Plate 72. 
GERANIUM PRINCE OE HESSE. 
Geranium zonale , var . 
The modern style of gardening popularly known as the 
“ bedding-out system,” has led to the cultivation and improve¬ 
ment by hybridizing of the old horseshoe and other varieties of 
the Geranium tribe, and the result has been the production of 
many kinds of very dissimilar habits and markings both in the 
foliage and in the flowers. In effecting this, two objects have 
been gained: the obtaining of sorts very desirable for continuance 
of bloom and power of withstanding the influence of weather; 
and of others which are more suitable for indoor decoration at 
a period of the year when greenhouses are denuded of their re¬ 
gular occupants. The want of keeping these two objects dis¬ 
tinct has often led to disappointment in purchasers. A sort is 
raised which as a seedling and in the greenhouse looks very 
beautiful, but is not tested out-of-doors sufficiently before it is 
sent out; it is then tried in the garden, and is found not to he 
capable of bearing the change of temperature to which we are 
subject in our uncertain climate. Most of the tricoloured zone 
varieties are of this latter character. 
The variety which we now figure was raised by that very suc¬ 
cessful hybridizer Mr. Ingram, of the Royal Gardens, Frogmore, 
to whom we are indebted for Frogmore Improved , Princess 
Boyal , and other sorts, and for some of our best varieties of 
Strawberries and other fruits. The stock of it has passed into 
the hands of Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough, 
who exhibited it at one of the meetings of the Floral Com¬ 
mittee, when it received a label of commendation. It was then 
named Prince Louis of Hesse , but by command of Her Ma¬ 
jesty the Queen, was changed into Prince of Hesse. It is one 
of those sorts which will be more suitable for the greenhouse 
