Plate 805 . 
IVY-LEAVED PELARGONIUM, SILVER GEM. 
While a great deal of attention has been of late given to the 
improvement of the Zonale section of Pelargoniums, and almost 
numberless as the varieties are in existence, it is nevertheless 
felt that there is much to be done, indeed one of our most 
distinguished gardeners has recently expressed his opinion, that 
for the purposes of decoration there is room for great improve¬ 
ment in them,—an opinion which has been endorsed by another 
writer, who adds that this is especially the case in the ivy¬ 
leaved section. 
While nnsnited for the more prominent position in the flower 
garden occupied by the highly coloured varieties of the Zonale 
and nosegay section, they are yet admirably adapted for the 
edging of beds, and also for those numerous kinds of baskets 
which one finds now so constantly adding to the beauty of well- 
ordered places; we can conceive how pretty a bed of variegated 
Pelargoniums well kept would look with the variegated ivy-leaf 
as an edging, for while in ribbon borders, it is better to have 
something to contrast with the variegation, such as Lobelia, in 
beds a good effect is gained by keeping them each uniform in 
colour; so much is this the case, that we have seen the effects 
of Verbena beds completely spoiled by the appearance of the 
large white or yellow eye that many of them possess. 
Silver Gem has extremely pretty variegated foliage; the leaves 
are bright green, margined heavily with white, and in their 
younger state are very prettily zoned with pink; this fades as 
the leaf acquires age, leaving them white with a small centre 
of green. They are peculiarly thick in substance,—-another 
point in their favour. The flowers are larger than those of 
the ordinary ivy-leaved Pelargonium, and are of a lilac-rose 
