104 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



are so close to Malva as to be almost synonymous. Only 

 involucrata is usually grown, and my experience with 

 involucrata has not tempted me to try any other. For 

 one thing, the plant is another sun- and heat-loving 

 North American, extremely petulant about any undue 

 moisture : for another, its colour aroused in me a pained 

 dislike ; for I could never have imagined so burning and 

 acrid a magenta. (The same objection applies to Calan- 

 drinia umbellata and the Calandrinias generally ; miffy 

 plants in any damp climate, and of a gorgeously horrible 

 colour — all the worse for being so gorgeous.) Therefore 

 I lost CallirJioe and Calandrmia with feelings akin to 

 pleasure. 



Of the Geraniums there are two exquisite Alpines, 

 besides lancastriense. Geranium argenteum is a Pyren- 

 ean, who grows about six or eight inches high in a neat 

 tuft. His claw-like leaves are all grey and silver ; his 

 big blossoms of a soft delicate pink, with deeper veining. 

 He blooms perpetually, and is quite happy if you give 

 him a well-drained chink, and leave him alone. He dis- 

 likes being moved ; and he also dislikes any excess of 

 damp anywhere near hira. But he is altogether as easy 

 as he is beautiful, and his worst fault is that he is a very 

 bad seed-bearer, and this is all the bitterer because he is 

 even more impossible to multiply by division. Geranium 

 cinereum is very near him in every way, but a trifle larger, 

 a trifle less dainty, a trifle less brilliant, and a trifle more 

 generally robust. Cinereum is, as it were. Nature's rough 

 model for argenteum, which for loveliness, charm, and 

 adaptability to any fair culture, takes very high rank 

 among the alpines of my special favour. 



Among the larger Geraniums the most appalling con- 

 fusion reigns. So I go delicately, as Pilgrim on the 

 narrow way, or Mrs. Gamp on her ' parapidge.' There 

 is, first of all, a very robust, rampageous, dwarfish person 



