294 



to see the same author statiog that the speciSc name 

 of gigantea cannot be used, as Endhcher had pre- 

 viously applied it to S. snnpervirem. The sO'Oner 



that such subsequent na 



ind 



Washingionia shall be conjpletely abrogated^ the 

 sooner shall all difficulties cease, so that we e^n 

 show to the world that the truths of botanical sci- 

 ence will stand triunjphant for all coming time. 



GOOD GSEANIUMS AND HOW TO GROW 

 THEM -mo. 3. 



BY J. C. J, 



( Contmiied from page 143.) 

 WHITE PERFECTION, (Zonale.) 



Good judges have pronounced this the best 

 all the White Zonales. It is excellent. i\fter 

 close comparison with some others, I have been led 

 to suspect that, under four different names, we 

 have one and the same thing in White Zonales. 

 That this deception is practised by nurserymen in 

 Europe I hjive no doubt whatever; or it may be 

 they are, not unwillingly, duped by pretended rais- 

 ers of novelties. The necessity in this age of com- 

 petition for a succession of new sorts, is well under- 

 stood and practised by professional florists in Lon- 

 don. I imported Madame Vaucher in 1862 ; theB 

 came her near connection, "Emily Yaucher,'' with 

 so close a family resemblance that any tyro may see 

 at a glance they are identically the same. A chari- 

 table friend suggested that Emily might be the 

 Christian name of Madame, but unfortunately the 

 former was launched upon the wide world as a 

 spinster of the next generation, destined to sup- 

 plant her ancestor. About the same time another 

 star rose in the Hfef^t— " Mad'lle Marie Mezard," 

 described as " pure white, in the style of Madame 

 Vaucher; price £5" (sterling). "The style'' is 

 certainly what the vendor claims, beyond all dis- 

 pute ; but the resamblanee is so very close that the 

 distiPaCtion is minus a difference. A rival to these 

 three names was "Carter's Snowball." On a Jury 

 I would be disposed to give that eminent firm the 

 benefit of a doubt, as " Snowball " may possibly be 

 an original and not Madame Vaucher, only I have 

 failed to detect any difference. All four kinds I 

 received direct from England, and for two years 

 the utmost care was taken to guard against confu- 

 sion or admixture in propagation. 



White Perfection is, I consider, a genuine origi- 

 nal. Although quite similar to Madame Vaucher, 

 the flowers seem to me rather more circular and 

 compact, and the foliage is slightly different. It is 

 also a more prolffic bloonjer under glass. Last 

 winter it did excellent service in my greenhouse. 



-WTj ' — — ™™_- — — - 



— — — 



It is only there that White Zonales flower in per- 

 fection. Out of doors they yield me no satisfaction ; 

 trusses small and few in number ; the white dingy, 

 a poor apology for the clear, narcissus-like white 

 of the same plants on the stage of a greenhouse. 

 White Perfection and White Tom Thumb (see 

 page 36) cannot be spared from the attractive fea- 

 tures of in-door floral display during the coming 

 winter and ensuing spring. 



To flower bountifully and well, the directions on 

 page 36 must be adhered to. The last shift ought 

 to be no longer delayed. Avoid any check here- 

 after; permit no blooms to expand, and syringe 

 during hot spells every other day. Until 1st to 

 10th of September full exposure to the sun is inju- 

 rious. Partial shade from 11 to 3 P. M. is a posi- 

 tive advantage, but overhanging trees will not do. 

 EXCELLENT, (Zonale.) 



This Geranium was produced, if I mistake not, 

 in 1863, but I don't remember to have seen it in 

 the catalogue of any American florist. The Eng- 

 lish grower thus describes it: " Soft rose, a most 

 beautiful variety; free, large truss, form good, 

 extra." This is piling it on, but is no exaggera- 

 tion. I would almost place it as next to Donald 

 Beaton, for perfection of shape, size of truss, and 

 its remarkably brilliant color, which is not strictly 

 what I understand as " sofr." It cannot be beaten ; 

 under glass and out of doors tells it own story 

 among a score of Zonale competitors. I expect to 

 recognize this favorite under some new name ere 

 long. It is good enough to half justify the decep- 

 tion. 



CARMINATA IMPROVED, (Nosegay.) 

 Who stood sponsor to this really choice thino^ I 

 know not. This I do know, that I was agreeably 

 surprised when it first bloomed with us in March 

 last, the old-fashioned name and source from whence 

 obtained not leading me to expect much. I have 

 yet to see another *. f the Nosegay class its equal 

 for brilliance of color, the best resemblance to which 

 is Lobelia fulgens. Well grown bushy plants, for 

 a front row on the stage, will give entire satisfac- 

 tion ; hut if allowed to grow at random, they are 

 unsightly with ragged blooms. It is better, also, 

 grown in small pots. One of our leading florists, 

 to whom I sent a plant, will probably offer it for 

 sale next year. 



ALICE, (Zonale.) 

 " Soft, flame scarlet ;" style ^of Princess of Prus- 

 sia, but better. This variety is highly esteemed in 

 England, from whence I obtailied it two \ ears since. 

 So far as I know it is not in any of our American 



I® 



