GROUPINGS OF PLANTS IN POTS 123 



The Geraniums would be very carefully assorted for 

 colour ; in one part of the scheme white and soft pink, 

 in another the rosy scarlets, and elsewhere the salmon- 

 reds, now so numerous and good. The last two groups 

 might by degrees tone into the pure scarlets, of which 

 the best I know and the most delightful in colour is 

 Paul Crampel. The colour is pure and brilUant but 

 not crud. I can think of no other word that so well 

 describes some scarlets of a harsh quality that gives 

 discomfort rather than satisfaction to a sensitive 

 colour-eye. Henry Jacoby is to me one of the cruel reds 

 and has no place among my flowers. I have no desire 

 to disparage a plant which is so general a favourite, 

 but feel sure that its popularity is a good deal owing 

 to the fact that the main gardening public is inclined 

 rather to accept what is put before it than to take the 

 trouble to search for something better. Although the 

 colour of this Geranium is extremely vivid, a whole bed 

 of it has a heavy appearance and is wanting in pictorial 

 effect. 



I have great pleasure in putting together Omphale, 

 palest salmon-pink ; Mrs. Laurence, a shade deeper ; 

 Mrs. Cannell, a salmon-scarlet approaching the quality 

 of colour of Phlox Coquelicot, and leading these by 

 degrees to the pure, good scarlet of Paul Crampel. A 

 bed or cltimp or border planted with these, or varieties 

 equivalent in colour, would be seen to have, in com- 

 parison with a bed of Henry Jacoby, a quite remarkable 

 degree of life, brilliancy, beauty and interest. The 

 colouring would be actually brighter and yet more kind 

 and acceptable to the eye. 



