86 HANDBOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



all or some of the stamens into petals. They are often 

 sterile. There are no wild plants which have double 

 flowers. 



The leaves are produced in great abundance, and are 

 kidney-shaped, or nearly circular. They are covered with 

 soft hairs on both sides. In some species they show a dark 

 horseshoe band ; other kinds have sweet-scented leaves. 



Geraniums among the most desirable house plants. The 

 plants are easily raised from cuttings of almost any length. 

 Geraniums, although they cannot endure our winters, are 

 not very susceptible to changes in temperature, as long as it 

 remains above the freezing-point, and even a light frost 

 does not generally hurt them. If the busy mother forgets 

 to water her plants regularly, some are very much injured; 

 but the geraniums soon raise their drooping leaves, and re- 

 cover from the effects of a short drought. All these quali- 

 ties make the geranium a most grateful plant, and enable 

 even the poorest family to adorn their home with a few 

 flowers and green leaves the year round. 



39. Remarks and Suggestions on a Few Other House Plants. 



The teacher might give a similar lesson on some other 

 common house plant. One or more species of the following 

 can be easily procured almost anywhere : Fuchsia, Begonia, 

 Pink, Cactus, Flowering Maple (Abiitilon), English Ivy. 

 Substitute any of the above for the .Geranium, if it suits 

 your convenience. 



The following remarks may be helpful. Most Fuchsias 

 are natives of the mountains in Mexico and South America. 

 The calyx forms a long tube, is attached to the ovary, is 

 brightly colored, and its four lobes stand at right angles to 

 the corolla. The corolla is attached to the calyx. Fuchsias 



Observations. Could horses, cattle, and sheep survive the winter in 

 your region without being fed by man ? 



