98 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



lApril, 



In regard to lawn management there has been 

 nothing much developed of late years. Of course 

 our readers know now, that much of the com- 

 plaint about small weeds getting ahead in the 

 grass, comes from cutting the grass too short with 

 the lawn mower. But the first cutting in spring 

 should be done as early as possible, and as short 

 as possible, or else when cut in summer it will 

 leave a brown appearance every time. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



NEW GERANIUMS. 



BY D. R. WOODS. 



We do not believe that of any other plant is 

 there as much seed annually sown, in the hope of 

 producing better varieties, as of the geranium. 

 This is not strange as hybridizers have been' 

 eminently successful in their efforts to improve 

 this popular bedding plant. Of the many new 

 sorts sent out by the various raisers every year 

 the great majority are grown but a season or two 

 and are discarded to make room for later introduc- 

 tions. Last year a new type of geraniums was 

 introduced in Europe, which we believe will com- 

 pletely change the aspect of geranium beds ; we 

 refer to the dwarf Zonale geraniums, introduced 

 by Van Geert, of Ghent, Belgium, of which we 

 give a brief description ; 



Archduke Rudolphe. — A magnificent flower of 

 a deep rich scarlet color ; very large and double. 



Princess Stephanie. — A remarkable dwarf var- 

 iety, covered with enormous flowers of a beautiful 

 lilac pink color ; very double. 



Triumph of Ghent. — An excellent novelty which 

 will be in great demand for borders and edges of 

 flower beds. It is very bushy. The leaves are 

 bordered with pure white, and the whole plant is 

 almost covered with lively lilac double flowers, 

 which glare brightly on the white background of 

 foliage. 



None of these sorts grow to a height of more 

 than six inches, and for freedom of bloom are not 

 equalled by any sorts in cultivation. Their habit 

 of growth is strong and sturdy, very short jointed, 

 and consequently the appearance of the plant is 

 compact. They will be valuable for borders of 

 beds as well as for ribbon lines and will also be 

 valuable in fine bedding designs and mosaic work, 

 giving us additional colors for this class of work. 

 This will certainly be appreciated by those floral 

 artists who are ofttimes perplexed in trying to 

 harmonize colors and give pleasing contrasts out 

 of an exceedingly limited variety of plants. We 



are advised that more varieties of these dwarf 

 geraniums, of new shades and colors, will be offered 

 for sale in France this spring. After obtaining them 

 and giving them a trial next summer, will report to 

 the readers of the Gardeners' Monthly. 



New Brighton, Pa. 



NEW DOUBLE W^HITE MIGNONETTE, 

 "SNOWBALL." 



During the summer of "82 Mr. George Knoll, of 

 Bethlehem, began experimenting with the various 

 leading kinds of Mignonette with a view toward 

 its improvement. Of a large number of seedlings 

 obtained from a mixed bed of Parsons' White, 

 White Spiral and Ameliorata, the subject of our 

 sketch was the only distinct result. It was care- 



fully kept through the winter of 1882-83, w^U 

 rewarding the care bestowed upon it, by a liberal 

 production of flowers of improved color, charming 

 appearance and fragrance. 



Planted out during the summers of 1883-84, 

 it retained its distinct character through the hot 

 and dry months, attracting attention by its beauty 

 and novelty. The habit of the plant is compact, 

 pyramidal and floriferous, the trusses of bloom 

 being carried well above the foliage, which is a 

 deep glossy green. Planted out it grows 12 to 18 



