Encyclopaedia of Gardening 165 



septemfida, blue, summer, 9 ins. (Bot. Mag., tt. 1229 and 1410). 

 verna, blue, spring, 3 ins. (Bot. Mag., t. 491). 



alba, white 

 Walujewi, pale blue, early summer. 



Geonoma (geono-ma, from genomos, skilled, conveying that skill 

 in propagation is required. Ord. Palmae). Geonoma gracilis is 

 one of the best of room plants, and should be included in any collec- 

 tion of palms grown in small pots. For culture, see Palms. 



Geranium, Cranesbill (gera-nium, from geranos, a crane, in allu- 

 sion to the beak-like projection from the seed. Ord. Geraniaceae). 

 The true Geraniums are hardy herbaceous plants, with bright 

 flowers in summer. They are 'not particular as to soil, and are 

 easily propagated by -divi- 

 sion in spring, also by seeds. 

 Such species as argenteum, 

 with light red flowers and 

 silvery leaves; armenum, 

 purple; Endressi, rose; san- 

 guineum, crimson, and its 

 variety Lancastriense, rose 

 striped, are worth growing 

 in every herbaceous border. 

 The Zonal Geranium which 

 we grow as a bedding and 

 ribbon border plant in 

 summer, as a pot plant for ; 

 both summer and winter, 

 and as a window-box orna- HOW TO PLANT A " LEGGY " ZONAL GERANIUM. 

 ment for the warm season, is 



not a true Geranium. It has no real right to the name, for it is a Pelar- 

 gonium. Most of the modern varieties of what we call Geraniums 

 derived from Pelargonium Zonale and P. inquinans. They are dis- 

 tinguished from the other Pelargoniums by having a marked leaf, 

 hence the term Zonal; if this is used regularly there is no fear of 

 confusion. The Zonal Geraniums do not hold entire sway in the 

 flower garden now, as they did in years gone by, because borders of 

 hardy herbaceous plants are the vogue; but they are still used 

 largely. A start may be made by buying a stock of young plants 

 about the middle of May, which may be planted 18 ins. apart in 

 well-dug but not heavily manured soil. These will flower continu- 

 ously through the summer, unless it is very wet. Pick off decaying 

 trusses regularly; fresh ones are thrown up continuously. About 

 mid -August a piece of ground in a sunny spot may be raked over 

 and cuttings of the young shoots, 3 or 4 ins. long, taken off just 

 underneath a joint, divested of their lower leaves, and inserted 

 firmly 2 ins. deep. Or cuttings may be put 4 ins. apart in shallow 

 boxes of sandy soil. They will make very little growth before spring, 

 and it is not desirable that they should. They can be wintered on 

 a shelf in a cool house from which frost is excluded. A few of the 

 old plants may be lifted in November, trimmed root and branch, 

 tied in bundles, and hung in a cool cellar as a reserve. In spring the 



