SOFT-WOODED OR BEDDINO PLANTS. 237 



fine plant, to contrast with Coleus or Achyranthes during 

 the spring or fall months it is valuable. It, however, loses 

 its rich shade of yellow during the hot weather, which 

 rather mars its utility for bedding purposes. 



Pelargoniums. If I was confined to grow but a single 

 genus of plants for conservatory decoration, the Pelargo- 

 nium would be chosen. Nothing can exceed the richness 

 of coloring of the flowers ; an attempt to describe it would 

 be a failure. They are classed as " show " and " fancy " 

 varieties. The " show " are the strong-growing and large- 

 flowered section ; the " fancy " are those with smaller 

 leaves, dwarfer growth, and flowers of smaller size, but 

 having the property of flowering later in the season than 

 the others. The colors of the Pelargonium are carmine, 

 vermilion, orange-crimson, blackish-maroon, and white, 

 so disposed in many varieties as to resemble the work of 

 the painter, rather than the work of nature. To be grown 

 in perfection they should be shifted into larger pots as soon 

 as the roots begin to mat the outside of the balls, the 

 shoots pinched back until they begin to set their flower 

 buds in March or April, when they must be placed close to 

 the light, and never allowed to wilt for want of water. 

 Plants struck from cuttings in January may be grown to 

 a diameter of 2 feet by May, but for specimens of extra 

 size, plants a year old are necessary. They should be kept 

 in pots and under glass during summer, as they are very 

 liable to injury from continued rains. 



Stocks, Intermediate, crimson and white. Seed of these 

 sown in September, and potted in October, shifting as nec- 

 essary through the winter, will make fine plants, to bloom 

 in May. These may be planted out in the open border, 

 and will continue in bloom until July. Ten Week's Stocks 

 are also effective as border plants, and may be sown in the 

 hot-bed in March and planted out in May. The variety 

 of these is now very large. 



