August 14, 1866. ] 



JOURNAL Ob' HORTICULTURE AND COTTAOE GARDENI-IK. 



119- 



tinct varieties of Viola cornuta; two of them are worthless, 

 being mere weeds in comparison with that which I had the 

 pleasure of bringing into public notice. I find that I have 

 not said a word too much in its praise ; last week I saw it 

 in great perfection at the Denbies, near Dorking. I sent 

 my friend Mr. Drowett a few small plants of it last autumn. 

 In the spring he placed them in heat, where they grew very 

 freoly, and, to judge from the quantity Mr. Drowett has planted 

 out, it is as easily propagated as a Lobelia. Mr. Drewett con- 

 siders it one of the very best beddiug plants at present in cul 

 tivation ; ho tells me it is a great favourite with his employer, 

 and that all who have scon it pronounce it to be a decided ac- 

 quisition. Here, although we have had constant rains, with 

 very high winds, for the last ten days, the plant looks as bright 

 and beautiful as ever. It had the same appearance during the 

 dry weather which prevailed during the first fortnight of July. 

 " M. K." should take cuttings about the first week in October, 

 and prick them out on a piece of good ground. Having first 

 made the surface of the soil smooth and even, he should spread 

 a thin layer of sand over it ; and then the cuttings, which 

 should be from 2J to 3 inches long, may be pricked in at 

 about 2 inches apart. In doing this caro should be taken to 

 make the soil firm about the base of the cutting. After all the 

 cuttings have been put in, give the bed a good watering. This 

 will settle the sand around the cuttings, and hold them firm in 

 the soil. Afterwards they may be left to take their chance, 

 and in spring they will be nice plants ready for planting out 

 in their permanent quarters, where they will soon gladden the 

 eye with innumerable beautiful mauve-coloured flowers. If the 

 position chosen for the cutting-bed is a little sheltered from 

 cold cutting winds, the plants will grow much earlier. — 

 J. Wills.] 



ZONALE AND NOSEGAY PELARGONIUMS. 



At the season in which bedding-out plants may be considered 

 at their prime, a few remarks on one of the most decorative 

 and useful — the scarlet or Zonale Pelargonium, may not be 

 out of place, more especially as the question is so frequently 

 asked, Which are the best and most distinct sorts, which most 

 fit for pot culture, and which for bedding-out purposes ? 



Two very interesting articles on this plant appeared in the 

 Journal of July 24th, by Mr. J. Wills and Mr. J. Pearson ; one 

 article headed, " Bedding-out Pelargoniums," the other, "Va- 

 riegated Geraniums." Now, it is evident that both these 

 writers are discussing the same plant but using different names, 

 in the use of which one or the other must be wrong. Beyond 

 all doubt it must be allowed that there is a wide botanical 

 distinction, and this distinction should settle the name. Pe- 

 largonium is the proper and only name for the plant in ques- 

 tion, the Geranium being entirely distinct in many ways, 

 which I need not dwell upon to explain. If the section of 

 which I am now writing were spoken of as Zonale or Nosegay 

 Pelargoniums, as the case may be, no difficulty could arise in 

 understanding what was meant. Many of the readers of the 

 Journal will remember the time (not many years since), when 

 it was the careless habit of gardeners and others to call, or 

 rather misname, the Tropreolum as Nasturtium, there being 

 quite as great a botanical difference between these plants as 

 between the Pelargonium and Geranium. However, time and 

 good taste have corrected this error, and we find the proper 

 name, Tropreolum, the more commonly used. 



In making the following remarks on the Zonale section of 

 Pelargoniums I shall subdivide them, and speak of them as 

 Zonales with plain or zoned foliage, variegated Zonales, and 

 Nosegays : by doing this I think no misunderstanding can arise. 

 In selecting the following varieties. I would by no means wish 

 it to be understood that I condemn all others ; there may be 

 many equally good, though I am certain not better. 



Among the scarlets with plain or zoned foliage for bed- 

 ding-out purposes, I can strongly recommend Faust, Punch, 

 Clipper, Achilles, Brilliancy, Monsieur G. Natchet, Trentham 

 Scarlet ; St. George and Red Dragon, two of the darkest shades 

 of scarlet ; Red Riding Hood, and Adonis, the last two con- 

 spicuous for the white centre of the flower, with very dark- 

 zoned foliage. 



In the shades of lighter scarlets, approaching salmon and 

 rosy tints, I recommend Volcano, Excellent, Roi d'ltahe, 

 Provost, Lucius, Persian, and Herald of Spring. 



In the rose-coloured section, I recommend Hector and 

 Rebecca. 



Of the white-flowering varieties, I would name Purity, 



Madame Vaueher, Mario MCzard, and Murie Virgo. There is 

 bat little difference among those varieties. Purity an 1 Mario 

 Virgo throw their trusses rather higher above the foliage than 

 the others. 



In the shaded white and salmon section, I would select 

 Amrlina Griseau, Eugenie Mfizard, Auricula, Christabel, and 

 Monsieur Bane as distinct. The varieties in this section are 

 endless and a great similarity prevails. Nunc of them are 

 suited for bedding purposes, but grown us put plants, especially 

 in the spring, they are most exquisite. 



In the bright pinl; section, which is renrescnted so well by 

 the old favourite Christine, I would notice Beaute de Suresnes, 

 Rose Rendatler, Pinl: Perfection, Mrs. Win. Paul, and Madame 

 Burn'. 



Among the variegated section of the Tricolors, Mrs. IMlock, 

 Sunset, Lucy Grievo, Lady Culham, and Sophia Cusack are, 

 perhaps, the best ; but there are many others coming forward 

 which will take a high position. 



In the white and cream-edged section, I would choose Italia 

 Unita, Flower of Spring, Queen of Queens, Argus, Alma, Day- 

 break, Brillant Superbe, Mountain of Snow, Silver Chain, and 

 Venus; and in the golden-foliaged section, Beauty (Wills), 

 Beauty of Oulton, Luna, Golden Fleece, Golden Chain, and 

 General Longstreet. It should be remembered that soil much 

 influences the colour of the foliage of this section, and what 

 suits one variety does not another. 



And now a word for the Nosegay Pelargoniums which prove- 

 so useful for bedding purposes, both for the effect of massing 

 colour and profuseness of flower. The varieties of Nosegays 

 are endless, but they may be reduced to a few if their chief 

 qualifications be attended to — that is, the compactness and size 

 of the truss of flowers. All varieties producing lax or spread- 

 ing trusses should be discarded, and such flowers be selected 

 as Stella, Cybister, Lord Palmerston, La Grande, Amy H igg, 

 Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, Waltham Seedling, Ornc- 

 ment des Massifs, and Black Dwarf. These represent many 

 shades of colour. 



The above list comprises sorts which flower freely and are 

 suited for out-of-doors service ; excepting the section alluded 

 to, the white and salmon varieties, all of them make first-rate 

 pot plants, and are useful for general purposes. A much longer 

 list could be furnished, but I feel that it would only cause 

 greater difficulty to persons making their own selection. 



There are many excellent varieties suitable for pot culture 

 which have been omitted. 



The Zonale varieties of the present year have not been 

 noticed, but before the season shall have passed, when they 

 have undergone their ordeal, I purpose adverting to them. 



Should any amateur within easy distance of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Sjciety's Gardens at Clnswiek feel disposed to prove 

 the merits of the above selection, a visit to the trial-beds and 

 the greenhouse containing specimens of Zonales as pot plants, 

 would amply repay the trouble and increase the taste for Zonale 

 Pelargonium cultivation under glass. The easy culture, the 

 brilliancy of the flowers, and the variety of the foliage must 

 gain the approval of all lovers of flowers. — J. D. 



COMTE DE ZYANS STRAWBERRY. 



Permit me to draw the attention of Strawberry growers to- 

 the above variety. As it is without doubt one of the most pro- 

 ductive sorts ever raised, and as the best planting season is at 

 hand, cultivators will do well to give it a trial, particularly 

 those who grow for sale. About a year ago I planted a piece 

 of ground with equal quantities of Sir Harry, Wonderful, 

 Empress, Eliza (Rivers), and Comte de Zyaus, all of which 

 are great bearers, but I shall not be saying too much m praise 

 of Comte de Zyans when I state thac it produced twice as 

 heavy a crop as any of the others (all of which, however, did 

 remarkably well, particularly Empress and Wonderful), its 

 noble fruit lying in heaps on each side of the rows. Such a 

 sigh', I never saw. The fruit is large, of a light, lively red 

 colour, and very fair-flavoured; the plant continues in bearing 

 a long time, and, if kept well supplied with water, the last fruit 

 will be nearly as large as the first — a most desirable property. 



The reason I am induced to write this in its favour is from 

 the fact that the variety appears to he so little known, for I 

 have not seen it advertised in any trade catalogue except in 

 that of Mrs. Nicholson, of Eaglescliffe, from whom my plants 

 were obtained. I trust that some of your readers who are not 

 acquainted with it will give it a fair trial, and let us know the 



