730 



PELARGONIUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. pelargonium. 



iums are natives of the southern hemi- 

 sphere, or have originated as cross-bred 

 varieties in European countries. They 

 are often wrongly termed Geraniums, but 

 although allied to that family they are 

 distinct from it, Geraniums being chiefly 

 natives of the northern half of the globe, 

 and all of them hardy plants. The genus 

 Pelargonium contains many species, which 

 botanists have divided into sections, and 

 many kinds will grow and flower in the 

 open air during summer, although unable 

 to withstand our winters. 



Of all varieties of the flower garden the 

 " zonals " are the most useful, and they 

 are supposed to be descended from two 

 distinct species, P. zonale and P. ittqui- 

 nans. As bedding out plants they are of 

 great value ; and the ease with which they 

 yield improved fo-"'- ^'^- '^'^'^ ^'^ *'^'^ ;"t-^r^_ 



also good outdoor plants, the free ex- 

 posure intensifying their rich tints. 



No plants are more easily increased 

 than these : cuttings may be inserted at 

 any time, and root freely in sandy soil, 

 in the open air during summer and 

 autumn and under glass during winter 

 and spring. But the principal stock of 

 plants is got by cuttings inserted in 

 pots, pans, or boxes in the open air 

 during the early autumn, and such make 

 the best plants. During winter the pro- 

 tection of glass and the exclusion of frost 

 are essential. 



Zonal Pelargoniums from Seed 

 may also be treated as annuals, and will 

 bloom in less than ten months from the 

 time of sowing; but the seed should be 

 sown as soon as it is ripe, say during 

 August. Enough seed can always be had 



Pelargonium Dr. Andre. 



duction of many beautiful varieties, in 

 colours ranging from white to intense 

 scarlet, purple and violet. On account of 

 the brilliancy of their flowers, these plants 

 have sometimes been too freely used in 

 the flower garden, but such matters are 

 now better understood. Among the Zonal 

 varieties there are many \\\i\\ variegated 

 and beautiful foliage, especially in that 

 section known as Tricolors, and these, on 

 account of their not succeeding well in 

 all soils, are less grown out-of-doors than 

 they deserve. Where they succeed, how- 

 ever, they form very attractive beds, when 

 grown for the sake of their foliage, the 

 trusses of bloom being removed from 

 time to time as they appear. The 

 varieties known as " bronze zonals " are 



by retaining a few plants for the purpose, 

 in front of a greenhouse, in any light, airy 

 spot. If new varieties are sought, 

 there should be artificial fertilisation ; 

 but this is unnecessary if the plants are 

 merely for planting out in the parterre. 

 If the plants used for seed be all of 

 the same sort, the seedlings will be 

 tolerably true — i.e. the same variety 

 as the parent. The pots should be 

 of convenient size (say 6 in. in dia- 

 meter), and filled to within \ in. of the 

 rims with light turfy soil ; the seed may 

 be sown rather thickly, gently pressed 

 into the soil, and slightly co\'ered with it. 

 Water with a fine rose, cover the pots 

 with a piece of glass, and place them in 

 a temperature of about 65^ ; the seeds will 



