716 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



the shoots are about lin. long, turn out of the pots, shake 

 all the old soil away, and repot, into small pots at first, then 

 gradually pot on as required, growing in the cool pit. There 

 are many excellent varieties which may be seen described in any 

 florist's catalogue, but the following may be mentioned : Fortitude, 

 Hector, Illuminator, Magician, Delicatum, Indian Chief, Vivandiere, 

 Goldmine, Edward Perkins, Venus, and Volante " Nationale. 



(2) Zonal Pelargoniums 

 are always valuable for 

 winter blossoms, but to 

 obtain plants for that 

 purpose they require 

 special treatment. Take 

 cuttings early in autumn ; 

 after they are 

 rooted pot singly 

 into 3in. pots, 

 and keep through 

 the winter in the 

 cool pit, placing 

 them near the 

 glass. In the 

 spring shift into 4m. pots, 

 and later into 6in. pots, 

 stopping several times to 

 make the plants a good 

 shape. Continually nip 

 off all the blossom trusses 

 directly they appear up 

 till the middle of Sep- 

 tember. Grow in the 

 open during summer, 

 shifting into the cool pit 

 in September, and after- 

 wards placing them in 

 the warm pit to open the 

 blossoms. Use a rich 

 compost, and also feed 

 well when, after the last 

 shift, the pots have be- 

 come full of roots ; by this means a better supply of blossom is 

 obtained than by potting into large pots. Among the best sorts 

 for winter flowering are — Singles : Flamingo, Lord Rosebery, Henry 

 Jacoby, Blue Peter, Meteor, Mrs. Daniels, Beauty of Kent, and 

 Albion. Doubles-: Raspail Improved, Aglaiae, Nydia, and Swanley 

 Double White. 



(3) Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums are good either for hanging 

 baskets or for pots when trained on stakes. For winter blossom 



Fig. 463. — Pelargonium inquinans. 



