April 21. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
41 
To prevent misapprehension, I consider it also ne¬ 
cessary to state, that what follows is based upon the 
supposition that you have no garden structure besides 
this Gi'eenliouse, though some glasses, and even a turf 
or earth-pit, would be useful; and that, with the exception 
of a few seeds, and a few cuttings you may obtain, your 
whole dependence is upon the plants you already possess. 
Let us glance, then, first, at a few ot the principles to 
| be kept in view in the management of such a house. 
Temperature and Air .—In winter, the average night 
j temperature should be 45°, allowing it to fall to 4h lJ in 
extreme cold weather, rather than have strong fires. 
' Air must be given with great caution in stormy, frosty, 
and foggy weather, and that little at the top of the house. 
At this season, fire will be seldom or never required, and 
' air may be given in the morning and removed in the 
evening. 13y the middle of next month, unless in 
stormy weather, have air on all night, h rom June to 
the end of September, it will scarcely be possible to have 
too much of it. From November to April, it will he 
advisable, while you are absent during the day, to initiate 
some one to attend to air. When the sun shines in 
mild weather, give air as the heat approaches 50°. In a 
frosty day, with a bright sun, give air with more caution, 
from 10° to 20° rise from sun-heat will do the plants 
good. To lessen evaporation in such circumstances, 
sprinkle the paths and shelves with water. In con¬ 
tinued dull weather, with the outside temperature ranging 
about 40°, put on a small brisk fire in the morning, that 
you may change the atmosphere of the house by mid-day. 
Shading .—The vine will help you in this; but in the 
heat of summer a little Nottingham netting may be 
useful for blunting the force of the suns rays, or a little 
whitening may be put on the glass, or a little double 
size melted and brushed on the glass when hot; it will 
then resemble rough plate. 
Soil .—Gritty matter collected from the road-side will 
grow all the plants you are likely to try. As you have 
a kitchen garden you may get a supply even nearer 
home. Some of the ground will be ridged up or rough 
dug during the winter. After a dry sunny day the 
surface will be mellow and flaky, and this, scraped oil 
and housed in an airy place, is a greater treasure to the 
pot gardener than ambrosia was to the deities ot old. 
With the addition of a little sharp sand, and a little 
dung very rotten, or decayed leaves, this homely earth 
will grow anything not requiring heath mould. 
& R. Fish. 
(To be continued.) 
THE PELARGONIUM. 
(Continued from page 10.) 
Fancy Yaeieties. —It is somewhat difficult to define 
I this class of Pelargoniums, because they approach so 
near to the class Show Varieties. Every cultivator that 
"rows both classes carries in his mind a sufficiently dis¬ 
tinct idea of each. The distinctive name, Show Varieties, 
is as bad as need be, and as hard to be understood by 
the uninitiated as Greek or Hebrew, and Fancy Varieties 
j are equally difficult to be comprehended, lor both are 
I show varieties, or, in other words, plants for exhibition ; 
and both are fancy varieties, that is, the properties are 
such as the fancy or taste of the florist has laid down;— 
rules, founded upon the form, colour, and substance, 
any variety in either class may assume when they 
bloom. I have felt these misnomers in the names ot 
the two classes for some time, and, no doubt, many oi 
J the amateur readers of The Cottage Gardener have 
1 felt the same. As a writer on the florists’ varieties ol 
I the Pelargonium, I should be glad to hit upon two 
names for these classes sufficiently distinct so that a 
broad line could be drawn between them. I think that 
large-flowered show Pelargoniums, and small-flowered 
show Pelargoniums would be more expressive, and cer¬ 
tainly a more true description or distinction between 
the two than the present names. The question has 
often been put to me, “ What is a Fancy Geranium?” 
and the only answer I could give was, that it is, gene¬ 
rally speaking, a smaller and more numerously flowered 
variety than such as Salamander, Conspicuum, or, Virgin 
Queen. Also, that the foliage is smaller, and the plants 
less robust in growth, with the colours not so distinctly 
defined as in the show varieties, though the latter pro¬ 
perty is becoming more distinct on account of the newer 
improved kinds having the lines separating the colours 
better befined. I do not know I can add anything, or 
point to more, even now, by which to describe a fancy 
variety. I should be greatly obliged if any of our 
readers, whether professional or not, would give new 
and better names to these two classes than they at pre¬ 
sent are known by. The Fancy Geraniums always 
attract the ladies, and are more valued by them than by 
gentlemen amateurs. 
Agreeable to promise, I subjoin a very select list, and 
sufficiently distinct to warrant any amateur desirous of 
growing these really beautiful flowers to choose any 
number from he may wish to purchase : 
Alhoni (Henderson), upper petals rosy-purple; lower 
petals blush white, sometimes blotched. 
Alboni superba (Ayres), upper petals rich rosy-crimson 
margined with white; lower petals white, faintly 
streaked with crimson. 
Anais (Chauviere), ground-colour bright shining rose, 
shaded at the edges with white; a very free bloomer. 
Beauty (Henderson), upper petals bright crimson, 
margined with white; lower petals white, margined 
with deep maroon. 
Beauty of St. Johns Wood (Henderson), upper petals 
bright rose carmine, with clear white margin ; a regular 
belt of carmine round the lower petals ; very distinct. 
Beaute (Bellepercliis), upper petals rich mulberry, 
edged with white ; lower petals spotted with mulberry , 
very fine, and a free bloomer. 
Belle Marie (Ambrose), top petals rich mulberry, 
margined with crimson; lower petals blush, with dark 
spot. 
Bouquet tout fait (Chauviere), upper petals dark, 
margined with white; lower petals white, spotted with 
maroon. 
Caliban (Ayres), upper petals rich plum colour, edged 
slightly with white; lower petals white, spotted and 
clouded with maroon; good form and substance. 
Circularity (Gaines), dark crimson, with a belt of fine 
clear white round every petal; extra fine. 
Defiance (Ambrose), vary dark maroon; petals mar¬ 
gined with white; centre pure white; flowers large and 
well-formed. 
Exquisite (Henderson), upper petals clear lilac, with 
abroad belt of bright rose; lower petals clear rose, : 
spotted ; a compact trusser, and good habit. 
Formosissima (Ayres), upper petals rich crimson, 
shaded with rose, with a broad margin of white ; lower | 
petals white, margined with crimson ; very distinct 
and fine. . , 
Gaiety (Ambrose), fine mulberry blotcb, with pink 
margin; lower petals white, spotted with the same 
ground colour ; a gay, lively flower. 
Hero of Surrey (Gaines), upper petals nearly black, 
belted with pure white; lower petals white, with a car¬ 
mine spot on each; a distinct, beautiful variety. 
Madame Rosalie (Gaines), clear shining rose and 
white; a large flower, and very beautiful. 
Marion (Henderson), crimson ground; white margin; 
a fine variety, lasting a long time in bloom. 
Miranda (Ayres), ground-colour delicate salmon, pen¬ 
cilled with white; a novel colour, and very beautiful. 
