THE geranium is at once the most 

 popular and the most neglected 

 of our summer flowers. What 

 flower is there that for variety 

 of use, popular appreciation and all round 

 general satisfaction, ranks ahead of this 

 flower of the million? Is it a mass of color 

 on the lawn that is wanted ; or something to 

 show up in a narrow bed along the wall; 

 an edging; or the freest blooming and most 

 cheerful thing to make the veranda boxes 



gay? It is the geranium that will surely are 



satisfy. 



And yet the geranium has not been 



Bedding types of the modern geranium, with the two 

 upper petals paired and narrower than the rest. Does 

 not show effects of winds and rains. (Joyselle) 



understood. Do you know that there are 

 actually hundreds of various varieties 

 offered in the trade to-day? Do you know 

 that the modern geranium has as many 

 valuable tones of color as the rose or the 

 dahlia — all ranging from pink to scarlet 

 and shades of amaranth? 



If the buying public in this country has 

 neglected the geranium, the hybridizers 

 have not. European planters have de- 

 veloped new varieties and new types which 

 are distinct and valuable improvements 

 on the old kinds. Are you familiar with 

 the beautiful soft delicate shades to be 

 found in some of the "ivies" and the newer 

 ivy hybrids? Has your garden contained 

 any of the Cyclops, with their distinct 

 central eye? Do you know the cactus 

 type, with its artistic narrow petals, curled 

 and twisted like a cactus dahlia? Have 

 you even heard of the new remontant pelar- 

 goniums or ever-blooming lady Washing- 

 ton geraniums — immense glowing flowers, 

 beautiful as azaleas, with pansy markings, 

 which bloom throughout the season in- 

 stead of only a few weeks in the spring 

 like the old sorts? Have you any sort 

 in your garden which is especially adapted 

 to cutting — immense glowing clusters 

 on stiff long stems, almost as strong as 

 those of roses, and lasting, when cut, much 

 longer? 



When buying geraniums, don't worry 

 about the flowers. Pick out good healthy 

 looking plants of compact growth that 

 have begun to branch well and low 

 down. This is the kind that will stand 

 transplanting without a set-back, and will 

 give satisfaction throughout the season, 

 very quickly outstripping tall, old or un- 



gainly plants, no matter 

 how much bigger and 

 more loaded with bloom 

 they may be when set out. 

 The beds for geraniums 

 should be of good heavy 

 soil if possible; dug deep, 

 and finely prepared. The 

 soil should be enriched 

 moderately, but an excess of nitrogenous 

 manure should be avoided, as geraniums 

 adversely affected by too much 



nitrogen sooner than most other garden 

 flowers — an excessive growth of stalk and 

 foliage with few and inferior blooms being 

 the result. I have several times noted 

 geraniums growing almost like small shrubs, 

 but with barely a flower visible, in the 

 same bed where roses and other things were 

 doing splendidly. If manure is used at all 

 it should be thoroughly rotted. If plants 

 that are otherwise well cared for do not 

 seem to be giving satisfactory results 

 liquid manure or nitrate of soda may be 

 used to advantage, applying in a succession 

 of small doses, so that an overdose will not 

 be given. This is much better than using 

 too much manure, especially if it is at all 

 fresh, when preparing the beds, as the 

 amount of nitrogen can be controlled. 

 The nitrate of soda may be sprinkled very 



Bird's egg type of flower — light ground, with spots of 

 dark color. (Bariolage) 



Why Overlook the Geranium? 



AT ONCE THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST MAL 

 FLOWER FOR EVERY MAN'S GARDEN — RECENT 

 OF THE FLOWERS OF THIS LONG SUFFERING 



By F. F. Rockwell, 



lightly over the surface and worked in, but 

 it can be gauged more accurately if applied 

 in solution, using a tablespoonful to a 10 

 or 12 quart watering can. 



In general care the geranium is one of 

 the most easily satisfied of all flowers. It 

 is especially free from attacks by insects 

 or disease. Plants for bedding should be set 

 in deeply and firmly and the beds looked 

 after in such a way as to insure general 

 good health — cultivated often enough 

 to maintain a soil mulch and to break up 

 at once any crust forming after a rain. If 

 water must be given, apply it toward even- 

 ing, giving a thorough soaking. Give 

 additional feeding, if the plants seem at any 

 time to have exhausted their food supply, 

 with bone meal, lightly worked into the 

 soil with a small hoe. Occasionally the 

 large white grub, especially on newly pre- 

 pared soil, will cause trouble by attacking 

 the roots. The simplest thing to do in 

 such cases is to take the plants up entirely, 

 dispose of any of the grubs, which may be 

 found, and replant. 



There is not room in a single magazine 

 article to begin to describe the large num- 

 ber of distinct and good varieties — to be 

 had. I shall, however, describe as suc- 

 cinctly as possible, the various types and 

 their particular uses naming a few of the 

 desirable sorts in each class. 



The most popular and useful class is 

 the double and semi-double bedding sorts or 

 "Zonal" pelargonium so called because of 

 the zone of color on the leaf in most va- 

 rieties. Of these practically all the gener- 

 ally grown sorts are of the Bruant, or 

 large- wooded, section; the one striking 

 exception being singularly enough, the old 

 favorite. S. A. Nutt, which is still by far 

 the most popular of all geraniums, some 



Bedding effect where other plants are used for edging. The geranium is well adapted to such purpose because ol 



its easy culture 



240 



