FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 
137 
various transverse fleshy folds, warts, and ridges; into this 
goblet drips the honey secreted by the two ears at the base of the 
horizontal arm which carries the lip. On the side next the 
column the goblet is opened, and near the bottom of this opening 
it is furnished with three sharp-pointed lobes, of which the 
lateral curve downwards, and the middle one stands erect, 
rising just high enough to come in contact with the head of the 
column, which grows downwards so far as almost to touch it. 
The column is a large, fleshy, club-shaped body, two inches and a 
half long, and throwing back its head, till its bosom becomes so 
round and large as to be comparable to the breast of a puffer 
pigeon. The head of the column divides into two short, flat, 
fleshy, curved arms, between which the anther is seated.™ 
Journ. Hort . Society. 
FLORICULTURAL HINTS. 
June is a busy month with the florist, and, if dry weather sets 
in, his labour is immensely increased; for, not only is there the 
extra trouble of watering, but insects always multiply so fast at 
such a time, that the attention of necessity given to them usually 
throws the routine work behind. Pinks must be well attended 
just now ; no time should be lost in disbudding. There is more 
art in this operation than is generally believed, or at least it re¬ 
quires a very correct knowledge of each variety to do it properly. 
The thin-flowering kinds, or such as have only two or three tiers 
of petals, should have all the buds removed, except the first 
lateral and the terminal one, or, if the plants are weak, only the 
the last should be retained; other kinds with very full flowers, 
such as Ward’s Great Britain, may be allowed to carry all or 
nearly all their buds. This variety is truly fine when well 
managed, but from excessive vigour, is too often irregular, and, 
without a good deal of attention in the opening, often splits. 
The opening pods must be regularly looked to, and tied before a 
tendency to split is apparent. Gutta-percha string, mentioned 
in a previous number of the ‘Florist’s Journal,’ appears par¬ 
ticularly suited to this purpose, it has sufficient elasticity to allow 
of the swelling of the buds, and thus saves the trouble of 
ni. 12 
