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THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
SPRING BEDDING. 
The late hot and dry weather has been most trying for the preparations of 
stock for arrangements upon this system, many of the plants, as Pansies, 
Aubrietias, Alyssum, &c., were quite dried up before lifting from the beds and 
ribbons, where they have been gay the two months previous to June. A very 
little care in laying them in, and a good watering will soon revive them, and 
the sooner cuttings are put in now the better will the stock be for next autumn’s 
planting. A great point is to consider the colours wanted for certain ribbons 
and borders, and propagate accordingly. Pansies, perhaps, repay the little 
labour necessary better than many of the others, from the long period of their 
effective blooming, and if the stock is small the cuttings put in now will give one 
or two toppings that strike root sooner than the present hard joints. Cheiran- 
thus, the variegated Sage, Lamium, &c., also make better beds and edgings for 
winter if put in now. Again, many seeds must be sown, as Wallflowers, red 
and yellow, Anemone, if not already, and plenty of Stocks. I was surprised to 
learn the other day from J. Howard, Esq., of Lake End, the finest Brompton 
Stock grower perhaps in England at one time, that the seeds should never be 
old, for really good fine blooms as large as a half-crown, and 2 feet of bloom. 
He has always found that the old seed brings variegated flowers. Perhaps this 
may have been noticed by others, who will give us their experience, as we 
have found so many plants improve by age in the seed. 
J. F. 
REPORT ON THE BEDDING PELARGONIUMS GROWN AT 
CHISWICK, 1864. 
By Thomas Moore, F.L.S., Secretary to the Floral Committee. 
The most approved sorts are indicated throughout by an asterisk (*), and 
the next grade by an obelisk (f). The varieties which are not distinguished 
by any mark are to be regarded either as unnecessary, from their similarity or 
inferiority to other kinds, or from their absolute worthlessness. 
SERIES I.—PLAIN-LEAVED VARIETIES. 
1. FLOWERS SCARLET. 
Achilles f (Presented by Mr. Bull).—Vigorous habit; flowers large and of 
fine shape, in fair-sized trusses, scarlet, lighter and brighter than Punch. This 
was formerly called Vivid, but the name has been since altered to avoid con¬ 
fusion, there being already a fine scarlet variety bearing this latter name. 
Brilliancy (Bull).—Vigorous habit; flowers in immense trusses, large, and 
of bright scarlet, but not distinct enough from Punch. 
Doi'is (Bull).—Vigorous habit; flowers large light scarlet. Too thin as a 
pot plant. 
Eleanor * (Bull).—Dwarf, free habit; flowers large, scarlet, of good quality, 
As a pot plant, under glass it proved also dwarfish and free, with bright 
scarlet flowers in large trusses, for which it was adjudged the mark. 
Envoy (Bull).—Vigorous habit; large scarlet flowers in large trusses 
but not considered superior to Punch. 
Faust * (Bull).—Vigorous habit; flowers very bright scarlet, large, and of 
first-rate shape, borne in large trusses. It proved also a very showy plant when 
grown under glass, producing immense heads of flowers. 
Garibaldi (Downie k Co.).—Vigorous habit; flowers scarlet, of good 
quality; much in the style of Punch, and too much like it to be also required. 
Harhaway (Taylor).—Dwarf habit; leaves smooth ; flowers orange scarlet, 
of loose shape. 
