The Newer Types and Varieties 



IGNED OF OUR SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS — THE 

 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HABIT, FORM AND COLOR 

 RACE OF PLANTS — DELICATE NEW SHADES SEEN 



Connecticut 



of the large growers claiming that it 

 sells three to one over all other sorts to- 

 gether. The Bruant (or gros-bois) type 

 is distinguished from the older sorts — 

 most of which are of the English round 

 flowered type — by the robustness, size, 

 and short-jointed growth of the wood, the 

 larger foliage, and particularly by the 

 increased thickness and stiffness of the 

 flower stalks. In habit the plants are 

 more compact and branching; they with- 

 stand the hot summer sun, and have proven 

 themselves particularly adapted to condi- 

 tions in America. These varieties differ 

 greatly not only in coloring but in the form 

 of flower-truss and shape and number of 

 flowers in the truss, some of them showing 

 the individual florets very distinctly, 

 and others being densely crowded. A num- 

 ber of the extra long stemmed varieties are 

 very beautiful for cutting. 



Here is a list of a baker's dozen of the best 

 double sorts for bedding: S. A. Nutt, the 

 standard dark red. Alphonse Ricard, 

 semi-double bright scarlet; second in popu- 

 larity to S. A. Nutt. John Doyle, a rich, 

 deep scarlet with large trusses and long 

 stems. E. H. Trego, a splendid dazzling 

 scarlet, with extra large trusses and florets. 

 Beaute Poitevine, glorious salmon pink, 

 still the most popular pink after twenty- 

 five years. Mme. Recamier, pure white; 

 good trusses and large florets, compact 

 growth. Marquise de Castellane, huge, 

 well-spread trusses of soft, glowing, dull 

 crimson — a most artistic shade of color — 

 extra long stems for cutting. Berthe de 

 Presilly, silvery-pink, shading to lighter 

 . centres. Jean Viaud, clear mauve rose 

 feathered white on upper petals, trusses 

 large and spreading, showing individual 

 florets, fine for cutting. Fleuve Blanc, 



mon with 

 Dagata, a 



pure white, semi-double, 

 extra large well-spread 

 trusses and long stems, 

 good for cutting. Ed- 

 mond Blanc, brilliant 

 cerise with white eye and 

 scarlet shading, espec- 

 ially fine. Mme. Landry, 

 a distinct shade of sal- 

 white eye, good for cutting, 

 distinct and beautiful mauve 

 pink, with white centre, immense trusses. 

 Here are half a dozen of the best singles. 

 Some prefer them for bedding, because they 

 open new flowers more quickly after a 

 storm, but on the other hand they show 

 injury more quickly. They are especially 

 attractive for cutting: 



Paul Crampel exceptionally bright crim- 

 son scarlet, heavily zoned foliage. Mrs. 

 E. G. Hill, soft light salmon of compact 

 growth. Granville, beautiful deep rose 

 pink, feathered white at base of petals. 

 Jacquerie, deep carmine, very large trusses 

 and long stems. Maxime Kovalevski, 

 distinct and striking Lincoln red, fine fo- 

 liage. Snowdrop, pure white, even in full 

 sun, very large trusses and good stems. 



While the great majority of the above 

 varieties, double and single, are the crea- 

 tions of the European hybridizers — espec- 



Double bedding type. Lasting because of the solidity 

 of the flowers (Marquise de Montmort) 



ially the French houses of Rozain-Bouchar- 

 lat, Bruant, and Lemoine — it is inter- 

 esting to note that four varieties of very 

 great merit have been put out by our own 

 firms in the last few years; and interesting 

 also that they are all aspirants for the place 

 so long held by S. A. Nutt as the most 

 popular red geranium for bedding. They 

 are Scarlet Bedder, bright scarlet, sturdy 

 growth, and remarkably free-flowering; 

 Helen Michell, splendid dark red color, 

 very large trusses, and remarkable uni- 

 formity of growth (I saw a large house full 

 of this variety last spring that looked al- 



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Different types and colors of geranium may be used in combination to give diversified effect. 



effective for edging 



241 



Silver-leaf forms are 



Large flowered fancy type. Excellent for the perfec- 

 tion of the individual flower. Has many delightful col- 

 orings and shadings (Duke of Bedford) 



most as level as the benches on which they 

 stood); American Beauty, deep carmine 

 crimson, with large trusses on good long 

 stems; and Maryland, dazzling fiery red, 

 and exceptionally good foliage. 



Two other very interesting sub-types of 

 the regular bedding Zonal geranium are 

 the Cyclops, and the Birdsegg. The Cy- 

 clops race has been developed by breeding 

 for the secondary color at the base of the 

 petals until we now have many varieties 

 with a distinct "eye," usually white, at the 

 centre of each flower. This has given some 

 remarkably beautiful varieties, especially 

 in the semi-double class. Jules Vasseur, 

 bright cardinal red with white eye and 

 violet shadings on upper petals; Leon 

 Baudrier, very large carmine flower shad- 

 ing to a white centre, and Leopold Bouille, 

 bright red with carmine shaded upper 

 petals and white centre, are three Cyclops 

 varieties of great beauty and good shape. 



In the Birdsegg type the petals are 

 dotted or splashed with some contrasting 

 color. Abel Lefranc, pale lilac with car- 

 mine dots; Rosamond, deep rose with 

 carmine dots; both double, and Bandalaire, 

 a single clear rose Cyclops with crimson 

 dots, and Skylark, white with rose dots, are 

 especially good. 



Next to the Zonals for bedding and pot- 

 ting, come the Ivy-leaved and Hybrid-ivy 

 sorts. Some of the latter are usually 

 listed with the Zonal sorts because their 

 habit of growth is the same. The real 

 ivies however are entirely distinct. The 

 habit of growth is trailing, almost vine-like, 

 and the foliage is tough, leathery, and 

 remarkably ivy-like. The flower trusses 

 are smaller and usually much more loosely 



