1873-] A PLEA FOR FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 139 



that they are more difficult to manage than tricolours or zonals. Now, 

 with the exception that they are more subject to attacks of green-fly, 

 in no other way is their culture more difficult. If kept free from these 

 pests, their treatment in other respects is quite as simple, and they will 

 grow into specimen plants in a shorter time than the majority of 

 tricolours or zonals. 



I will now add a few cultural notes in reference to growing speci- 

 men plants : possibly there is some reader of ' The Gardener ' to whom 

 such may be of use. If not already in possession of a stock, the 

 present month is a good time to procure one from the nursery. The 

 following eighteen varieties of large-flowering Pelargoniums, if properly 

 grown, cannot fail to please the cultivator. 



The first six are of Mr Foster's raising, the remainder are Mr Hoyle's. 

 Achievement, a distinct light variety, with fine-formed flowers. Pom- 

 pey, a grand variety, with well-formed flowers ; colour maroon and orange. 

 Elack Prince, free bloomer and good habit. Charlemagne, large flowers 

 of fine form and qualit}^ Empress, a good sort. Maid of Honour, a 

 grand variety ; should be in every collection. Beacon, a free bloomer, 

 prevailing colour crimson ; extra good sort. Claribel, pure white, with 

 small spot on top petals ; a very pleasing flower. Congress, a free- 

 blooming sort, with fine-formed flowers. Example, a good grower and 

 neat habit, free. Exhibition, good habit, large trusser. Heirloom, 

 flowers of great substance, plant a good grower. Charles Turner, a 

 grand flower of fine shape, prevailing colour orange-scarlet. Royal 

 Albert, a first-class flower, and robust grower. Progress, a good old 

 sort,' of fine form and substance. The High Admiral, a smooth flower 

 of good form. Woman in White, a free-flowering white variety, 

 excellent habit. Zephyr, a dark-coloured sort, flowers of fine form 

 and substance. 



Florists are indebted to Mr Charles Turner as the raiser of the follow- 

 ing 12 fancy varieties. I will not occupy space with a description of 

 each variety, but they are all beautiful and distinct sorts : Acme 

 Bridesmaid, Brightness, East Lynn, Ellen Beck, Excelsior, Fanny Gair, 

 Lady D. Neville, Mrs Darling, Princess Teck, Silver Mantle, Undine. 



If the plants have come from a distance, they should on arrival be 

 placed for a few days in a rather close, moist structure, and shaded 

 from bright sunshine. Here they will soon recover the bad efl'ects of 

 the close packing and long journey. Their treatment after must be 

 similar to that described further on for plants propagated on the pre- 

 n»ises. 



The most usual method of increasing the Pelargonium is by cuttings, 

 July and August being the time generally chosen to propagate the 

 principal stock. But if large plants in the shortest possible time be 



