1885.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



135 



geranium was the first to elevate its genus to a lov- 

 ed plant, and large masses of them were planted 

 in clumps and made a brilliant appearance in parks 

 and gardens. Then for a long time there was a 

 standstill, and it was thought that this was the ex- 

 tent of the mission of the geranium, until gradually 

 better more perfect and more beautiful varie- 

 ties were developed and exhibited. Amateurs in- 

 terested themselves more and more in their culti- 

 vatioh, and consequently newer and more distinct 

 varieties were produced, so that the geranium be- 

 came a plant of commerce and was generally 

 cultivated everywhere. Not only exquisite flowers, 

 like hardly any other plant, with so many shades 

 of red, pink, salmon, large clear white, variegated, 

 double and single, but also the most beautiful leaf 

 geraniums with splendid gold, bronze and silver 

 leaf are now produced exhibited and advertised 

 in all leading catalogues. 



The ivy geranium "pelargonium peltatum," likely 

 as old as its sisters, has been wonderfully improv- 

 ed of late in double as well as single flowers, and 

 with remarkably distinct and variegated foliage. 

 They are not only delightful for hanging baskets, 

 but also grow on treUises, or in any other 

 way when handled by a skillful hand. Late 

 varieties are introduced and sold by V. P. Sim- 

 mons, florist, Geneva, Ohio ; V. H. Hallock, Son 

 & Thorpe, Queens, N. Y., and other leading 

 florists, which they advertise in their catalogues, 

 amongst the latest novelties in geraniums of strik- 

 ing qualifications. But the ivy-leaved are actually 

 charming with their immense trusses of both 

 double and single flowers, florets over two 

 inches in diameter and of exquisite colors. New 

 varieties from England, France, Germany and the 

 United States appear yearly, and oftentimes 

 create a sensation among lovers of geraniums, 

 who are everywhere to be found where the plant 

 can be cultivated. 



The propagation of the geranium is universally 



can be done without injury. After they are plant- 

 ed about 15 inches apart, kept clean from weeds 

 and the soil well loosened, a careful observer can * 

 be already amused by observing the habits and 

 formation of the plant and its foliage. In the 

 latter part of July they begin to flower, which 

 causes daily a great deal of excitement. The 

 color of the seedling Virgin Bloom appears to be 

 brighter, the trusses larger than in the others ; and 

 thus we are very apt to discover many extra 

 properties in these our children, which we will 

 justify by getting better and better acquainted 

 with the characters of our production. 



The principal condition of an introduction of a 

 new praiseworthy geranium is a new color, a large 

 well formed truss over a well proportioned plant, 

 with not too large leaves, round florets and round 

 petals. Only such seedlings may be exempted 

 from these absolute conditions which have other- 

 ■H^se extra endurable properties. Judging from 

 the present indications of the geranium, the future 

 developments of the flower will be such as will re- 

 semble the pelargonium variety, with more distinct 

 colors and marks on the two upper petals. I have 

 planted for several years past about 1,000 seed- 

 lings yearly, well advanced plants ; I took good 

 care of them, watched them closely, and after they 

 commenced flowering they gave me great pleasure. 

 We potted about 200, discarded all of them 

 which we deemed to be worthless, and when frost 

 came there was only about one-eighth of them 

 which showed no sign of flower buds. Of my 200 

 seedlings I selected about 50 which 1 thought were 

 good and somewhat different from other sorts, but 

 by more particular examination I reduced the 

 number to 24, then to an average of about 10 a 

 year, which were worth reserving and are distinct 

 varieties. The value of a seedling geranium can 

 not for certain be established before one year. As 

 they may decrease as well as increase in their 

 properties, those who wish to show their esteem 



it from cuttings, but the most interesting manner 

 is to grow it from seeds, which are carefully gath- 

 ered from the best varieties and which are likely 

 crossed either accidentally or by scientific pro- 

 cesses. These seeds, sown in February where 

 they can vegetate, will in eight or ten days be up, 

 and in three or four weeks the plants should be 

 transplanted, and again and again transplanted 

 until they can be safely planted out of doors. In 

 order to grow strong plants, especially if we are 

 compelled to plant them close together for lack of 

 room, the largest leaves should be removed, which 



known. Every woman knows how to slip or grow for a person or locality by naming a new variety 



of a plant after it might be obliged to re-name it. 

 So they should not be too hasty in selecting a sub- 

 ject for immortality. The few which I have named 

 after some honorable persons in our immediate 

 neighborhood, I hope will be as favorably known 

 as their distinguished namesakes. 



Some geraniums bloom by crops. Oftentimes I 

 have counted on a one-year-old plant as high as 

 18 flowers in full bloom. Others again are all the 

 time in bloom, while others have very large, beau- 

 tiful and distinct trusses, but are shy bloomers. 

 If a special apartment or a part of the house 



