136 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[May, 



could be devoted to geraniums, all in bloom taste- 

 fully arranged, the colors well mixed, no other 

 plant will afford a more constantly attractive show 

 during the whole winter season than the geraniums, 

 because if a plant be for a little while flowerless 

 it may easily be replaced by another one in flower 

 from the balance of the collection. It is bene- 

 ficial and adds appearance, and causes them to 

 flower more abundantly, if from time to time a 

 proportion of the coarsest leaves is removed^ 

 as the air can belter circulate and they receive 

 thereby a better form. 



I have frequently heard the remark from visi- 

 tors that their geraniums were full of leaves but 

 no flowers. They say, " I don't understand why 

 your geraniums are so prolific ; I guess you can 

 talk to them and they know you." I answer, 

 " There is indeed something in that." Any one 

 who has handled an article for years has gathered 

 experience and knows exactly what is needed, ^ 

 he has reflected deeply on his operations. The^ 

 removing of the leaves alone, however, would not 

 do much good if the plants were not treated prop- 

 erly otherwise. The geranium when grown in pots 

 in winter in a moist temperature of from 45 to 65 

 Fahrenheit and placed as near as possible to the 

 glass, transplanted at least twice in rich loamy 

 soil and clean pots — " give tbem a little air in mild 

 weather, and mix once in a while fertilizer in their 

 watering—" when geraniums are so treated they 

 will undoubtedly be in full bloom all winter, even 

 in December and January. My geraniums were 

 admired by all who saw them. 1 often thought 

 that their trusses were larger and more perfect 

 than in summer. Some trusses measured over 

 five inches in diameter. Of course there must be 

 such ones selected as are inclined to bloom in win- 

 ter, for it is certain that some varieties bloom bet- 

 ter in summer. According to locality, all colors 

 and shades are required to exhibit an accomplished 

 variety. Together with the newest introductions, 

 my collection consists principally of my own rais- 

 ing, and comprises almost all colors in geraniums. 

 I have kept up, besides, a few standing varieties 

 such as Rev. Atkinson, Dr. Denning, Surface 

 Beauty, Du Surenne and two or three others. There 

 are now splendid double kinds, which bloom as 

 well as single ones, of all colors, even some with 

 variegated leaves. To keep geraniums over win- 

 ter, for no other purpose except to plant them out 

 again, all the leaves should be taken off, and roots 

 planted in a box close together and placed in a 

 dry cellar, where they will hardly need any atten- 

 tion except to keep them from frost. 



When the culture of plants and flowers is so in- 

 teresting, and causes so much entertainment and 

 pleasure, one would think it should be universal; 

 besides, the geranium is a life-long companion, 

 wandering with the household furniture from 

 place to place ; and the good housewife makes 

 a special request to her husband not to for- 

 get her geranium. In large parks and gardens, 

 where it takes hundreds, yes thousands of plants 

 for one bed, if planted by a skillful hand, where 

 can there a more brilliant effect be found than in 

 such a flower bed ? The variegated leaf geraniums 

 especially are precious for edging. One of the 

 noblest amusements is to be found in the floral 

 kingdom, where flowers are cultivated with love. 

 There peace and harmony will prevail, and the 

 blessing of Heaven will follow the deed. 



Kingston, N. V. 



[This excellent article has appeared in a local 

 paper, the Kingston Freeman ; but has been sent 

 us by a correspondent with the remark that it is 

 well worth re-publication in the Gardeners' 



Monthly, an opinion we heartily endorse Ed. 



G. M.] 



NOTES ON SOME NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 



BV W. A. MANDA. 



Anthuriutn Andreanum. — Certainly there was 

 not another plant that was so much spoken of as 

 this noble arad, when first introduced from New 

 Granada, where it was discovered by Mr. Ed. 

 Andrt', the well-known French botanist, whose 

 name this plant justly bears. The plant is of 

 compact habit, leaves are oblong cordate of leath- 

 erly substance, the stalk appears with the new 

 leaves bearing a brilliant scarlet spathe of large 

 size and good texture, irregularly corrugated like 

 the ear ; the spadix is white and yellow. Grows 

 readily in the warm house potted in sphagnum, 

 charcoal and potsherds and requires good supply 

 of water during the growing season. Propagated 

 by cutting the plant into pieces, each having a 

 good leaf, and potted in the same compost as the 

 plant. 



Crinum ama6iU.—B\i\b very large, cylindrical; 

 leaves broad, glaucous, 2 or 3 feet long ; flower 

 spike 18 inches long termined by an umbel of 

 flowers (twenty-six on our plant] ; each petal 

 5 inches long, light purple, with a dark stripe of 

 the same color in the middle, dark purple on the 

 outside, stamens purple, pollen yellow. To be 

 grown to perfection, it requires to be grown in 

 large pots with rich compost. Propagated from 



