THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE. 



JUNE, 1869. 

 ZONAL PEIAKGONTTJMS. 



With figure of Richard Headli/. 

 BY JOHN" WALSH. 



T is some six years since I began in earnest to get together 

 a collection of Zonal Pelargoniums, so that I am now 

 getting pretty well at home with them. Guided by 

 that pen which has done so much in helping on the 

 wonderful progress which has been made towards 

 perfection in these flowers, by diverting the public taste into the 

 right direction, and showing it what to look for and expect, my 

 collecting has been as pleasant an occupation as one could wish for 

 in connection with floriculture. Here I feel bound to acknowledge 

 the assistance I have received in this matter from the papers which 

 have appeared in these pages. By acting upon the advice contained 

 therein, I have been able to get together a good collection at a 

 comparatively small cost, free from the too common vexation of 

 obtaining, after much trouble, worthless plants at high prices. The 

 money part of the question is an important one to me ; and it is 

 just possible that had I begun as many people do, and acting upon 

 the raisers' descriptions instead of the advice of those who have no 

 other interest but to tell the truth, I should long ere this have given 

 up the whole affair in disgust. As it is, I have a collection which 

 comprises all the best examples to be had at a moderate cost. I 

 cannot well afford to buy all the very best directly they are offered, 

 though I indulge myself now and then. The way I deal with new 

 varieties that are recommended as first-rate by those I can depend 

 upon, is to enter the names in a book I keep principally for that 

 purpose, and when I can see by the catalogues that the prices are 

 reduced to reasonable limits, I order them in. By this simple 

 means no mistakes are made through forgetfulness, and it is a plan 

 that I can advise my readers to adopt. 



As a guide in selecting from the hundreds of varieties that are 

 yol. iv. — no. vi. 11 



