1G4 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



but for ordinary purposes, we could put up with that defect if they 

 were produced as profusely as that gem of bedding geraniums, 

 Thomas Moore. 



The treatment of these must materially differ from the sug- 

 gestions thrown out in my communication in the Floral World for 

 June, when speaking about the single varieties. The plants must 

 be grown in poor, hungry soil, and potted hard, or there will be an 

 excess of leafage and few flowers. With regard to other matters, in 

 the way of stopping and training, my directions can be followed, but 

 no liquid manure must be used, unless it be in an extreme case. As 

 an example, when a plant is in a very small pot and potted in very 

 poor stuff, and flowering freely, a dose once a week will just keep 

 the growth steadily progressing, and help the production of fresh 

 flowers. Nothing short of bordering on starvation will make them 

 flower well; therefore, very little manure water will be needed. I 

 use for my plants fibry loam, mixed with pieces of broken sand- 

 stone or plenty of silver-sand, and use as small a pot as 

 practicable. 



I have not had much experience with them as bedders. The 

 plants of Globe de Nancy, turned out last year, grew so strong and 

 produced so few flowers, that I am quite convinced they are of no 

 use for outdoor beds, when dealt with in the ordinary way. I tried 

 a few plunged, and they flowered rather freely at first ; but when 

 the roots got outside the pots, as they did towards the end of July, 

 the growth was nearly as rampant as that of those planted out. The 

 flowers stand well out of doors; the petals are not so quickly knocked 

 off with a shower of rain or a gust of wind, as those belonging to 

 the single flowers. I have great faith in double-flowering zonals, 

 and believe that some day we shall see them occupying a prominent 

 position in the flower garden. We have already the principal 

 colours to be met with amongst the zonals, and what now remains 

 of most importance is the reduction of the habit. Several are 

 entered in the catalogues as " dwarf," " free," " splendid bedders," 

 etc. ; but it is a delusion, unless masses of green leafage are 

 wanted. 



I have been particularly partial to this section, and have 

 managed to get together all the best. I have given them con- 

 siderable attention from the first, and here offer my opinion of their 

 respective merits. I have not had Victor very long ; but it has 

 produced some splendid trusses of its bright orange-scarlet flowers. 

 I saw it several times before it was sent out, and I have no hesi- 

 tation in pronouncing it to be the best of its colour. Andrew 

 Henderson and Auguste Ferrier are both good bright scarlet varieties ; 

 the latter is not quite so full as a few others, and has a white eye or 

 centre, but nevertheless is good. The trade catalogues will persist in 

 calling that fine variety, Gloire de Nancy, " rosy-pink," and Madame 

 Lemoine, " carmine, changing to scarlet ;" whereas I find the colours 

 reversed. My plants of Glory produce flowers as near in colour 

 to Richard Headly as anything I know of, and Madame approaches 

 in hue very closely to Christine and a few others of that type of 

 colouring. These two ought to be in every collection. Wilhelm 



