1889.] THE NEW PELARGONIUMS OF 18G9. 275 



extent as to be really injurious, and in five years out of six, at least, a good show 

 may be calculated upon. 



I before observed that I bad experimented upon tbem in various ways, by 

 which I mean that I have tried them in all sorts of situations, all over the place, 

 wherever I could get a sheltered nook or situation open to the south. They live 

 and grow in a north aspect, but they will not flower, for they require the extreme 

 heat of the summer sun to set the bloom. I have, therefore, planted them at the 

 base of south walls, in borders running along the front of greenhouses, and in the 

 nooks and angles of rockwork open to the south. I have seldom made any great 

 preparation as to compost, as I do not think they are very particular about that, 

 41 provided always " that the drainage is perfect. I don't expect they would 

 grow in clay full of water ; but if the clay were mixed with sand and vegetable 

 mould, and thoroughly drained, they would do well. 



Thus, then, what I mean by careful planting, is to secure a thoroughly effi- 

 cient drainage, on the principle that where drainage is really efficient, extreme 

 cold has less power of injury, and extreme heat more power for ripening the 

 bulbs, and inducing a flowering habit. I had almost written that the compost is 

 immaterial, but I must qualify that. I have planted them in light sandy soil, 

 in stiff loam, and in common garden soil, without any preparation ; and my opinion 

 is that an admixture of loam, peat, leaf-mould, and sand in equal proportions 

 would be a compost in which they would flourish most luxuriantly. They must 

 be planted at least G in. deep — 7 in., or even 8 in., is not too much in cold locali- 

 ties — and the foliage must be retained until it dies away naturally, for if cut off 

 whilst green, there will be no flowers. 



Kedleaf. John Cos. 



THE NEW PELARGONIUMS OF 1869. 



fT is fitting that, at the close of a season, a review should be made in order to 

 ascertain what that is really good has been added to the lists of any one 

 ftp flower ranking high in the estimation of the florist. That the Pelargonium 

 c tj> does rank high is a fact beyond dispute ; and it is equally certain that it is 

 among the most beautiful of the summer-blooming plants that play so distinguished 

 a part at the great floral exhibitions. 



The honoured names of Beck, Foster, and Hoyle are yet among us, and those 

 who bear them are busy in the task of improving that flower, to which, through a 

 long number of years, they have devoted especial attention. None of Mr. Beck's 

 new flowers have been exhibited during the past summer. For some reason or 

 other, Mr. Wiggins has discontinued presenting them in public, apparently pre- 

 ferring to rely on a reputation that has been deservedly great through a long 

 series of years. Mr. Beck has a large group of new flowers of the present year, 

 and of these six varieties stand out boldly as acquisitions, viz. : — Bacchus, rose 

 ground, lower petals heavily painted, the dark maroon top petals with regular 



