7§ 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



that time the zonal pelargoniums are in the ascendant. If they fail to do well during 

 the winter it is the fault of the grower. Young plants invariably give the best 

 results, always provided they have not been allowed to weaken themselves by flowering 

 during the summer. If a summer display is desired, prepare young autumn-rooted 

 plants specially for that purpose, and do not rely on these for winter flowering. So 

 many novelties being constantly offered by florists, such as Mr. Henry Cannell, 

 selections given now would be out of date two or three years hence, and we will only 

 observe that the semi-double flowering varieties of the F. V. Easpail type are the most 



generally serviceable in winter, and will 

 endure and even enjoy a fair amount of 

 fire -heat. A typical example of a single 

 zonal pelargonium, from Messrs. H. 

 Cannell & Sons' "Floral Guide," is 

 represented in Fig. 40. 



Propagation and Culture. — In 

 February select stout, short-jointed, 

 firm shoots, not those hard and dry, 

 which are difficult to root ; also reject 

 those which are gross and sappy, because 

 they are liable to damp off; shorten the 

 cuttings below the third joint, cut away 

 the lower pair of leaves, and remove the 

 scales. Spread the cuttings on a dry 

 bench for the ends to dry, and then insert 

 them, either singly in 2|-inch pots, or 

 thinly round the sides of well -drained larger pots, taking care that the end of each 

 rests firmly on the base, made with a blunt dibbler, and fix them firmly in their 

 positions. Place them on either dry stagings or shelves in a forcing-house or other 

 well-heated structure, not shading in any way, and giving water only to prevent 

 shrivelling. 



When they have formed roots, give more water, and duly pinch out the points of 

 the plants. On fresh growths starting, there should be no delay in carefully separating 

 those plants of which several are raised in a pot, potting them singly ; but those already 

 in small pots will be the first ready for shifting into the 5 -inch size. After this shift, the 



Fig. 40. Zonal Pelargonium. 



