THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
165 
Of the improvements in this section it is even more 
apparent than in the ordinary zonal section mentioned 
in our last paper. It is but a few years since the only 
forms of Ivy-leaved Geraniums were Peltatum, with 
straggling habit, very dark green leaves, with a five- 
lobed star-like zone of very dark brown and small green 
disc, flowers loose and thin in texture, of a lilac tint, 
with darker markings in upper petals. Peltatum Ele- 
gans, a counterpart of the above, with white flowers 
and dark markings in upper petals. Then came 
Pseudo Peltatum, flowers a little more round and of a 
more decided tone of Rose color; habit rather more 
compact and leaves not so decidedly zoned. Referring 
to their being Ivy-leaved, no plant has ever been so 
nearly simulated in foliage as the European Ivy has 
been by these Geraniums. The variety of Ivy known 
as Hedeva Hiberniea Elegantissima, in some of its 
stages of growth seems to be a counterpart of the 
Ivy Gerauium; and to make the likeness more 
striking and assured, the appearance is not all, but the 
strong, pungent smell of the Ivy (so generally observed 
by all who have rusticated in Europe during the early 
spring months, whether gathering wild flowers, botani¬ 
cal specimens, or listening to the song of the blackbird 
and the thrush), is precisely the same in the Gera¬ 
nium. 
Let us see what changes have been made from these 
three plants. We have flowers much larger, more 
nearly round, thicker in texture (double and single), 
habits more desirable. Those of the type with ex¬ 
tremely pendant growth are more branching and shorter 
jointed. Those of the stouter or partially drooping 
habit have also thicker leaves and larger trusses of 
llowers. The types did not flower more than seven or 
eight weeks during the year. The newer varieties will 
flower from March to November. What shall we say 
about the colors in these? So far we lack a pure rich 
scarlet, but it is only a question of a moment in the 
world’s progress before we shall have one; outside of 
the scarlet, we have all other shades of reds, pinks, 
salmons, and whites, the double varieties are the most 
effective and popular, their flowers lasting longer than 
the single varieties, and it is not yet fifteen years since 
the first double one was introduced—the variety Koenig 
Albert being the one that received the greatest favor; 
this was raised in Germany and created quite a stir in 
the Geranium world, but we are indebted to the French 
raisers, Lemoine, Crousse and Sisley for the beautiful 
varieties of the last five years. 
The single varieties have had more attention given to 
them in England, and we have some very great acqui¬ 
sitions in colors and size, so that we may safely remark 
there is a glorious future before the Ivy leaves. Before 
closing I must mention that in the breeding of these 
fine varieties there has been a great deal of influence 
brought to bear on them by crossing with the zonal section 
either as seed or pollen parents ; the influence is seen in 
various ways, and we may say there has been much 
patience and labor bestowed that has not yet borne 
fruit; in the early days of raising seedlings the writer 
made many hundred attempts to cross the Ivy leaved 
with the common zonal, and vice versa , before acc< m- 
plishing it, but it was done at last, and of which a good 
deal was thought. There is a tendency wherever the 
zonal blood is predominant for seedlings of that par¬ 
ticular class to be hermaphrodite or true hybrids. This 
is most potent where any radical change has been made 
either in habit or color, and seems the most prevalent 
when nearest the zonal type. 
We will, in our next paper, say a few words on (he 
general cultivation of the' several groups, and give a 
list of the best varieties. John Thorpf, 
THE ART OF PROPAGATION. 
By Seeds. 
The most natural way of increasing plants is by seeds, 
and whenever it is practicable to do so, it is preferable 
to all others; so that in our own practice, any plant of 
which we can procure the seed, we rarely increase in any 
other way, unless, of course, in cases where particular 
varieties are wanted, that we know will not reproduce 
themselves from seed, so as to be certain of color or 
form; but iu all cases where seed taken from a variety 
or species will reproduce itself exactly, or in cases 
where a general variety is wanted, the propagation by 
seed is invariably practiced. As propagation by seeds 
refers more usually to ornamental plants cultivated un¬ 
der glass, we will briefly relate our own practice, which 
we have greatly improved during the past few years, 
and in which we have attai ted almost unfailing satis¬ 
factory results. We have found that seeds sown in 
shallow boxes, from one and a half to two inches deep, 
can be given a far more uniform degree of moisture 
than when sown in earthen flower pots, or earthen seed 
pans, made especially for that purpose. These boxes 
are made from the ordinary soap box, from four- to 
five being made from each, with the bottom boards so 
put on as to allow free escape of moisture, though, of 
course, not so wide apart as to allow the soil to wash 
through. These boxes are filled with finely-sifted soil, 
such as has been run through a sieve fine as mosquito 
netting. This surface is then made perfectly level and 
smooth, and the seeds sowed on it as evenly as possible, 
and in thickness corresponding to the variety sowed, 
though it must be here remembered that in “ union 
there is strength,” and that, if sown too thin, weak 
seeds may fail to press up the soil if isolated too much. 
After the seeds are sown, and before they are covered, 
they are pressed down by a smooth board into the soil, 
so that the surface is again smooth and level. 
The seed box is now ready for its covering. For the 
past year we have used finely-sifted Moss (Sphagnum) 
exclusively for covering. To prepare this it is rubbed 
through a mosquito wire sieve when dry, and sifted 
over the seed only thick enough to cover it, usually about 
one-sixteenth part of an inch. In the absence of Moss, 
dry refuse hops, cocoanut fibre, or leaves will answer, 
prepared in the same manner, the great object being to 
use a material light in weight, having non-conductirg 
