458 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
June 3, 1905. 
Scented-leaved ?eiargoniuth§. 
Something about an Old-time Favourite. 
The old-fashioned flowers, like the old- 
fashioned songs and the scenes of early days, 
are by many of us loved the best, and retain 
an enduring place in our regard, notwithstand¬ 
ing the admiration which we readily pay and 
the attention which we bestow on later 
claimants for room, in the greenhouse or the 
parterre. Scented - leaved Pelargoniums, 
which at one time had a place in every self- 
respecting garden and were esteemed by most 
people, are nowadays seldom grown. The 
amateur gardener neglects them probably for 
the reason that they are not brought under 
his notice, while the professional horticul¬ 
turist ignores them because, most likely, the 
public having forgotten these old favourites, 
they are consequently not in demand. But 
sweet-leaved Pelargoniums are deserving of far 
better treatment than they have received of 
late years. Some of these discarded friends of 
the garden provide a handsome display ; all 
of them exhibit interesting features ; they are 
easy of cultivation and possess the added 
charm of fragrance. 
We are reminded of these once popular 
flowers by an interesting article by Mr. H. M. 
White, in “ Flora and Sylva,” in which the 
fact of their eclipse is deplored, as well as the 
existing confusion of their names. The chief 
purpose of the article is indeed to elicit in¬ 
formation respecting their names, and, if pos¬ 
sible, to induce those interested in these 
plants to adopt means to establish some uni¬ 
formity of naming. The writer mentions the 
standard works upon Pelargoniums, such as 
Sweet’s and Andrews’, but gives it as his ex¬ 
perience, when trying to name a collection of 
some fifty varieties from Sweet’s “ Garani- 
aceae ”—in which 500 or more are described— 
that he found that authority hopelessly bewil¬ 
dering. A fact much to be regretted is that 
apparently most of the beautiful varieties 
figured in Sweet’s book have been lost, while 
the greater number of those that are now 
grown do not appear at all. 
Miss Hope, in her charming book, “ Gardens 
and Woodlands,” speaks of the variety well 
known as Peppermint as lobatum, whereas in 
Sweet lobatum is called the Cow-Parsnip - 
leaved Stork’s Bill, while the plant so 
described has not, a remote resemblance to 
Peppermint. Mr. White mentions that plants 
have reached him as pilosum tomentosum 
and Mrs. Seymour, but in each'case Pepper¬ 
mint appeared. P. tomentosum is, he be¬ 
lieves, the correct Latin name. Sweet calls it 
“ Pennyroyal-scented,” though he says it is 
often called Peppermint. He figures Turpen¬ 
tine (Pelargonium fragrans), and calls it 
“ Nutmeg-scented,” though anything less like 
nutmeg it could he hard to imagine. Again, 
the same authority figures P. zingiberinum 
(the Ginger-scented Geranium) as apparently 
one of the Crispums, but in none of those 
known to me, says Mr. White, is there the 
slightest trace of Ginger scent. Miss Hope 
mentions Capitatum as “ Pose-scented,” but 
at least two forms of Capitatum, though 
fragrant, are not even remotely Rose-scented ; 
it is suggested that the variety grown as 
Attar of Rose was the plant meant, though in 
appearance they have nothing in common. 
This and many other like instances adduced 
show the confusion that exists. We grow at 
least six varieties belonging to quercifolium. 
Fair Rosamond, as.figured by Sweet, has large 
white flowers with carmine blotches on the 
upper petals, whereas the variety as now 
grown carries small flowers of a dull pink. 
The quercifolium minor of the trade is cer¬ 
tainly a misnomer as regards the minor, for 
it is much larger than Fair Helen. A hand¬ 
some, free-growing plant, with finely-cut 
leaves and very useful for cutting, is Radula 
(or Stag’s Horn), and is stated by Mr. White 
to be one of the few kinds which he has never 
seen under any other name. Lady Scar¬ 
borough is spoken of by Miss Hope as being 
the minimum variety of citriodorum, but the 
true minimum form of citriodorum has much 
smaller leaves, is deliciously fragrant, and a 
very charming variety, but is quite unlike the 
plant figured by Sweet. 
Mr. White observes that many of the 
sc&nted-leaved Pelargoniums do not show 
their true character as pot plants, and it is 
often necessary to plant them out in order to 
prove their distinctness; plants looking 
almost alike when in small pots often show 
marked differences when grown in a bed side u 
by side. One of the most distinct is Pelargo¬ 
nium abrotanifolium, in leaf like a finely-cut 
Southernwood, very sweet, and so unlike a 
Geranium that even a good gardener to whom 
a specimen was given was quite incredulous 
until it flowered. To the Pheasant’s Foot 
section belong Duchess of Devonshire, filici- 
folium, a very beautiful and finely-cut variety, 
and Pheasant’s Foot itself, which latter is 
often sent out as denticulatum majus, and is 
known under several names. A pretty and 
useful plant is Pelargonium betulifolium. 
This has small, stiff, dark green leaves and 
rather large white flowers. An excellent pot 
plant, free and long flowering, and of good 
colour, is Lady Mar.y Fox, known at various 
times as Mrs. Moon, Mr. F. Douglas, Old 
Irish, etc. The unique section in all forms 
are described as good, the Scarlet Unique 
being signalled out as the best. 
A selection of the best varieties to grow, 
with their distinctive characteristics, is given 
as follows :—For scent: Attar of Rose, abro¬ 
tanifolium, all the forms of citriodorum, Lady 
Scarborough, Dale Park Beauty, and Prince 
of Orange. For fine flowers : Lady Mary 
Fox, Pretty Polly, Shrubland Rose, and 
Scarlet Unique. For cutting: Capitatum, 
Radula, Sandbaek Beauty, quercifolium 
minor?), all the forms of citriodorum, Phea¬ 
sant’s Foot, filicifolium, and Fair Helen. 
Finally, are mentioned some of the most in¬ 
teresting and distinct kinds, viz. :—Bland- 
fordianum, abrotanifolium, betulifolium, 
ternatum, together with the smallest form of 
citriodorum. 
Now briefly as to culture. Most of the 
varieties are grown easily in a light, rich 
soil. Cuttings root easily, while a number of 
the varieties may he increased from pieces of 
the root, hut cuttings are preferable. Where 
space is no object it will he found that the' 
finest results are obtained by large trained 
specimens. Scented-leaved Pelargoniums 
are well deserving of more attention than they 
have received of late ; they combine beauty of 
form and colour, and are specially acceptable 
by reason of their odoriferous foliage. 
“ Warriors ” in Switzerland.— The “ new 
Potato ” cult has invaded the land of William 
Tell, and the “ Warriors ” have achieved 
another notable victory. M. Martines, “ Chef 
de l’Etablissemunt ” of the great seed control 
station at Lausanne, has issued a report of 
the numerous comparative trials of “ diverses 
varietes de pommes de terre ” conducted at 
that station during the last three years. In 
the section for “ Tardives,”or late varieties, 
the “ Guerrier ” (Davie) came out a long way 
ahead of all the others in point of yield, and 
as regards “ tubercules malades ” it had the 
satisfactory record of “ tres peu ” (very few). 
Easy Gardening for Beginners. 
The editor sat in his easy chair, 
Quietly smoking a shilling cigar, 
When in walked a somewhat mysterious wight 
Whose wild eyes shone bright like a star.° ’ 
“Are you in charge of The Gardening 
World ? ” 
He asked, and a manuscript unfurled. 
“ yes,” said the editor; “ who may you be 
That has kindly called in to visit me P ” 
" Why, I am a man of ideas,” he said; 
“ I know more of gard’ning than enters your 
head.” 
The editor, shocked, almost fell from his chair 
That his knowledge to challenge a strano- er 
should dare. 
“ I’ve prepared here some notes,” said the 
stranger ; “ and, well, 
If you re ready to buy, then I’m ready to sell. 
Let me read them to you—I have time Mr. 
Editor— 
And then I am sure that you’ll make me your 
creditor. ” 
Read away, said the editor, “ read away, 
since you must,” 
And sat back in his chair feeling ready to 
“ bust.” 
“ Well, I wish to make gardening easy to 
teach, 
And bring always a garden within a man’s 
reach.” 
"That’s great!” said the editor looking sur¬ 
prised. 
The stranger said, “ Listen to what I’ve de¬ 
vised. 
For instance, if hothouses you should desire, 
My method is simple—set houses on fire. 
Then there is a tickler that’s oft puzzled 
many 
Who have sought for solutions but have not 
found any; 
It’s how to make amateur gardening pay, 
A thing’s that quite easy—suck seed every 
day.” 
I he editor groaned as if smitten by pain, 
But the stranger smiled sweetly and started 
again. 
“ My next recipe, Editor, you surely will 
praise— 
’Tis a method by which melons quickly to 
raise. 
You simply just lift them, and none can deny 
You have raised them quite quickly, wet 
weather or dry.” 
I he editor sought for a knife or a gun, 
But the stranger said, “ Listen, I’m not nearly 
done. 
I hope you’re not thinking of anything rash, 
For I’ve gardens for all who haven’t got cash. 
’Tis a wonderful scheme, hut my wit knows 
no bounds— 
Drink coffee and add to your house all the 
grounds. 
I can teach you how to raise dances from 
hops, 
And how the hairdresser should gather his 
crops; 
And if you want money, why, here’s a good 
hint— 
Whatever you leave out, remember the mint.’ 
The editor reeled and felt almost a wreck 
Till roused by the stranger suggesting a 
cheque. 
The editor seldom was noticed to swear, 
But the editor cursed as he seized on a chair. 
The stranger was ready to read a lot more, 
>ut he jumped for his life through the office 
glass door; 
The table fell down on the floor with a crash, 
An'd the editor woke from his dream at the 
smash! 
—W. F. de B. Maclaren. 
