300 
Ds ial eae OED, 
THE GERANIUM 
(Continued from page 292) 
MUGS REE aD 
water is required by them. The pots should also e 
“‘crocked,’”’ that is, the hole in the bottom should be cov- 
ered with pieces of broken pots or something similar, so 
laid that they will keep the soil from being pressed solidly 
to the bottom of the pot, but at the same time will not 
stop the drainage hole. With ordinary care such plants 
will come through the Summer nicely, and will be ready to 
give the best of satisfaction in the house. Give them all 
the sunlight possible and plenty of air, especially at first. 
As the days grow colder and shorter, less and less water 
will be required. Give the necessary amount of water only 
when the soil appears too dry, and then soak thoroughly. 
A FEW OF THE BEST VARIETIES. 
There are now so many excellent Geraniums that it 
would be foolish to call any list, reflecting, as it must, indi- 
vidual taste, the ‘“‘best.’’ I mention a number of the tried 
and true sorts, popular everywhere and sure to do well 
under general conditions. 
Of the double zonals, the common Geranium, there are 
in the “reds,” S. 4. Nutt, an old favorite and still more 
largely grown than any other Geranium for bedding, very 
dark scarlet; Alphonse Ricard, bright vermilion, extra large 
trusses on strong stems, free blooming, with foliage of a 
clean bright green—one of the very best; John Doyle, 
bright rich scarlet, fine for bedding; Marquise de Castel- 
lane, unexcelled for cutting, and one of the best for bed- 
ding; flowers are borne in enormous trusses held well above 
the foliage on stiff, strong stems, frequently twelve inches 
long. The color is one of the most pleasing of all Geranium 
shades, being a peculiar glowing, soft brick-red, varying 
light to dark. The blooms remain perfect a long time, 
and the color never fades. These blooms massed in a 
bowl, with a border of Mint Geranium leaves, make one 
of the most beautiful flower combinations I have ever seen. 
The plant is exceptionally vigorous and robust in habit, and 
easily grown. Trego, a bright flaming bedder, but not as 
reliable as some of the other sorts. Of the pure whites, 
my favorite is Mme. Recamier. ‘The trusses are large, the 
color holds clean, and the plant is of good healthy growth. 
Hedwige Buchner is also excellent for bedding. For cut- 
ting or pots, Fleuve Blanc has the advantage of showing 
the individual florets, which are only semidouble, more 
clearly. Madonna and La Favorite are older sorts, still 
very popular. In the various shades of pink, Beaute 
Potevine, introduced a quarter of a century ago, is still the 
most universal favorite. Both individual florets, of a beau- 
tiful salmon-pink, and trusses are very large, and it is a 
very free bloomer, also exceptionally healthy and handsome 
as a plant, and good for cutting, bedding or in pots. Dagata 
is a newer sort, which is winning its way to universal ad- 
miration, in color, a beautiful mauve rose, spotted with 
white at the center. Among the best singles for bedding 
are Paul Crampel, bright vermilion-scarlet, with heavily 
zoned leaves; Alice of Vincennes, shading from white 
through crimson to deep scarlet margin; Snowdrop, pure 
white; Mrs. E. S. Hill, light salmon; Nuit Potevine, dark 
rosy purple. Rival, a soft dark salmon, and The Sirdar, 
intense scarlet, are especially good singles for pot plants. 
The sweet-scented sorts are numerous. The Rose, Lemon, 
Skeleton, Nutmeg and Apple are all old favorites, with 
marked distinctions of fragrance or appearance. The 
“Mint” is not only the most pungent and distinct in frag- 
rance, but the large leaves, of a mottled soft green, and 
beautiful thick velvety texture, are the most decorative in 
effect of any, and especially valuable to use with flowers in 
bowls or vases. Lady Plymouth, the ‘‘variegated rose,” is 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
old or too soft. 
August, 1912 
very striking in appearance and should have a place in every 
collection. Among the sweet-scented sorts also valuable 
for their flowers are Clorinda, Dale Park Beauty and Mrs. 
Kingsbury. 
Of the variegated sorts, Golden Brilliantissimum, Moun- 
tain of Snow and Mme. Salleroi, especially the last, are the 
most generally used for edgings. Mountain of Snow, 
single scarlet; Silver-leafed Nutt, double dark scarlet (see 
the illustration) ; Mme. Languth, double red; Mrs. Parker, 
double pink, are all desirable for their flowers as well as for 
their handsome foliage. Sophie Dumaresque is the most 
gorgeous of the “‘tri-colors,” with flowers of very dark sal- 
mon. L’Elegante and Duke of Edinburg are variegated 
Ivy-leaved Geraniums of remarkable beauty, and should 
have a place in every collection and also be freely used for 
boxes and baskets. 
Lack of space prevents a detailed description of the many 
good Ivy-leaved sorts, among which the most striking com- 
binations and delicate shades of coloring in Geraniums, can 
be found. Alliance, Achievement, Ballade, Ceasar Franck, 
Pierre Crozy, Corden’s Glory, Ryecroft Surprise, and 
Souvenier de Chas. Turner are all wonderfully beautiful 
plants, and worthy the attention of any flower lover. 
In the “Cyclops” type some of the best are Leon Bau- 
drier, carmine with white eye; Jean Theraud, very dark car- 
mine with white eye, and Mme. La Porte Bisquit, immense 
bright red flowers with distinct white eye. The ‘‘Cactus” 
type is absolutely distinct from all the others, with a charm 
and beauty of its own. Small growing plants, but profuse 
bloomers, they are exceedingly attractive as a pot plant. 
Firedragon, bright red; J. R. Greenhill, soft pink; Diabolo, 
fiery scarlet, are some of the best of this, as yet, limited 
class. Still another section has been designated ‘‘birds- 
egg’ Geraniums, on account of the peculiar dotting and 
spotting of the petals. Abel Le Franck, pale lilac, with 
carmine dots; Rosamond, deep rose dotted carmine; Sky- 
lark, pure white dotted rose; Bandalaire, rose dotted crim- 
son, with white center, are some of the best of this very 
pretty and interesting class. 
Let us give the Geranium more consideration! What 
other flower offers greater opportunities to the specialist 
or the hobbyist? Now is as good a time as any to get a 
plant or two of some of these numerous sorts. Care for 
them and work up a supply for the next year to your profit. 
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SUPPLY. 
Geraniums are very easy to propagate, and, paradoxical 
as it may seem, this is one of the reasons why new varieties 
are so slowly introduced. ‘The fact is that Geraniums are 
grown mostly by local florists, and new sorts do not get 
the advertising in seed catalogues, which they would if sold 
more extensively by the larger houses. ‘There is, however, 
no excuse for any Geranium lover not to have a supply of 
the best varieties, as one plant bought this season should 
easily furnish a dozen for next Spring. The best time 
for taking cuttings is in the Fall or early Spring. They 
should be of new but firm growth, and prepared as illus- 
trated on page 291. 
The proper condition of wood is shown when it will snap 
on being bent. If it bends without breaking it is either too 
Let the cuttings dry for 12 or 24 hours 
after taking them off, but not enough to shrivel, before 
placing them in the sand. Keep shaded after planting, 
for a day or two, if bright, to prevent wilting. They root 
readily in sand of medium coarseness, kept moist, or by the 
“‘saucer’’ system—that is, immersed in sand placed in a 
soup plate or similar dish and kept constantly as wet as 
mud, and exposed to full sunlight. ‘The best temperature 
for rooting is about 50 to 55 degrees at night. Pot off in 
finely sifted soil in 2 or 2% inch pots as soon as the roots 
are a quarter of an inch long. Water well and shade them. 
