BEDDING GERANIUMS. 



199 



plants did not apparently meet the require- 

 ments of the flower-loving public even at 

 that time, their strong- rank habit ot growth 

 and the density of their flowers in the truss, 

 made them undesirable as either greenhouse 

 or garden plants. Like the earlier types of 

 the single flowered varieties before mention- 

 ed these, however, were useful in their day, 

 and were the pioneers of the lovely double 

 and semi-double varieties now so extensively 

 grown and admired. 



Amongst the double and semi-double var- 

 ieties of geraniums useful as bedding plants, 

 there is none more reliable and deservedly 

 popular than the rich crimson flowering var- 

 iety, S. A. Nutt. Whether planted in 

 masses or used in ribbon borders, or even 

 as a simple plant in the border, this variety 

 with its dwarf and free floweriug habit, is 

 generally regarded as the peer amongst 

 what may be termed the ironclad varieties 

 of geraniums, having a good robust consti- 

 tution. 



Amongst Scarlet Geraniums for bedding, 

 C. Morel seems destined to become a great 

 favorite. The trying season of 1901, with 

 its alternate intervals of intense tropical 

 heat for a few days, followed by a quite tem- 

 perate spell for the same period, seemed un- 

 able to dim the lustre of its vivid scarlet 

 flowers, or check it in its sturdy growth. 

 Unless it develops some unexpected form of 

 deterioration, the same as the Bruant ger- 

 anium has of recent years, viz., in going 

 back almost to a single flowering variety, C. 

 Morel must have a place amongst the scar- 

 let bedding geraniums. 



Alphonse Ricard is also a reliable variety, 

 succeeding well under very adverse circum- 

 stances, its flowers also give us a pleasing 

 relief with their soft orange shading. Ras- 

 pail Improved I do not consider a good 

 bedding variety as it does not stand the sun 

 well and is too upright in its habit of 

 growth to make it a good bedding variety. 



Beaute Poitevine is a good bright salmon 

 flowering kind, and succeds well outside in 

 summer. 



For a pink flowering variety Jean Viand 

 can be recommended. Where this variety 

 was tested last season it gave good results, 

 stood the hot sun well, the flowers retaining 

 their form and color even when severe heat 

 and heavy rain storms sadly marred the 

 beauty of many other varieties growing near 

 it. The old dwarf growing variety Wad- 

 dington, that has deservedly earned for it- 

 self the name of "Pink Bedder " as well as 

 several other synonyms, cannot yet be dis- 

 carded from the list of pink geraniums. 

 For a small bed or for ribbon efi^ect this var- 

 iety is in my opinion still unsurpassed as a 

 bedder, bnt is of little use as a pot plant or 

 for winter flowering purposes. 



Amongst the lighter colored double var- 

 ieties. La Favorite for a white is probably 

 the best vi^hite flowered bedding variety. 

 Hermine that produces its ivory white 

 flowers in such profusion, when grown as a 

 pot plant for the window or greenhouse in 

 winter, is not adapted for a bedding geran- 

 ium, the hot sun stunting its growth and 

 often stripping it almost entirely of its small 

 delicate foliage. Gloire de France, another 

 good variety when grown as a pot plant, is 

 also of very little use as a bedding variety. 

 Its pretty pink and white flowers and its 

 pretty marked foliage, however, make it 

 still one of the best varieties for a window, 

 or for the conservatory. 



Amongst the single flowering kinds. Gen. 

 Grant for a scarlet still holds a place, and is 

 very eff'ective when massed in large beds, or 

 when used in ribbon or mixed borders. 



Meteor is another good variety, not quite 

 as intense in color as Gen. Grant. 



John P. Cleary comes as near what is con- 

 sidered a perfect flower as any of the single 

 flowering varieties, and where tested has 

 stood the sun extremely well. A fully 



