Zonule Geraniums. l6i 



ters, and under seemingly uncongenial circumstances, we sometimes see a 

 growth as healthy and vigorous with flowers as bright as our best appointed 

 greenhouses can give. 



No plant is less susceptible of injury by change of temperature or change 

 of soil, under glass, or in the open border : under nearly every circumstance, 

 its cultivation is a success. No wonder, then, as the efforts of the hybridizer 

 introduce to us yearly scores of varieties, varying in every shade from purest 

 white to richest scarlet, that the class is now so universally popular. 



It is always difficult to particularize varieties where we have such a legion 

 to choose from ; and, in naming particular kinds as the best^ I am well 

 aware that others equally competent to judge may widely differ from me 

 in opinion. 



Whites. — We select White Perfection, White Queen, and Snowball, as 

 combining the best qualities for bedding-purposes, differing but little, except 

 ill the color of the anthers, which, in the first named, are very prominent, 

 and of a bright red. White Queen is very distinct in foliage, which is in 

 itself highly ornamental, being clearly zoned with black, margined with a 

 shade of very light green. Snoivball forms a globular truss of pure white 

 flowers, borne on a very short footstalk ; so short, that it seems to nestle 

 in the foliage. These three varieties we now grow to the exclusion of 

 Madame Vauchier and other large-growing sorts. 



White, with pink centre. — This type is of comparati\ely recent introduc- 

 tion, and was one of startling novelty. I well remember the first experi- 

 ence we had with A?nelia Grissau. I could hardly believe it was not an 

 accidental coloring, such as we sometimes see in first flowers ; but when 

 another and another floret expanded to a well-developed truss, retaining 

 its marking for weeks until the petals dropped, there was no doubting the 

 fact, that, startling as it was, it was a reality. 



Of this class, the most striking and distinct varieties which have come 

 under our notice are Bride's-maid and Bicolor. The former is shown by the 

 wood-cut, which, of course, conveys but a meagre representation : in this 

 variety the ground-color is a rich blush, with a large centre spot, clearly 

 defined, of a deep rose-color. The habit of the plant is unusually dwarf: 

 with us it rarely exceeds nine inches in height, though it attains a diameter 

 of eighteen inches by August, from cutting-plants set out in May ; blooming 



