Jnly 8, 1866. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



.acknowledgment of his exertions in connection with the 

 National Rose Show, which owes its origin to him. The Rov. 

 H. H. Donibrain occupied the chair. 



ZONALE GERANIUMS WANTED. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the many attacks that are made on the 

 reigninc fashion, it is seldom that they have any further effect 

 than that of encouraging what was intended to bo put down ; 

 and perhaps in some cases it is as well that it is so, for it is 

 not always that those who assume to be leaders of public taste 

 are oorrect in the views they take. As an instance of the 

 inutility of opposing public opinion, let us only look at bedding 

 plants, which from very small beginnings have assumed an im- 

 portance which no one ever dreamed of, and it is not too much 

 to affirm that their cultivation is still increasing, and probably 

 may do so for some time yet. This increase in their use has 

 not been effected without bringing certain classes of plants 

 more prominently forward than others ; and although some have 

 been driven from the field, or nearly so, others have succeeded 

 them. Thus the list, in spite of weedings and (as our worthy 

 coadjutor, " D." of Deal, says), hanging-days, is as numerous 

 as ever, more so, certainly, in the bewildering catalogues of 

 varieties, while the number of species adapted for bedding 

 purposes is fully equal to what it was a dozen years ago. There 

 is, however, a difference in the estimation in which certain 

 plants were held at that time and now ; some have fallen into 

 oblivion, or nearly so, while others are more patronised every 

 year. Of the latter class is that to which I would now more 

 particularly call the attention of the skilful hybridiser, as 

 something more is wanted than we now possess, and with that 

 I think it is in his power to furnish us. 



Taking, therefore, Zonale Geraniums as a class of plants 

 which is every day more and more cultivated, the question to 

 be asked is, What further improvement is wanted ? Several 

 varieties seem to possess all that is really needed in their 

 respective tints as flowers, and the truss and foliage are alike 

 good, and, besides, every year dozens of otler kinds are added 

 to the list. Some of them are doubtless some little improve- 

 ment on others of a like kind before them, while many are not 

 so good. Now, would it be called a restrictive and unconsti- 

 tutional policy to shut up the present lists from further addi- 

 tions or. innovations within the circle that is well represented, 

 and only allow addition at such points a3 are of real value in 

 carrying out the object aimed at? To make this more plain 

 let us glance at what we now possess, and see where additions 

 can be well made ; and taking the class of Zonale bedding 

 Geraniums which are cultivated for their flowering qualities, 

 we have already almost every conceivable tint, from white up 

 to dark crimson, embracing many shades of flesh colour, pink, 

 salmon, rosy salmon, scarlet, and crimson. Many other in- 

 tervening colours or tints might be enumerated, but enough 

 have been named to show that our existing list is a tolerably 

 extensive one. Thus, those who keep pace with the fashion in 

 trying all or a great portion of the varieties sent out each year 

 by different cultivators will have accumulated a mass of varie- 

 ties pei'plexing by their names, and equally so by the resem- 

 blance which many of them bear to those grown before. 



Now, good as many of the bedding Geraniums of the present 

 day undoubtedly are, I by no means affirm that further im- 

 provement is not wanted, and this, doubtless, is now and then 

 exhibited by some of the new varieties sent out ; still I cannot 

 but think that if unexplored channels were more sought after, 

 additions of more importance would be made to our lists. 

 Assuming that growers should pronounce themselves satisfied 

 with the flesh-coloured, pink, salmon, and scarlet sections, and 

 their intermediate tints, cannot a better representation of the 

 deep crimson or magenta class be furnished ? I do not pretend 

 to be well versed in the varieties said to possess these colours, 

 but the best in my own collection fall short of what I think is 

 wanted here, Magenta, Imperial Crimson, and Pink Pearl being 

 the nearest approach I have, and these evidently capable of 

 great improvement in habit, colour of bloom, and other quali- 

 ties. My object, therefore, now is to ask those who take so 

 much trouble year after year in producing new kinds to try to 

 obtain improvements in the deep crimson and magenta varie- 

 ties. Those of other col rare are plentiful enough, and indeed 

 there are many to spare, bat there seems no reason to doubt but 

 that the Zouale Geranium may be coaxed to produce flowers 

 of as bright a purple as the Dahlia ; and many other fancy 

 colours might also be obtained. 



Now, the above advice to raisers of new varieties to pro- 

 secute their labours in the way directed, docs not ; In. I. 

 novelties being sought for in other directions, Amongst tin; 

 many valuable acquisitions bequeathed to the world by the late 

 Mr. Beaton, there is one scarcely verifying its name,'" Indian 

 Yellow." Might I ask fcose who push their improvements to 

 the greatest extent that such can be carried, to try if by degrees 

 they cannot bring out in this Geranium a colour more resem- 

 bling that of a yellow Calceolaria? This I hardly expect will be 

 accomplished, but an approach to such a result may be effected. 

 A yellow Geranium would be something extraordinary, and it 

 deserves the notice of those intere ited in striking out net! paths, 

 and as the existing kinds, as stated above, may do pretty well 

 now without further amendment, I trust tin so hints may in- 

 duce some to direct their attention in the direction indicated; 

 improvements may likewise bo effected in other channels on 

 which but little attention has been bestowed, and the 16 being 

 equally important may be sought for at the same time. I 

 allude more especially to the Ivy-leaved kind?, which have not 

 by any means reached the position I expect they will hold some 

 day as ornaments of the parterre. A very indifferent gold- 

 edged one, with the old crimson, white, and pink-flowered 

 varieties, are all that I am acquainted with, and each is capable 

 of improvement. I hope some one will try his skill at hybrid- 

 ising this section with the Zonale, so as to give a more up- 

 right flower-stem, and a more robust habit. Could not Mr. 

 Wills, who has done so much with the "Verbena by hybridising 

 the hardy herbaceous one with the finer-flowered class, do 

 something with these Geraniums also ? They seem to deserve 

 notice ; and their adaptability to hot sunny situations where 

 there is scarcely soil enough for other plants to live, as in 

 vases, baskets, &-c, give them claims on our attention hitherto 

 not sufficiently recognised. 



It would bo extending this paper too far were I to enu- 

 merate what is wanted in the variegated line. This, however, 

 seems likely to be pursued pretty well, and there promises 

 to be no lack of gold and silver-edged varieties, with the addi- 

 tion of zones of various colours. Of them it is not my purpose 

 here to speak, neither would I restrict those who aim at the 

 obtaining the colours required to be too particular as regards 

 the habit of the plant. Once supply the tint wanted, and other 

 qualities will follow. The task, however, is I expect only one 

 of time, its accomplishment will assuredly come, and as bed- 

 ding Geraniums form, unquestionably, the most important 

 feature in all gardens, it follows that any additional colour in 

 which this plant can array itself will make it the more ac- 

 ceptable. I trust the hints above given may not have been in 

 vain. I might have pursued the subject further, and might 

 even have asked if such classes of Geraniums as the old Shrub- 

 land Pet, a small Oak-leaved variety, could not be improved ; 

 but I find I am trespassing on other ground, and therefore 

 beat a retreat, trusting some one will endeavour to supply the 

 wants indicated. — J. Robson. 



PLASTER FOR BUDDING ROSES 

 Pemups the following remarks on budding Roses may be of 

 use to some of your readers. I have adopted, with complete 

 success, a plan which has been new to all those to whom I 

 mentioned it, and by which much expenditure of time and 

 trouble is saved, and I think a great amount of certainty 

 obtained. 



Instead of either bast or worsted I use some common ad- 

 hesive plaster. With this I can bud three Roses in the same 

 time that I can bud one with bast. The plaster adheres at 

 once exactly where it is required ; no tying is necessary, and 

 the operation can bs performed with great neatness and exact- 

 ness, as well as rapidity. The plaster I used was some com- 

 mon white adhesive plaster, bought at the chemist's (called 

 diachylon), and cut into narrow strips. I do not know whether 

 my plan is absolutely new, but it has been so to all those to 

 whom I have mentioned it, and I feel sure that your readers 

 who try it will find it thoroughly successful. 



Another plan, which was shown to me by a lady, has proved 

 so useful to me, and is so little practised, that I think it worth 

 while to mention it also. It is that of budding any conve- 

 nient branch of a Briar, either in a hedge or elsewhere, and 

 when the bud has taken, cutting off the branch, and planting 

 it, with the bud on, like any ordinary Rose cutting. In this 

 way shapely plants, especially suited for pots, may be ob- 

 tained ; and the plan is very useful if you happen not to have 



