380 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Fig. 167. -A HOUSE OF GERANIUMS. One good Geranium blooming the week before 



Memorial Day is worth two in bloom the week after. Early propagation, a cool 



house, rather heavy soil, a shift at the right time, plenty of room and a sunny bench 



all help .to secure large plants and early flowers 



IVY-LEAVED GERANIUMS 



Years ago a window or porch box was never complete without 

 a few Ivy-leaved Geraniums. They were planted along the edge of 

 the box and usually kept on flowering up to August. When they 

 are in bloom with their graceful, hanging branches they are indeed 

 showy, but of late years they have not been used much. I am sure, 

 however, that the day for them will come again, as it has with other 

 old favorites. 



They are as easily grown as the bedding Geraniums, but for 

 extra heavy stock in 4s by the middle of May, you should root 

 cuttings not later than February and grow them on in a cool 

 house. 



Another way to grow them is to propagate in August and keep 

 on shifting the plants until they are in 6s by February. Train the 

 plants up on fan-shaped wire frames. Around Easter they most 

 likely will be solid masses of bloom, and you will have no trouble 

 in selling them. During the Winter they require a cool house and 

 the same treatment as the show Pelargoniums. There are a number 

 of named varieties from snow white to dark pink, both single and 

 double, but it matters little which one or ones you grow. They 

 are all beautiful. 



