134 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
to be caressed with a gloved-hand; besides, they want 
to see you when the sun shines the brightest, for it is 
then they are in their most gorgeous attire, and look 
their best. In this work, do not be afraid of soiled 
hands or a sun-burned countenance—combined they 
areas indicative of strong bodies and vigorous intellects 
as a painted face is of the lamentable weakness of its 
possessor. 
A VIOLET IN THE GRASS. 
Only a Violetin the grass, 
Upon the border of the field; 
And yet I stoop, and would not pass 
For all my bounteous acres yield. 
I bless the kindly plough that left 
This little, silent friend to me, 
Of all its sister flowers bereft, 
Like one cut off from sympathy. 
Where yonder dark-brown belt of trees 
Breaks on the far blue mountain-line, 
What throngs of Violets on the breeze 
Give out a fragrance rare and fine! 
But this one, trembling here alone, 
Dropped like a tender thought from God. 
Needs none to make its message known 
Before I pluck it from the sod 
And hide it on the hard-tried heart, 
Too tired by far for aught of glee, 
That yet goes singing soft apart, 
“ ’Twas meant for me! ’twas meant for me!" 
—Howard Olydon. 
GERANIUMS. 
Varieties Grown for Their Flowers. 
Of all plants, there are none better known or used for 
more varied purposes of decoration than the Geranium. 
The name Geranium is a misnomer as applied to those 
treated upon in this paper, they being correctly Pelar¬ 
goniums, but as the term “ Geranium ” is so universally 
used, we will call them so. 
In reviewing from memory the numerous varieties 
introduced during the last thirty years, it seems incred¬ 
ible that there should have been such a march of im¬ 
provement. At the beginning of that period the classes 
or species were much clearer defined, represented as 
they were in the plain dwarf-growing section by “ Tom 
Thumb." This had bright green leaves entirely plain, 
flowers very brilliant scarlet, somewhat ragged and in 
small trusses; a somewhat stronger grower, with flowers 
deeper in color, larger trusses and with stems and leaves 
covered with minute hairs, was “ Punch.” Another very 
distinct variety introduced at that time was “ Old 
Christine," bluish-tinted, hairy leaves and rosy-pink 
flowers. Yet another more marked section was the old 
Zonal or Horseshoe; a seedling from this named 
“ Dazzle” had a very interesting, bright-scarlet flower, 
with white eye and most distinct blackrzoned leaves; 
another variety with zoned leaves and having salmon- 
colored flowers was “ Kingsbury Pet." The only white 
varieties at that time of any value were “ Skdtoni ” and 
“ Hendersoni,” belonging to the nosegay section; this 
section was distinguished^by very ragged, narrow petals, 
comparatively large trusses, and leaves zoned in wavy, 
lobed dark markings ; the outlines of the leaves were 
also deeply lobed and toothed ; another variety was the 
purple “ Nosegay," having the same marked character¬ 
istics. 
From these have sprung all of the beautiful varieties 
we cultivate to-day (except a class of double varieties 
we shall mention later. It will be observed how limited 
the range of color was at this time; the flowers were all 
small and thin. The majority were quite shy bloom¬ 
ers, and excepting the nosegay section, the trusses 
were very small. One that has been brought up with 
this" march of progression may still trace some sectional 
characteristics, but otherwise it would be impossible to 
tell where one section merged into another. 
At this moment it is hard to tell which is the most re¬ 
markable, the large finely-shaped flowers in large trusses, 
or the almost innumerable shades of color. Perhaps the 
most interest is attached to the color line, and we ven¬ 
ture to say if the same interest continues to be taken in 
this plant, there will not only be a blue Geranium, but a 
yellow one also, in less time than that of which we are 
writing. 
Remembering some of the varieties that were improve¬ 
ments on those mentioned, such as Trentham Rose, 
Trentbam Scarlet, Lizzie, Lord Palmerston, Lord John 
Russell and Princess Alice, after which there seemed 
to be greater attention given to the raising of seedlings 
in England, France and Germany, and many were added 
each year, bringing us to St. Fiacre, Baron Huge!, 
