THE rELARGOXIUM. 71 



posydly desueudants of F. speclosiuii. ; the zoned, deseended 

 frnui P. :i)iiiih- ; and the ivy-leaved, deseended froni I'. 

 lidcrqje'i. The lluwer hi^-iu'ed lielinii;-s to tlie iii'sL ul' these 

 tln-ee elasses, Imt would not pass muster at an exhibition, 

 heini;' niueh nmre of au artistes tliau a thjnst's llower, or 

 sueh as the llorist niii^-ht reya.vd as a "market llower," 

 lieeause adajited for universal appveeiati<jn. 



The cultivation of these pelargvniums is a less easy 

 nnitter than that of the zonales, for they are more tender in 

 ciinstituti(.)n, and more liable ti) injury by the assaults of 

 the insect pests that for ever and everywhere haunt llie 

 yardener. A somewhat lig-ht l)ut substantial loamy soil is 

 recpiired, and the pots must 1-ie drained with e.vtra care, for 

 the slightest lodyu'.ent of excessive moisture will injure the 

 health of the jilants. None but an expert shiiuld employ 

 what IS understood as a " rich" soil, or should use any kind 

 of liquid manure ; for, unless these aids to development are 

 very judiciously used, they produce a disease called ''spot," 

 which is likely to destroy the plants, and is certain to ruin 

 the bloom for at least one season. The jihint-house in 

 which they are kept should be light and airy, and through- 

 out the winter the temperature should )je considerably 

 above the freezing-2)oint. Therefore a temperature of, say, 

 oo""', which the zonales endure Avithout harm, if somewhat 

 dry, will be too low for these, the Avinter nrinimnm for 

 «liich should be about W until the turn of the year, and 

 then, as the days lengthen, a rise to 51)"'' is re(|nired. In 

 the winter management the greatest care is retpiired in 

 respect of watering, for damp is as destructive as frost, and 

 the two eomljined will soon make an end of the finest pilants, 

 no matter how robust they may have been up to the moment 

 when these enemies entered the field. The summer manage- 



