GERANIUM. 129 



GERANIUM. 



(PELARGONIUM.) 



" Thine excellence is of a rare degree, 

 Though praised by others, 'tis unknown to thee; 

 In humble deeds of love, and kindly care, 

 To these earth's riches own no share ; 

 By acts of mercy, all unseen of men, 

 By silent victory over pride and sin, 

 By faith, and hope, and charity on earth, 

 Thou provest to others thy transcendent worth." 



On this beautiful yariety of evergreen perennials much 

 eloquence has been lavished by many writers, and justly 

 so, for no green-house plant will better justify the grower 

 in having a house devoted to them in particular. This will 

 enable the florist to bring them to that perfection that could 

 not be attained in a house of mixed plants. No flower sells 

 better in the market than the Geranium. This is sufficient 

 proof that it is a general favorite. There are extensive cata- 

 logues containing many hundred with names. There is a 

 great sameness of colors in many, yet all are cultivated as 

 choice florist's flowers. In making a selection, a person 

 should go into some extensive establishment, and select 

 about twenty that may be distinct ; beyond that number the 

 amateur should not go for distinct ones. 



The Geranium was originally imported from the Cape 

 of Good Hope into different parts of Europe, where the in- 

 dustry of the florist made it manifest their skill had been 

 put in requisition, from the vast number of hybrids pro- 



