HERBACEOUS FLOWERS. 



85 



as the Dwarf Gentian. The whole of this family of 

 mountaineers abhor the smoke and dust of towns, and 

 like in winter something that will answer the purposes of 

 their homely native coverlid of snow. 



Geranium. — Count the sands of the sea, and then 

 count the varieties of Geranium. In the garden, they 

 are only serviceable as bedding-plants, for summer show. 

 Their propagation and preservation during winter is 

 almost a business by itself, engaging the attention of 

 nurserymen who sell them by hundreds and thousands 

 in spring, and who receive in the aggregate immense 

 returns, if they do not make large profits, as they ought, 

 from their sale. During March, April, and May, the 

 gardening journals teem with advertisements relative to 

 bedding geraniums, which may be generally ranged in two 

 classes, the Scarlets and the Fancies ; there are white- 

 flowered geraniums, with the foliage and habit of the 

 Scarlets, which may be effectively combined with them 

 in a bed. For any of these, recourse may always be had 

 to the nurseryman, at a reasonable rate ; still, those who 

 like to be independent, may strike an abundance of 

 cuttings during summer, and w T inter them in the dwelling- 

 house by all sorts of expedients. Scarlets may be turned 

 out of their pots, and hung up in a cellar with their balls 

 of earth; Fancies will not bear such unceremonious 

 treatment. After every available corner or window-sill 

 has been occupied, still, observes the Calendar of the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, February 16, 1856, " the demand 

 for bedding-out plants in the spring is frequently greater 

 than the room devoted to their wintering can supply. 

 It will in this case be necessary to commence propagat- 

 ing to make good the deficiencies. For all the soft- 

 wooded and free-growing plants, a common dung- frame, 

 having a slight bottom-heat, will suffice ; fill up to within 

 twelve inches of the glass, upon which place four inches 

 of dry sandy soil, in which the cuttings may be put 

 directly you can procure a young growth for the purpose. 

 As the display of flowers during the early summer 

 months depends mainly on the health of t the stock at 



