348 THE FLORIST. 



expand. Anything like forcing should be avoided, but a Httle fire heat 

 will be beneficial in damp, dull, and foggy weather, and also whenever 

 the temperature sinks to near 40°. 



" Cleanliness is also a very important thing to attend to in the 

 culture of the Pelargonium. No dead foliage should be allowed to 

 remain on the plants, and if the green leaves become dirty or dusty 

 they should be carefully washed, and the glass of the house, both 

 inside and outside, should be kept quite clean. Fancy varieties 

 require similar treatment to the large kinds ; they will, however, bear 

 a little more heat with advantage through the winter and early part of 

 spring, taking especial care to avoid ' drawing ' of the shoots." 



NOTES ON BEDDING GERANIUMS. 

 VARIEGATED-LEAVED GERANIUMS. 



Mrs. Lennox. — This variety has leaves with a clear white margin of 

 good breadth, centre of leaf a pleasing green, truss moderate, flowers 

 a deep scarlet, form of petal bad, but better than Mountain of Light ; 

 it grows freely, and is valuable from the pure white edging of its leaves, 

 and good habit. This makes the most beautiful bed of all the variegated 

 Geraniums. 



Alma. — Apparently a seedhng frcm Flower of the Day. It is, 

 however, much superior to that well-known variety ; the leaves are not 

 so much crumpled, and the margin is a clear white, in which respect, 

 however, it is inferior to the above. Alma produces a good truss of 

 bloom with well-formed petals, grows very freely, both in pots and 

 when planted out, and is an acquisition to the flower-garden. 



Mountain of Snow. — Very similar to Mrs. Lennox. In our speci- 

 mens margins scarcely so white ; in others we have seen, quite so ; 

 may be used as Mrs. Lennox, A fine variety, and carrying a good 

 truss of bloom. 



Silver King. — Leaves with a broad margin of yellowish white, 

 habit dwarf and compact, truss of bloom good, flower a rich scarlet, 

 makes a rich-looking bed from its yellowish tinted foliage, and likewise 

 an excellent edging to the horse-shoe or plain-leaved scarlets. 



Attraction (Lee's). — The leaves of this variety have a greenish white 

 margin, with a band of reddish purple surrounding the centre part. 

 Although this and others in the same way are interesting, from having 

 the horse-shoe mark combined with silver margined leaves, they have 

 not the distinct look of those with only two-coloured leaves, and in our 

 estimation are not so valuable for effect. This variety grows very 

 freely ; truss good, flowers a pale scarlet. 



Countess of Warwick. — In the way of Attraction, but much supe- 

 rior. Margin clearer, purple band well defined, fine truss of bloom of 

 a deep scarlet, petals well shaped, a good variety in its class. 



Annie. — Leaves large and flat, with a yellowish margin ; has the 

 horse -shoe marking well defined, truss of bloom large, flowers a good 

 scarlet. 



