GEORGIA 



GERANIUM 



639 



2. The Pear and Melon Belt. The sandy soil of the 

 tertiary is especially adapted to the melon and the oriental 

 pear the former over its entire area, the latter mainly 

 in the southern part. These form two of the leading 

 horticultural industries in this section. The Georgia 

 melon is extensively shipped and widely known through- 

 out the continent. Zymotic blight has of late greatly 

 checked the pear industry, and discouraged the growers. 

 In isolated locations, wherever there exist well defined 

 elevations above the surrounding country islands, pos- 

 sibly, of the tertiary sea, prematurely uplifted they 

 have been converted into vast peach orchards of hun- 

 dreds of thousands of trees in the Marshallville and 

 Fort Valley district (the birthplace of the Elberta) 

 running into millions. 



Japan .plums also thrive in. the "Wiregrass," and are 

 now attaining considerable commercial importance. 

 Figs yield abundant crops throughout this zone. Most 

 of the Labrusca type of grapes and all of the ^Estivalis 

 type succeed admirably in the elevated portions and are 

 beginning to be extensively cultivated; but the Scup- 

 pernong ( Vitis rotundifolia) is the typical grape of the 

 section. The strawberry does only moderately well 

 frequently summer-scalds. All blackberries thrive, but 

 raspberries are not generally successful. 



But the "Wiregrass " is the home of the sweet potato. 

 Here the pumpkki yam and Georgia yam attain their 

 highest perfection. 



3. The Peach and Grape Belt. It is an anomaly that 

 while the metamorphic region, with its red clay soil es- 

 pecially on the Piedmont escarpment is the home of 

 both the peach and the grape, most of the great com- 

 mercial orchards of the state are located in the "out- 

 cropping peach districts " of the tertiary. Cheaper lands 

 and earlier maturity are the cause. Yet naturally the 

 metamorphic region is peculiarly adapted to peach and 

 grape culture, and it was here that both attained their 

 first development in this state. More species of grapes 

 and a greater number of varieties of each species will 

 attain perfection in middle and Piedmont Georgia than 

 in any one region of America east of the Rockies a 

 sweeping assertion, but facts sustain it. Labruscas, 

 Vulpinas, ^Estivales, Rotundifolias all seem equally to 

 thrive ; but prices are poor, and grapes are everywhere 

 giving way to peaches, with apples on bottom lands, 

 although this is not an apple region. 



Japan plums usually do not do so well as in the "Wire- 

 grass." Native plums are not profitable even the Wild 

 Goose is unsatisfactory. Figs are uncertain, and in the 

 northern portion of the zone require winter protection. 

 Strawberries and blackberries are excellent, and raspber- 

 ries quite successful in the Piedmont area and northward. 

 Gooseberries and some currants do well in certain por- 

 tions of the mountains, but not south of the escarpment. 



4. The Apple and Cherry Belt. Apples do not do 

 equally well throughout the entire division styled the 

 "Tennessee Dip." Yet in many localities, especially in 

 the mountain coves, they thrive as well as in western 



, Carolina or Vermont. This is notably the case in 

 Pickens, Gilmer, Miirray and Fannin counties, which are 

 famous for their apples. Cherries, especially Morellos, 

 form a safe crop here, and, in general, most of the hor- 

 ticultural productions of a much higher latitude find a 

 place. 



Insect and fungous affections have to be combated in 

 all parts of Georgia, just as elsewhere (except in cer- 

 tain portions of the mountains, where neither are as yet 

 introduced). Growers are generally learning, however, 

 the value of the spray pump. 



The San Jose" and other scales have invaded the state, 

 especially in the southern portion, where some twenty- 

 odd counties report infestation. But they are being in- 

 Jlligently combated, for the most part, and it is hoped 

 that they will be steadily held in check. 



The main trouble with the Georgia fruit-grower 

 (aside from pear blight and the premature blooming of 

 peaches) is the curculio. Thousands of dollars are an- 

 nually spent in "jarring" for this pest, but it still re- 

 ts a serious menace. HUGH N. STARNES. 



GEORGINA. A synonym of Dahlia, which still lives 

 in the form of "Georginen," the popular name of Dahlias 

 in Germany 



41 



GERANIUM, FEATHER. See Chenopodium Botrys. 



GERANIUM (Greek, crane; from the resemblance of 

 the fruit to a crane's bill). Geranidcece. CRANE'S-BILL. 

 Generally herbaceous plants, usually caulescent : Ivs. 

 simple, alternate or opposite and much lobed, sometimes 

 almost radical : fls. regular; sepals 5, imbricated ; petals 

 5 ; stamens 10, in two rows ; anthers 10 : seed when ripened 

 separated from the ovary and with its awn bent sinu- 

 ously. The genus Erodium, its nearest ally, has but the 

 inner row of stamens furnished with anthers and the 

 awn of the seed is bent spirally. The Geraniums of 

 common speech are classed in the genus Pelargonium, 

 having at the side of the pedicel a distinct narrow tube 

 and zygomorphic flowers. The genus Geranium has 

 over 150 species, found in the temperate zones particu- 

 larly of the northern hemispheres, very few in the 

 tropics. Valued for the border or rockery, and the roots 

 of some, as G. mactilatum, find use in medicine on ac- 

 count of their astringency. Thrive well in ordinary 

 garden soil, and are propagated by seeds and division of 

 roots. 



The following is an alphabetical list of species and 

 varieties described below: 



A. Fls. red or pink. 

 B. Stature very dwarf. 



1. argenteum, Linn. SILVER-LEAVED CRANE'S-BILL. 

 About 3 in. high : Ivs. almost radical, on long petioles, 

 5-7-parted, with 3-fid linear lobes, both surfaces hoary: 

 peduncles almost radical, 1- or 2-fld. : fls. large, pink, 

 with darker veins ; petals emarginate. Middle of June to 

 Aug. Carnic Alps. B.M. 504. L. B.C. 10:948. One of 

 the best for the rockery. Often acts as a biennial in 

 N. E. 



2. cinereum, Cav. GRAY CRANE'S-BILL. Like G. ar- 

 genteum, but 2-fld. and paler in color: Ivs. not as hoary 

 in appearance. June, July. Pyrenees. 



3. Kobertianum, Linn. HERB ROBERT. RED ROBIN. 

 About 9 in. high : Ivs. thin, ovate-orbicular, 3-5-parted, 

 with 3-fid pinnatifid lobes : peduncles slender, 2-fld. : 

 fls. small, bright crimson. June to Oct. Amer., Eu., 

 Asia and N. Afr. B.B. 2:341. For the rockery, and de- 

 lights in a moist soil and some shade. Odor disa- 

 greeable. 



BB. Stature 1 ft. or more. 



4. Armenum, Boiss. (G. Backhousianum, Regel?). 

 About 2% ft. high : Ivs. radical, upright, orbicular, with 

 5 deep lobes : fls. about 1% in. across, inclining to a dark 

 crimson. All season at irregular intervals. Armenia. 

 R.H. 1891, p. 350. A very vigorous and floriferous spe- 

 cies. Sometimes growing 4 ft. high. 



5. Endressi, J. Gay. About 18 in. high : Ivs. opposite, 

 palmate, 5-lobed, upper ones 3-lobed, serrated : pe- 

 duncles axillary, 2-fld. : petals entire, fringed at base, 

 light rose, darker veined. Summer. Pyrenees. Among 

 the best for the border, and useful for cutting. 



6. sanguineum, Linn. About 1% ft. high, with stem 

 occasionally forked, erect : Ivs. all petiolate, mostly 7- 

 parted, with 3-5-lobed linear lobules : peduncles long, 

 mostly 1-fld. : fls. very large, blood-red. June to Aug. 

 Eu. One of the best species in cult. 



Var. Lancastriense, Hort. A dwarfer form, smaller 

 and with less deeply lobed foliage. Fls. lighter in color, 

 veined purple. 



7. macrorrhizum, Linn. A large-rooted species, about 

 1% ft. high, with a stem suffruticose at base : Ivs. 

 smooth, round, basal ones 5-lobed, cauline 3-lobed, 

 toothed and often colored red : calyx inflated ; petals 

 spatulate and blood-red in color. May to July. S. Eu. 

 B.M. 2420. 



