1872.] 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR THE CONSERVATORY. 
73 
DIPLADENIA INSIGNIS. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
have now the pleasure of introducing to our readers what we believe 
to be the finest Dipladenia hitherto known, and in this opinion we are 
f not singular, for one of our most experienced plant-growers, to whom 
flowers were sent in October last, pronounced it to be quite distinct, very 
fine in colour, and with greater substance than any other he had previously seen, 
adding that if its constitution and free-flowering habit were equal to those of 
D. amabilis (of which we gave a figure in our volume for 1866), it would prove 
a decided acquisition. We have already noticed it in the Gardeners' Chronicle , 
under the name of Dipladenia insignis. The flowers were from 4 in. to 4 Jin. 
in diameter, of a rich, deep, rosy carmine, as deep on the outer as the inner side 
of the corolla, the base of the tube being white, the white sharply defined. It 
is in the substance of the flowers, and in the brilliant colour, that the chief 
merits of this novelty, as an ornamental plant, are to be found. 
Dipladenia insignis was raised by Mr. S. Fenwick, gardener to John Water- 
house, Esq., of Well Head, Halifax. It is a seedling from D. amabilis , was 
raised in 1869, and flowered for the first time during the past summer, the plant, 
though only growing in a 7-in. pot, proving to be very floriferous, and continuing 
for some weeks in flower. When it comes to be freely grown, and well established, 
we may expect to see it even finer than it is represented in the accompanying 
figure, which Mr. Fitch has happily thrown off. We understand that the stock 
is in the hands of Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, by whom it will in due 
time be sent out.—T. M. 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR THE CONSERVATORY. 
MID the rage for bedding plants, there is a danger of glass-houses being 
starved. Only a few years ago every inch of glass was stuffed full. 
Now the current is running strong in the contrary direction, and there is 
some danger of glass structures being impoverished that our gardens may 
be crammed. Among the countless hosts of bedding plants turned out, a few 
of the choicest might well be reserved for in-door decoration. Choice Verbenas, 
Petunias, Lobelias, Calceolarias, and even such things as Amaranthuses, Iresines, 
Alternantheras, well-grown in pots, form objects of striking interest and great 
beauty under glass, but all such plants sink into tameness when compared with 
Zonal Pelargoniums. With a fair collection of these latter in ordinarily 
skilful hands, almost any house might be kept in a blaze for the greater portion 
of the season. 
Everyone is familiar with the decorative value of the so-called Show and 
Fancy Pelargoniums. But the Zonals exceed these at their best, while they are 
grown to perfection with a tithe of the trouble. Valuable at all seasons of the 
year, they are beyond compare admirable for the autumn. There is hardly another 
3rd series.— v. E 
