184 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
the whole will pass through a sieve with an inch mesh, and then secure its 
mechanical action by the addition of sand, charcoal, and potsherds broken 
sufficiently small for the purpose—these being so intimately incorporated 
through the mass as to render the solidifying of the soil in the pots almost 
impossible. 
With the soil so prepared, if in proper state as to moisture at the time of using, 
it can scarcely be made too firm. Some peats are so poor as to require to be 
enriched. For this purpose it will not do to add solid manure in the usual 
manner, but the turves of peat, after they are collected, may be laid upon a bed 
of fermenting dung and covered down for a few days for the steam to pass 
through, or a lining of hot dung may be applied after the turves are ridged up. 
In either case, the peat should not be used until it has been broken up and 
exposed a sufficient time to allow the grosser portions to pass off. In this way 
peat may be very much enriched—a desirable quality when it is to be used for 
free-rooting plants.—W. P. A. 
ON PELARGONIUMS.—No. IV. 
'LASS 5 : “ Zonals.” At least so it stands on my proposed formula of 
classification (p. 15) ; but so distinct from those which are cultivated for 
their flowers, are the characteristic qualities and objects for which the 
Variegated-leaved Pelargoniums are cultivated, not only as regards the 
points aimed at in raising new varieties from seed, and the mode of culture 
throughout all their stages, but also as regards their ultimate position—in fact, 
so widely distinct are they in every respect, that I doubt whether it would not 
have been better to have considered them as forming a distinct section, sub¬ 
dividing it into five classes, viz :—1, Golden Tricolors ; 2, Silver Tricolors ; 3, 
Golden and Bronze Bicolors ; 4, Silver Bicolors ; 5, Golden Selfs. 
While the flowering section of the scarlet Pelargonium attracted but little 
attention for a very long period, and consequently made but little or no progress, the 
introduction of the coloured-leaved varieties produced a complete furor throughout 
not only the floricultural, but I may also say, the general world ; to which I 
conclude is due the rapid strides and wonderfully striking improvements that 
have been effected in this beautiful section of the family in so short a time. For 
so recent is their origin, that it is but ten or twelve years ago that the well-known 
and popular Mrs. Pollock appeared, which variety I consider to have been the 
pioneer of this section. I am aware that a correspondent writing from Deptford 
in the Journal of Horticulture some three or four years ago, under the signature 
of u M.,” spoke of a golden tricolor called “ Rainbow,” which, he says, was raised 
(there) fifteen or twenty years ago by a Mr. Baskett, and from which he stated 
a silver tricolor sported, thereby claiming alike an earlier date of origin, as well 
as to be the originator of the tricolored varieties ; but I never before or since 
heard of any such variety, nor does it appear that Mr. Grieve, whom I consider 
