Geranium Diseases 261 



of-doors purposes. Geraniums are easily grown. 

 All they need is a soil fairly rich and an abundance 

 of ventilation. It needs plenty of water, but will 

 rot when overwatered. This is especially true for 

 the cutting bed. 



Diseases of the Geranium 



The geranium, although a hardy plant, is sub- 

 ject to the attacks of several important diseases. 



Dropst 



Cause, physiolc^cal. 



Symptoms. Dropsy is a serious trouble which is 

 OMifined to the leaves (fig. 56, a) and petioles and 

 blades. Upon the stems and petioles, it appears as 

 peculiar corky ridges. On the blades, it appears as 

 numerous watersoaked specks of a clear amber color 

 when held up to the light. The disease may attack 

 all the plants in the greenhouse. In this case, the 

 older foliage shows best the watersoaked specks. 

 Such leaves soon lose their normal green color, at 

 first turning yellow in spots, then throughout. In 

 extreme cases, although the affected plant forms the 

 normal number of leaves, they remain dwarfed and 

 puny, and are badly specked before unfolding. 

 Plants spotted li^tly often recover when removed 

 out of doors. The disease is worst in the early 

 spring, when it attacks, mostly, young potted gera- 

 niums. As a rule, the blotches and pimples are quite 



