July 24 1884.] 
JOURl^AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
67 
same position until removed. The shoot acts as a lever working on the 
edge of the trough as a fulcrum ; the weight of the Grapes thus presses 
the end of the shoot firmly up against the ledge or flange F, and the 
bunch then holds itself in position without any tying or fastening what¬ 
ever. The following are some of the advantages :—The trough does not 
require to be tilted, and yet the Grapes hang in their natural position. 
The trough need not be brimful], and yet there is no danger of the end 
of the shoot being out of the water. The trough contains enough water 
for a month and keeps sweet. There is no danger of any drip. Water 
can be supplied to the troughs without disturbing the Grapes. No tying 
or fastening of any kind is required, and each separate bunch may at 
pleasure be easily lifted out of the trough for examination, and as easily 
replaced. 
The single troughs are for placing against a wall in tiers about 
13 inches, one above the other. They are supported on L-shaped iron 
holdfasts, which hold them firmly in position, but admit of their being 
lifted off at pleasure. The troughs are not placed close up end to end, 
but about 7 inches apart. There is no advantage in placing them close, 
for if a shoot be put at the extreme end of each another shoot could not 
in any case be put in between. Fig. 11 shows the appearance on the 
wall. Fig. 12 shows to a larger scale a section through a single trough. 
The double troughs are for placing in tiers on stands specially 
constructed for the purpose, and stood in convenient positions in the 
fruit or store room. The stands can be made any length, and in any 
number of tiers. Each shelf S (see fig. 14) is made with a ledge L L, on 
each side, so as to hold the trough in position. Fig. 13 gives a view of 
the stand and troughs, and fig. 14 shows a larger scale-section through 
one shelf and trough. Mr. Ward has had the troughs in use from the 
beginning of the year ; 800 lbs. of Grapes cut in January kept till 
April 7ch. They were seen in operation, and received the approval of 
miny practical gardeners. 
THE CRANESBILLS. 
The family of Cranesbills (Geraniums) as distinguished from 
the so-called Geraniums used in summer bedding constitute a 
large group of hardy herbaceous plants. Unlike many other 
hardy plants they are far from fastidious either as regards soil 
or situation, indeed the majority have no particular preference. 
In very small gardens, however, where only a limited space can 
be allowed each plant, and where also it is necessary to guard 
against overcrowding, a light and if possible a sandy soil will be 
found the most suitable, as from their tendency to a robust habit 
when grown in too rich a soil, and where they become more and 
more troublesome as the clumps enlarge, in a light soil the 
tendency is quite the reverse, resulting in a greater profusion of 
flowers. 
Lifting and trimming the roots every second or third year 
has and still is recommended for success with these plants ; but 
I find that the difference between the results of lifting and 
leaving them alone is so small that it does not compensate for 
the time and labour lost in the process. For rustic places and 
rooteries Geraniums are eminently suited. Allowed to scramble 
in a semi-wild condition, which their free-growing habit allows 
them readily and naturally to do, the efi'ect is simply charming, 
for to see them in all their beauty they must not in any way be 
crowded with other stronger-growing plants. On the summits 
of rockeries and in such places where colour is desired a few of 
the sti’onger-growing sorts will be found vei’y suitable, nor 
should they be left out of the mixed flower border, especially the 
dwarf and neat-habited sorts. G. striatum and G. sanguineum, 
for instance, may be used very effectively near the front, and as 
they are early summer flowering plants they help to lighten the 
border before the annuals and late-flowering plants have 
commenced. 
They are generally propagated by division of the roots in 
autumn and after flowering; but where a large stock of any 
particular kind is wanted seed, which ripens freely, should be 
resorted to, and not much time will be lost, as they will be ready 
for planting the second year. As the seeds do not all ripen 
together, and as they have a tendency to fall as soon as ripe, a 
visit should be paid to the plants daily. They may be sown in 
pots and placed in an ordinary cold frame. The following are a 
few of the best and showiest species. 
G. ARMENTJM. —This should find a place in every garden, for 
although it belongs to the coarse-growing section it may be 
easily kept within bounds, and be none the worse for a little 
judicious trimming. Easily established, it will grow almost 
anywhere without any trouble. It is about 18 inches in height, 
and is clothed with abundance of beautiful light green leaves, 
which are slightly overtopped by the elegant large bright purplish 
flowers, which are rendered very attractive from having a largo 
dark spot at the base of each petal; they are about the size of a 
florin and are produced freely. 
G. PRATENSE. —Although rather straggly-habited this and its 
varieties are useful garden plants, and maybe effectively used as 
a groundwork for tall-gi'owing plants. The varieties album, 
pallidum, and the double blue are all worthy of commendation, 
the two former especially; they have the advantage of lasting 
after being cut longer than the others, and thereby rendered 
useful for cutting. The leaves are deeply cut into seven acute 
divisions, those again being cut. They flower in June and July. 
Natives of Britain. 
G. CINEREUM. —A small and very beautiful rock work species, 
about 6 inches high and much in the way of G. argentcum. The 
leaves are lobed about half way down and are covered with short 
silky hairs. The flowers are of a pale pinkish colour, and finely 
pencilled or marked with red, which shows the flower to advantage. 
Flowers dui-ing the summer months. It should be planted in a 
rather dry situation. 
G. Grevilleanum. —Probably this is better known as 
G. Lamberti. It is a magnified G. cinereum, with less bright 
flowers. It grows between 1 and 2 feet high, and is extremely 
free-flowering. Native of the Himalayas. 
G. POLYANTHOS. —A very pretty dwarf-growing species, with 
large tuberous roots; deciduous in winter. The leaves, which are 
nearly round, appear to be subpeltate, deeply lobed, bright green, 
with purple margin®. The flowers are borne in small heads at 
the extremity of the stalks, bright satiny purple with a white 
eye, pencilled with darker lines. They are the size of a shilling 
and very handsome. Flow'ers July and August; not hardy unless 
in favoured positions. 
G. STRIATUM. —A very handsome species, vei’y suitable for 
mixed borders, and although pretty well known is rarely cultivated 
as its beauty warrants. It is of a dwarf compact habit, hardly a 
foot in height, with bright green leaves, the lower much more 
deeply divided than the upper. The flowers are ashy white, and 
are pencilled with delicate rosy lines —a charming conti’ast. They 
are borne two or three together. In flower nearly all the 
summer. 
G. SANGUINEUM.— It would be unfair to leave out this. 
