ON THE I EAE- COLORATION, ETC., OE PELARGONIUMS. S3 



structive ravages ; for in severe winter seasons, when there is a 

 scarcity of grass, these animals are in the habit of browsing upon 

 succulent plants ; and even the bitter leaves of the Aloes are 

 eaten with avidity, cropped off all round almost into the very 

 heart of the plant, which speedily causes the death of the speci- 

 men ; and each succeeding winter season sees the rapid decrease 

 of these fine plants *, 



XIX. Note on the Leaf-coloration and Flower-production of 

 Variegated Zonal and other Bedding Pelargoniums treated 

 with Chemical Manures. By Thomas Mooee, F.L.S., Floral 

 Director K.H.S. 



November 16, 18G9. 



At the suggestion of Major Trevor Clarke, some experiments 

 were commenced in July last, at Chiswick, with a view to 

 ascertain the effects of certain chemical manures on the colour- 

 ing of the leaves of Variegated Zonal Pelargoniums. A set of 

 ordinary Bedding Pelargoniums was also treated in a similar 

 way, for the purpose of noting what would be the effect of these 

 particular manures as regards the development of flowers. The 

 experiments were on a limited scale, and their results have so 

 far proved to be little more than negative — partly attributable, 

 perhaps, to the late period at which they were commenced, and 

 partly to the soil employed having been of too rich a quality. 

 A s, however, there were indications of differences observable, it is 

 proposed to repeat the experiments under somewhat different 

 conditions another year, in the hope of bringing these out more 

 definitely. 



The varieties selected for the experiments were: — Variegated 

 ZonaJs^lrs. Pollock — of which there were six plots, each containing 

 four plants ; Flowering Zonals — Herald of Spring, and Norah — of 

 which also there were six plots, each containing three plants of the 



* Mr. Wilson Saunders remarked, on the reading of this paper, that the 

 rocky character of the soil was requisite for preventing the presence of stagnant 

 water, a circumstance which must be carefully guarded against in cultivation. 

 His collector, Mr. Cooper, had ascertained that many species were naturally 

 surrounded by herbage, and that when this, and not the plants themselves, was 

 eaten by sheep, the plants perished from exposure to the burning sun through the 

 want of their natural protectors. He had endeavoured to obviate this in culti- 

 vation, by substituting a thin fold of muslin, which proved of great advantage 

 to the plants. 



N 



