JUNE. 



83 



were planted earlier in the season and made finer growths than those in the 

 house referred to above. 



It will thus be seen how the possessor of only one vinery may improve his 

 supply of Grapes the first year by the aid of pot Vines, so that the loss of a 

 year's Grapes need not stand in the way of renewing the border and Vines. 

 At the same time, the thick planting of Vines is very objectionable, and should 

 only be resorted to for the sake of accomplishing the end at present under 

 consideration, when such is specially desired. I think there is scarcely any- 

 thing that can make up for the want of a full play of light and air about the 

 stems and leaves of the Vine ; and on the same principle I have a strong objection 

 to low and small structures for Vines, having invariably observed that Vines 

 attain to a greater degree of robustness and fruitfulness in large light structures 

 enclosing a larger volume of air and admitting a greater diffusion of light. 

 Nor is it to be wondered at that a plant that luxuriates the most on the breezy 

 slopes and under the clear skies of' continental and eastern countries should, 

 thrive better and be more fruitful in large, airy, and light houses than in 

 smaller volumes of muggy, stagnant air enclosed, as is recommended by some, 

 with rough plate-glass. 



Archerjield Gardens, N.B. D. Thomson. 



THE PLEA OF THE SCARLET PELARGONIUM. 



"We are sometimes called Geraniums. Do not be alarmed, kind reader, or 

 take this statement as a complaint. We are not about to confound you with 

 distinctive characters. It matters not to us whether we take our name from 

 Cranesbills or Storksbills, since we know that both belong to the same happy 

 family of Geraniacea?. We have only too much reason to be proud of this 

 connection ; for cannot both branches of our family equally boast of including 

 in their ranks the names of Royal Personages, of Dignitaries, and of Beauties ? 

 Do not each inscribe on their muster-roll the titles of kings, queens, and 

 princes ? and do not the names of heroes, of battles, of rivers, and even of 

 volcanoes, define our characters and qualities ? So far we are upon a level. 

 It is true every one of us cannot appropriate the title of Zonule, although many 

 of us do bear the badge of this (almost) order of the -garter ; and the title, 

 but recently granted to us in common life, sounds grander than the more 

 ancient one of Horseshoe. Really we feel our consequence and importance in 

 society, and do not like to be ill-used or neglected. To the point, then, at 

 once ; and then we will leave our case and our cause of complaint in the hands 

 of the public, feeling assured that justice will be done to us. 



Our plaint is this : At the great exhibitions no awards are offered for what 

 are called Scarlet Geraniums (more properly Pelargoniums), whilst all honour 

 is bestowed, and justly so, upon the show Pelargoniums, which sometimes with 

 their " Fancies " borrow our popular name. This neglect is much to be 

 regretted ; for whether the colour and abundance of our flowers, or the bril- 

 liancy of the foliage among our variegated varieties be considered, few plants 

 are (we think), more truly ornamental in a conservatory, or greenhouse than 

 ourselves. 



It is, however, decidedly a mistake to suppose that every variety of our 

 race will make a good out-of-door plant, and be fitted for « bedding," or prove 

 capable of enduring the changes of sun and rain ; and it is to be desired (for 

 it is but fair), that the same treatment should be bestowed on the Scarlet 

 Pelargonium which the other kinds of Pelargonium enjoy. There are many 

 varieties of our Scarlet family only fitted for pot culture, and which require the 



