THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 14,5 



plants and in precisely the same manner. Or if the beds consist of 

 two classes of beds, such as circles and oblongs alternately, the 

 former may all be edged alike, and the latter alike. But when all 

 the beds forming a series are finished ofi' difierently, the eifect is not 

 good. 



With reference to the arrangement of the colours, it will suffice 

 to say that the various shades of blue, rose, and pink, produce the 

 most pleasing contrast in combination with white and grey, and 

 that the dark shades, such as crimson, chocolate, red, and scarlet, are 

 the most effective when in juxta-position with orange, yellow, and 

 sulphur, and bright scarlet also consorts well with white and grey. 



THE BEST DOUBLE GERANIUMS. 



BY WILLIAM aAEDTNEB. 



lOUBLE-FLOWERING geraniums have been wonderfully 

 improved of late, and although many of the varieties 

 introduced during the past two years are comparatively 

 rar^pj, worthless, the list of those distributed during that time 

 ^^^ so thoroughly surpass the older sorts, that a thorough 

 revision of the list has once more become necessary. There are now 

 too many in the trade lists, and a careful comparison of the varieties 

 comprised in my collection, when they were in bloom last year, 

 proved most unmistakeably that twenty varieties could be discarded 

 with advantage. Unless large highly-finished specimens are required, 

 — and they are hardly wanted, excepting for exhibition purposes, — 

 there is no great difficulty in growing them satisfactorily. I am 

 very partial to them for the conservatory, as they produce an 

 exceedingly rich effect, and a good stock may be produced by a very 

 simple course of management. We grow them in the form of neat 

 bushes, and commence by selecting, early in May, thrifty plants 

 that have been kept in three-inch pots during the winter. A 

 mixture of turfy loam, leaf-mould, and sand is then prepared, and the 

 plants are at once shifted into six-inch pots. Too much pot room 

 is not desirable, for they have naturally a tendency to grow luxuri- 

 antly and produce but few flowers, and when put in large pots they 

 assume the proportions of big bushes, and bloom very sparingly. 

 When repotted we stand them upon a layer of coal ashes, made up 

 in an open position, water them liberally, and stop their shoots twice 

 or three times, two stoppings being, as a rule, sufficient to assure the 

 production of bushy plants. As soon as they commence to flower 

 after the last stopping they are taken to the conservatory, v/here 

 they will continue to bloom for a considerable period, with no more 

 attention than keeping them supplied with water, and removing the 

 decaying flowers as required. No tying or training is required. 

 The undermentioned comprise the finest and most distinct at present 

 in cultivation, and can be obtained at a cost, on an average, of nine- 

 pence each : — 



May. 10 



