218 THE FLORIST. 



the advice, was rewarded by the spot in all his plants. I believe it 

 was in the early part of the year, but I write from memory. Now 

 whether this may help to make the cause of " spot" known or not I 

 cannot say ; I merely bring an old event, which appears to bear upon 

 the point, to the notice of your readers, and leave them to their own 

 inference and observations. 



The tendency to spot I believe to be constitutional in particular 

 varieties. I have not been teased with this pest to any amount or 

 moment in my collection. A few varieties annually appear to require 

 more care than others, and probably, if neglected, or without the 

 extra care, might become diseased. All varieties will not succeed 

 equally well in the same soil and situation. As an instance, I have 

 always had to pay extra care to keep Centurion in good foliage, 

 whilst Rosamond has been very healthy ; and with a friend, a few 

 miles distant, the reverse is the case, Centurion being healthy and 

 Rosamond delicate ; and that not for one season only, but year after 

 year, in the cold winter months. In the cold months of the year it is 

 a frequent thing to see the foliage of Pelargoniums, early in the 

 morning, hung round with '* dew-drops," particularly when the 

 plants have been watered over-night ; these dew-drops are con- 

 densed perspiration, and when dried up frequently leave a white re- 

 siduum, which appears injurious to the foliage, probably by inducing 

 the growth of some minute fungus when the necessary atmospheric 

 conditions are also present. 



But there is another disease, or perhaps another modification of 

 the same, which I have generally heard spoken of as canker ; and it 

 is this form of malady that Mr. Ayres' remarks appear chiefly directed 

 to. Every year more or less of our yearlings exhibit this sickly 

 state ; it is certainly constitutional, and probably owes more to the 

 imperfect maturation of the seed than any other cause. Perhaps I 

 ought to say imperfection of the seed, as I do not think it arises 

 solely from gathering the seed too soon, but from some lack of the 

 needful to constitute a good sound seed : unsuitable soil and treat- 

 ment may aggravate the disease in a delicate subject, but would 

 hardly give this disease to a healthy one. We always destroy any 

 seedlings so affected as soon as observed, and I believe such is the 

 general custom amongst raisers, so that this form of disease is not 

 likely to be frequent in general collections. I have not observed 

 more than two or three in cultivation subject to it, and they generally 

 put on a more healthy appearance as soon as the warm weather 

 comes in spring. Fancies, which Mr. Ayres describes as particularly 

 subject to the disease, I do not grow. The year of the potato blight 

 we had more than our usual number of cankered seedlings, and we 

 have had more or less annually since. 



This is the season for young plants, and I would remind such of 

 your readers as intend to add to their stock, to procure the plants as 

 early as possible ; a few weeks' (or even days') delay at this season 

 makes a great difference in the result. The plants should receive no 

 check, but every encouragement to grow, till well-established in 

 their blooming pots. G. W. Hoyle. 



