MISGELL^iJN-EOrS EXHIBITION PLANTS. 107 



rotted manure, with good drainage. After being watered, 

 they maj- be started at once if the time is right for the show. 

 The plants, when in full growth, should be liberally fed, and 

 the flower-stems neatly supported by stakes. The points of 

 merit are : (1.) Size and health of the plant; (2.) number and 

 length of the panicles of flowers; and (3.) size of flowers and 

 purity of colour. 



GERAXIUil. 



Zonale Geraniums for exhibition purposes are usually divided 

 into (1.) Zonales proper, or those with a more or less dis- 

 tinct dark zone on a green leaf; (2.) Bicolors ; (3.) Bronzes; 

 and (i.) Tricolors, in accordance with the prominent feature.^ 

 of their foliage. The Zonales are grown and exhibited for their 

 flowers alone, and are generally subdivided into single and 

 double- flow^ered varieties. The variegated-leaved, or Bicolor, 

 Bronze, and Tricolor divisions, are exhibited solely for their 

 foliage, and flowers rising above it are decidedly objectionable. 

 A few excellent varieties of single Zonales are H. Cannell, John 

 Cxibbons, Meteor, iviphetos, Plutarch, and Vesuvius; and of 

 double varieties, Charming, Circe, Gambetta, Gloire de France, 

 r^Irs. H. Cannell, and ilrs. Langtry. Ivy-leaved geraniums 

 may also be included here, because the great improvement in 

 them in recent years fully entitles them to a special class at 

 exhibitions. Some of the best varieties are A. F. Barron, 

 Emile Lemoine, La France, Masterpiece, Madame Thibaut, 

 and Charles Turner. Geraniums can be had in flower all 

 the year round under good treatment, but the cultivation 

 described here applies speciall}' to those grown for exhibition 

 at spring shows. The plant-s should be firmly potted in light 

 loam, leaf-mould, sand, and rotted manure well rubbed down, - 

 with a sprinkling of bone-meal and wood-ashes. The shoots 

 should be tied down to wires running outside the pot, two or 

 three in number, according to the size of the plant. A light 

 airy position in the greenhouse should be given them, and the 

 strong shoots stopped till the specimen is complete ; when the 

 foliage should round off nicely to about three inches below the 

 rim of the pot. Liquid manure should be given when growth 



