Part II. GERANIUM. 223 



seven segments, which are again cut into narrow lobes. The 

 flowers are large, nearly or quite one inch and a half across, of 

 a deep crimson purple, produced singly, and very profusely when 

 the plant is grown on very sandy soil. Its close firmly-seated 

 habit instantly distinguishes this plant from any other cultivated 

 species, and the flowers being ihore showy and beautiful than 

 those of any other, it deserves to have a place in every garden 

 border, and also among the larger and more easily grown plants 

 on rockwork. It grows on any soil, is readily propagated by 

 division or seeds, and occurs in a wild state in some parts of 

 Britain, though not a generally distributed or common plant. 



There are two forms or varieties of the Blood Geranium. One, 

 the common or " true " species, with ascending stems matting into 

 vigorous but compact tufts ; the other more hairy, less vigorous 

 in its growth, and usually prostrate in habit. This last form 

 usually occurs on sandy sea-shores. A form of this variety, with 

 pale pink flowers veined with red, was found at Walney Island, 

 in Lancashire, and has been distinguished as a species under 

 the name of G. lancastriense, but it has no right to rank as such, 

 merely differing in colour from the sea-shore variety. Both these 

 forms, being smaller and less vigorous than the common one, 

 are more adapted for rockwork, though where they dq well, they 

 make suitable ornaments for the front margins of the mixed 

 border. I have noticed that in the heavy clay to the north of 

 London, where G. sanguineum thrives vigorously, the pale- 

 flowered sea-shore form was with great difficulty cultivated. 



GEEANITTM STRIATUM.^^/rz})£i? Cranesbill. 



A VERY old and charming border-plant, still to be seen in many 

 cottage gardens, and worthy of a place in every collection. 

 " This beautiful Cranes-bill," says Parkinson, writing nearly 250 

 years ago, "hath many broad yellowish green leaves arising 

 from the root, divided into five or six parts, but not unto the 

 middle as the first kinds are : each of these leaves hath a 

 blackish spot at the bottom corners of the divisions : from 

 among these leaves spring up sundry stalks a foot high and 

 better, joynted and knobbed here and there, bearing at the tops 

 two or three small white flowers, consisting of five leaves apeece, 

 so thickly and variably striped with fine small red veins that no 

 green leafe that is of that bigness can show so many veins in it, 



