324 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



reason of their flowers. A Golden Tricolor can be put among 

 plants of Lobelia fulgens, which has dark foliage and long spikes 



of scarlet flowers. The leaf harmonies 

 thus produced are very pleasing. Or 

 they can be mixed with fibrous-rooted 

 Begonias. Another plan is to use a 

 mixture of silver-leaved Zonals and 

 blue Violas. Pretty beds are thus 

 formed, which retain their beauty for 

 a great many weeks. 



The cultural routine is very simple. 

 It consists mainly in removing decay- 



A CUTTING OF ZONAL GERANIUM J n g bloom trUSSCS promptly, and in 



A shows the place where the stem must be cut k ee pi n or down WCCds. The former Can 

 off; B, B show the basal leaves that should 



also be cut off; and c shows the flower k e done by pinching off the flower- 

 stem. This must be removed. 



stem low down with finger and thumb, 



the latter by hoeing. It is desirable to give particular attention 

 to the removal of decaying flowers in 

 damp weather, as if the petals fall and 

 cling to the moist leaves the foliage 

 may become diseased. 



Propagation is generally effected by 

 taking cuttings in August. Short, non- 

 flowering side-shoots are the most suit- 

 able material. If they can be taken off 

 just under a joint, about four inches 

 long, they will do admirably. The foli- 

 age should be removed from the lower 

 part, leaving about two inches of clear 



stem. It is common to insert them in the open air, either in a 

 bed or boxes. If the former, make the soil fine, level, and firm. 

 If the latter, prepare a very sandy compost, and make it firm 

 in the boxes. The cuttings should be inserted about four inches 



A ZONAL GERANIUM CUTTING MAPS 



READY FOR INSERTION 



