178 VILLA GARDENING part ii 



white alba multiflora may be takeu as the tyi^e. Though hardly 

 reaching the florist's ideal, yet they are exceedingly useful for 

 home decoration and for cutting very early in the season, when 

 Pelargonium blossoms are very valuable. Their treatment in the 

 main featiu-es is similar to those I have given above. The cuttings 

 would have to be taken and the plants pnmed back to suit their 

 special season of flowering, and I have no doubt that, with the aid 

 of this section. Pelargoniums jirofusely bloomed may be had all the 

 year round. The winter-flowering plants -mil require a brisk tempera- 

 tiu"e to keep them moving rapidly on, and a light house to build n\) 

 the growth usefidly for the object in view. Those few autumn 

 bloomers would be best in the open air in summer on a coal-ash bed. 

 The Zonal Pelargonium. — This is a race of comparatively 

 modern development, and, like tlie preceding section, owes a great 

 deal to the hand of the hybridist. The improvement that has 

 taken place in the size, shape, colour, and substance of the flowers 

 (luring the last twenty years is something marvellous, and equally 

 rai)id strides have been made in altering the character of the 

 foliage ; but all things find their proper level in time, and Pelar- 

 goniums are no exception to the rule. The scarlet -flowered 

 section of Zonal Pelargoniums are perhaps the most valuable for 

 decorative purposes. They are now to be had in all shades of colour 

 between white and scarlet. Some are tinted with purple and 

 yellow, whilst others are striped and blotched in a singular manner. 

 From this large section have been drawn all the best bedding 

 varieties as well as the large-trussed ones, which are so valuable 

 for pot culture, and, by a judicious selection, may be had in 

 bloom all the year round. For autumn and winter, young spring- 

 struck jjlants grown in the open air all summer in the full sunshine 

 mil produce the finest trusses. They should not be over-potted, 

 and the last shift should be given not later than the fii'st week in 

 August. The plants should either stand on a coal-ash bed, or on 

 bricks or boards, so that worms cannot enter. Worms in a pot are 

 something like the proverbial bidl in the china shop — they soon do a 

 lot of mischief, even if expelled whenever their presence is noticed. 

 During the sunmier all flower buds should be picked off and the 

 terminal growth-bud pinched out of tlie most vigorous shoots, to 

 induce a dwarf, sturdy habit. They sliould be housed in a warm 

 light greenhouse in September, where they can occupy a position 

 close to the glass. A light span-roofed house is the most suitable. 

 The second year such plants, if potted in a fibry loam and a little 

 old manm-e, will make grand smumer and autumn plants for con- 

 servatoiy, or for vases in the open air, or to form groups in some 

 sunny corner. 



