THE FLORAL WORLD 



AND 



GARDEN GUIDE. 



JULY, 1869 



DOUBLE-FLOWERING- ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. 



With figure of Victor. 

 BY JOHN WALSH. 



HETHER we shall have a yellow or blue flowered zonate 

 variety, is as yet doubtful. There is no finality in 

 Nature, and it is just as possible that we may, by 

 steadily working onwards in the right direction, get 

 one or both of these colours, as have such double 

 flowers as the beautiful variety figured this month. Perhaps there 

 may be a whole string of reasons to account for the production of 

 the double flowers, and the non-production of these colours, which 

 I, as an amateur, know nothing about : at all events, a lew years 

 back the one was as little expected as the other. 



A few of the best of the varieties, of which Victor is the type, 

 have flowers so well formed and full, as to leave it an open question 

 whether the individual flowers may not be left alone for the present, 

 and the breeder's attention be devoted to checking the gross luxu- 

 riance of growth, and promote a much freer development of 

 inflorescence. There is plenty of room for improvement here, so 

 that the hybridizer need not, like Alexander, sit down and mourn 

 because he has conquered the whole world. Mind, I do not say that 

 the flowers are perfect in shape ; and so far from advancing anything 

 of that kind, I believe there is sufficient work to last any number of 

 raisers for the next ten years to bring them to perfection. 



The gross habit and immense size of the individual leaves are so 

 objectionable, that both must be considerably reduced before the 

 double-flowering varieties attain that popularity which the long- 

 lasting qualities of the flowers entitle them to. They are invaluable 

 for bouquets and vases, as the petals do not drop so quickly as those 

 of single flowers do, and, beside, they have a much better appearance 

 than auy of the single ones. The trusses are as yet small in com- 

 parison with that grand nosegay, Fire King, and one or two others ; 



VOL. IV. — NO. VII. 13 



