200 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



lions for attaining that end. Farther on in the season it will be 

 necessary to remove all but the most promising flower-buds from 

 the lateral branches, to throw all the vigour into the one remain- 

 ing. The flowers that are disfigured in the slightest manner must 

 be removed as soon as the defects become apparent, to prevent the 

 energies of the plant being diverted from the support of the flowers 

 that promise to be of no service. But next month will be quite early 

 enough to dwell upon this point. 



To ensure fine blooms it will be necessary to water rather copious- 

 ly once or twice a week during dry weather, and the plants will be 

 materially assisted if the water is flavoured with the drainings from 

 the stable or manure heaps, or if guano, at tbe rate of an ounce to 

 the gallon of water, is added to it before it is used. Very little 

 artificial watering will, however, be required where the soil is of a 

 moderately retentive character ; and so long as the plants grow 

 freely, artificial watering will not be required. Watering them over- 

 head is of considerable importance, and a large canfull of water poured 

 over them through a coarse rose on the evening of a hot day, will 

 materially assist in keeping the foliage clean and healthy, and thus 

 promote a vigorous growth. "Watering overhead will also aid in 

 keeping them free from red spider or thrips. The garden engine 

 is the proper thing for washing the foliage, but as so few amateurs 

 possess one, it will not be of much service to recommend it. 



Trapping of earwigs should be commenced now ; a vast amount 

 of labour and anxiety will be avoided hereafter. The best method is 

 to employ small pots, each with a tuft of moss in it and mounted on 

 a stick above the plant. 



If aphis appears, destroy them by dusting with tobacco powder. 



GOLDEN, SILVER, AND BRONZE ZONALS. 



ET EOBEKT OUBEIDGE, 



Church Walk Nurseries, Stoke Kewingtou, N. 



[HE best varieties of these important sections of the great 

 Geranium family are so valuable for the decoration of 

 the conservatory, sitting-room window, and balcony 

 garden during the summer and autumn months, that I 

 trust you will afford me a little space in the Eeobal 

 World to give a few hints on their management, and also that the 

 hints will be of assistance to many of its readers. The cultural 

 requirements of the varieties belonging to the three sections are so 

 similar that the directions here given will apply with equal force to 

 all, and one set of instructions will therefore be sufficent. 



To produce large richly-coloured specimens of the Golden and 

 Silver Zonals in the least possible space of time, they must be grafted 

 on stocks of some of the strongest growing green-leaved varieties, 



