GERANIUMS AND PELARGONIUMS 125 



Pelargonium 



The late Peter Henderson used to say that this 

 class of plants gave the most gorgeous flowers of 

 anything he had ever grown, and, were he obliged 

 to select one plant for spring and summer decoration, 

 his choice would be this. I agree with him. The 

 flowers, which are larger than those of the Geranium, 

 are also of fine form, some having crimped and ruffled 

 petals which give them the appearance of being double, 

 and they run through a list of the richest colors 

 imaginable, with combinations of them that are simply 

 dazzling. From pure white they range to carmine, 

 with markings of darker or lighter shades of the same 

 color, black, white and purple, sometimes in blotches, 

 but often in featherings and delicate veinings. The 

 darker and deeper colors are velvety in their richness. 



While these plants do best in the greenhouse, they 

 should always find a place in the window garden. 

 After flowering, compel them to rest for two months, 

 by keeping them quite dry. At the end of the period, 

 cut back until you have only a stubby skeleton of a 

 plant. Repot, shaking off from the roots all the old 

 soil possible. Do not encourage much growth until 

 the plants are in the house. Simply give water enough 

 to keep them alive. They will do all the better, later 

 on, for this enforced resting. As soon as brought in 

 they will begin to grow. Give them a place near the 

 glass, and keep them in a cool room. As they grow, 

 pinch off the ends of the branches to make them bushy. 

 The more branches you secure the more flowers you 

 will have. Expose them fully to the sun. Tie the 

 stalks to some stout support, and force the plants to 

 form symmetrical specimens by persistently cutting off 

 all branches that threaten to outgrow others. The 

 aphis will be sure to attack them, but he can be kept 



