ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR WINTER. 



265 



The first point in arranging for a future display of winter- 

 flowering Zonals is the choice of suitable varieties, some being 

 much better suited for the purpose than others ; but this I 

 have left to the last, and propose to refer you to our Journal 

 for my selection, as the reading of a long list of names is un- 

 profitable and very wearying to the audience. I may, however, 

 say here that it is not advisable to include too many of the 

 very dark crimsons, such as Henry Jacoby, as in sunless weather 

 they often lose their characteristic shade and turn to a dull 

 magenta. Chas. Smith is the best of this class for keeping its 

 colour under disadvantageous circumstances. I would advise 

 the introduction of a very limited number of doubles, as the 

 singles generally flower much more freely, and are, to my taste 

 at least, decidedly more beautiful. I would also recommend a 

 far greater variety of colour than is generally seen. We have 

 now such a wealth of lovely tints among the winter- flowering 

 Zonals that it is deplorable to see a house full of nothing but 

 the old scarlet Vesuvius. Even when required principally for 

 cutting, for table and other decorations, there is no necessity to 

 confine oneself to one or two varieties, as, though the range of 

 colour is so wide, there is a certain tone running through all the 

 Zonals which makes them harmonise, and I have rarely seen 

 the colour tints of any two plants disagree even when a hundred 

 sorts were mixed indiscriminately on one bench. 



Having settled what kinds to grow, the next question is, When 

 should the cuttings be struck ? The answer depends somewhat 

 upon the kind of plants wanted. If good-sized specimens for 

 decoration, the cuttings may be inserted in August the previous 

 year ; but if only smaller plants or cut flowers alone are the 

 object, spring-struck cuttings are preferable. In the first case 

 the cuttings should be potted, as soon as struck, into " large 

 thumbs," giving a move when ready into about 4-inch pots, and 

 finally repotting early in June into 6-inch or 7-inch pots, accord- 

 ing to the size of the plants. After this they should be plunged 

 outside in a sunny spot, taking care that there is a sufficient 

 thickness of ashes under the pots to keep worms from ascending 

 into them. Summer treatment consists of watering, pinching 

 the stronger shoots, and removing all flower-buds as soon as 

 they appear. No stimulants should be given, as the object is to 

 produce a firm, well-ripened, short-jointed growth. 



