VIII 

 WINDOW FLOWERS. NOVEMBER 



We have studied a few plants that give us food; others 

 that make our gardens and lawns beautiful with their flowers 

 and leaves. Now we will study a few flowers which have 

 gained a place in our homes. Most of the flowers which add 

 so much cheerful beauty to our rooms are children of a warm 

 climate, and cannot endure our winters out of doors. Of 

 the great number of house plants, we can study only a few. 



38. The Geraniums. Pelargonium. 



MATERIAL : Several kinds of geraniums in bloom ; if possible, have 

 also some with seed pods, seedlings, if procurable. Plant several cut- 

 tings, as directed below, two or three weeks before this lesson is given. 

 Take them out of the sand and show them to the class. 



The home of most of our Geraniums is the Cape Colony, 

 in South Africa. The children there can pick geranium 

 bouquets as easily as you can find goldenrods and sun- 

 flowers. The many species have become so much mixed 

 by cultivation, that it is difficult and unnecessary for our 

 purpose to distinguish them. 



The flowers vary from white into pink and the different 

 shades of red. The small flowers always grow so close 

 together that they make a conspicuous bunch. Each flower 

 has generally five unequal petals. The so-called double 

 geraniums have more than five petals, a change which has 

 been caused by cultivation. Double flowers have changed 



Observations. Is the hair of horses and cattle thin and glossy now as 

 it was in July ? 



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