considered exorbitant. 



As we have attached a somewhat comprehensive title to this 

 paper, we must be comprehensive in our remarks. By " variegated- 

 leaved pelargoniums," on the present occasion, we understand all 

 the several varieties, of whatever class, which have leaves differing 

 in any material degree in their colour from the typical green or 

 dark' zoned kinds. But their diff"erences are so various, that a clas- 

 sification must be attempted ; and the system we have proposed in 

 the " Garden Oracle" for 1868 has met with such general accep- 

 tance, that we reproduce its leading features here. AVe arrange all 

 the variegated kinds in five classes, namely — 1. Yaeieg-ated, such 

 as Flou-er of the Day, etc. 2. Goldek-leated, such as Golden Fleece. 

 3. BuoKZs Zo^'AL, such as Luna. 4. Golden Zois'al, such as Mrs. 

 Follocl:. 5. SiLTEU ZoxAL, such as Italia JJnita. As to the pro- 

 duction of new varieties in any or all of these classes, the matter is 

 comparatively easy, and may be dealt with in very few words. We 

 suppose the reader to have had some experience in growing gera- 

 niums from seed, and to be familiar with the manipulations necessary 

 for artificial fertilization of the flowers. For the production of 

 seeds it is necessary to have a collection comprising a few of the 

 very best varieties in all the classes above-named, and also a certain 

 number of commiOn zonate kinds, the leaves of which are round, 

 stout, fiat, or slightly convex, and marked with very dark zones. 

 Madame Vaucher and Monsieur Barre are two of the best dark zonals 

 for this purpose, as their leaves are finely formed and deeply coloured, 

 and the plants have vigorous constitutions. The breeder should 

 cross his varieties in every way he can. imagine, and he will obtain a 

 variety of results, a large majority of the seedling plants proving, as 

 a matter of course, worthless. But in breeding for leaves it will be 

 found, that when a dark zonal, such as Mo/lame Vanclter, is made 

 the seed-beariDg parent, and a golden zonal, such as Sophia Cusach, 

 is njade the pollen parent, a majority of the seedling plants will in 

 due time put forth shoots with golden zonal leaves. In like manner, 

 if pollen is taken from a silver zonal to fertilize the flower of a 

 dark zonal, a majority of the seedlings will be silver zonals. To 

 breed bronze zonals is the most easy task of all, as their own seeds, 

 without artificial fertilization, will produce bronze zonal plants from 

 the first; but another mode of obtaining them is to breed the 



