58 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
after year, it will generally be found to be protected during tbe summer by over¬ 
hanging branches, or hidden by more robust herbaceous plants, so that the plants 
are seldom seen during the summer season. 
If the following varieties can be procured by those who wish to try their 
hand at raising seedlings, they may depend upon having a more satisfactory 
return for their labour than from purchased seed. I have no doubt that most 
of these sorts may be obtained from that veteran florist, Mr. John Spencer, 
Lenton, Nottingham:— 
Buc/c’s George IV. —Large and hardy. 
Hufton’s Lord Rancliffe. —Dark, ra¬ 
ther small. 
Hufton’s Lord Lincoln. —First-rate. 
Sanders’ Cheshire Favourite. —Fine. 
Pearson’s Alexander. —Dark, fine. 
Cranshaw’s Exile. —Dark, fine. 
Bullock’s Lancer. —Fine, red. 
The seed may be sown at the latter end of February, or early in March, in 
pans or boxes, in a frame or greenhouse, or under a hand-glass. The young 
plants should be transplanted, as early as size will permit, into nicely prepared 
soil, and protected from the sun by some means. They may be planted out in 
August at about six inches apart, and if well managed they will bloom profusely 
the following spring. All inferior varieties should be at once discarded, and the 
best divided at the latter end of July or early in August, giving them new soil. 
I shall be glad to hear of the success of any one in cultivating this lovely spring¬ 
flowering gem, and trust we shall see many new faces within a few years ; though 
some persons admit that the new Primula japonica , in the hands of Mr. Bull, of 
Chelsea, bids fair to rival the old favourite of our early days.— John Walker, 
Winton , Manchester. 
PINK BEDDING PELARGONIUMS. 
/ERHAPS no colour is more necessary in the flower garden, to tone down the 
blaze of scarlets, than that of the old well-known variety named Christine. 
Indeed, since the introduction of the Lucia Rosea and Christine , these 
beautiful peach-blossom shades of pink have become indispensable in floral 
decorations. Many new varieties have been raised, grown for a time, and then 
discarded, since those just mentioned made their appearance ; and during the last 
season two very promising ones, which are sure to be extensively used both for 
bedding and pot-culture, have been sent out. 
Master Christine is unquestionably an acquisition. The accompanying 
engraving of it is from a photograph of a plant that carried off the highest floral 
honours ; and it was, moreover, the only Zonal Pelargonium awarded a certificate 
by the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1870. The plant 
is of very dwarf habit, and a most abundant bloomer ; the colour a very bright 
pink, with a small white eye ; the pips are small, of thick substance, producing 
medium-sized globular trusses on strong foot-stalks, qualities which must render 
it particularly valuable for bedding purposes. Up to the present time the stock 
has been very limited, consequently no plants have as yet been bedded out, but 
there is every probability that it is all that can be desired. 
