Plate 246 . 
ZONALE GERANIUM, VENUS {Halley's). 
There can be little doubt that amongst the most popular 
flowers of the present day, the Zonale or bedding Geranium 
must take a prominent place. The advertising columns of the 
different gardening periodicals sufficiently attest the number 
of new varieties that are yearly produced, while every garden 
in the kingdom shows how largely—nay, universally—they are 
cultivated. Amongst those newer varieties, the productions of 
Mr. Halley, of Blackheath, take a conspicuous place, and we 
have therefore selected one of them, which seems to combine 
the requisite properties of good habit and excellence of bloom, 
for illustration. 
A report on the different varieties on trial at the Royal Hor¬ 
ticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick has been recently 
published by the Floral Committee, and, while it is evidently 
the result of careful examination, there are, we believe, many 
omissions of good varieties, and many which occupy a higher 
place than they will be found entitled to. Habit is one of the 
most important elements in the goodness of a plant, and this 
ought to be especially attended to, for grossness of habit for 
bedding purposes completely destroys the effectiveness of the 
very best variety in other respects. 
The culture of this class of plants in pots has latterly made 
considerable progress, and they are well worthy of any care and 
attention that may be bestowed on them for this purpose, as 
they make, during the later summer and autumn months, most 
admirable plants for the decoration of the greenhouse, conser¬ 
vatory, or drawing-room. The best plan for producing good 
specimens is to plant out those varieties which are most ap¬ 
proved of in a good open airy situation in the garden, and as 
