CHAPTER V. GERANIUMS AND PELARGONIUMS. "A brilliant carpet of unnumbered dyes, These well-known flowers have adorned the gardens, and been florists' favorites for many years. Their pleasing foliage, and brilliant bloom, well merit the estimation in which they are held. Leigh Hunt, the genial Essayist, says: "Everything about the geranium is handsome, not excepting its name, which cannot be said of all flowers, though we get to love ugly words when associated with pleasing ideas. The word Geranium is soft and elegant; the meaning is poor, for it comes from a Greek word signifying a Crane, the fruit, or seed pod, resembling the form of a crane's bill. But what a reason for naming the flower! as if the fruit were anything in comparison, or any one cared about it. It would be far better to invent joyous and beautiful names for these images of joy and beauty." Linnæus named the Geranium from Geranos, a crane, for the reason that Mr. Hunt gives. The plant is often confounded with the Pelargonium, which differs from it in size, shape and coloring of its flowers, and it is strictly exotic. It was named from Pelargos, a stork, on account of the resemblance of its capsules to the bill and head of that bird. They are placed in the same class of the Linnæan system as the Geranium (Monadelphia), but in the fourth order (Heptandria), while the other is in the sixth order (Decandria). There has been a good deal of confusion with regard to the names of the two plants, and their numerous varieties, but the derivation of their titles settles the vexed question. The careful and patient hybridization of the French, English and American florists have brought these flowers to a high standard of perfection. The Double Geraniums. Lemoine, the chief of the Geranium culturists, introduced the new double varieties, which have become a decided acquisition. They do not drop their leaves, like the single varieties, and their clusters of flowers are of an immense size. They are of all shades of scarlet and bright rosy pink; some have produced heads bearing from sixty to eighty perfect flowerets. They outrank all other kinds of Geraniums, and yearly their number increases. They flourish better if partially shaded from the intense heat of the noonday sun, and will bloom until the frost comes, in the greatest perfection. No white variety has yet been introduced, but M. Lemoine will succeed in procuring one, if skill and patience can produce it. Gloire de Nancy is a brilliant scarlet, much admired. Marie Lemoine is a dwarf variety, of a bright rosy-pink hue, very elegant. Emile Lemoine is of a cherry-carmine. Gloire de Doubles is a novelty for 1871; of the richest cerise tint, with a distinct white center; far superior to the other varieties. Crown Prince is of a dwarf habit, and of the brightest rose color. The Zonale Geraniums. But the double varieties are not the only ones which should claim our attention. Some of the new Zonale species are admirable in coloring, and of very free growth; their trusses of flowers are five to six inches in diameter; and they are found in all shades, from the most dazzling crimson and the brightest rose to the purest white. The most desirable are: King of the Roses, a most brilliant scarlet, shaded to magenta. Geant de Battailles, a dark, rich crimson. Mrs. Keeler, of a rosy, peach-blossom hue. Among the older varieties, and less costly, are: Christine, a lovely rosy-pink. Gen. Grant, a dazzling scarlet, and decidedly the most profuse blower of the red varieties. Incomparable has striped flowers, white on a clear salmon ground. Maid of Kent, richest shade of pink. Madame Werle, white, with a pink center. Reine des Vierges, purest white. Warrior, large clusters of the most intense scarlet; very superior. Blue Bells, a rich shade of magenta pink, each blossom of immense size. Coleshill, enormous scarlet truss, and blows freely. Liliputian Zonales, or Tom Thumb Geraniums. These comprise a dwarf section of this species, and grow from six to ten or twelve inches high; are very stocky, and their flowers equal in size and beauty of coloring those of larger growth. They are a very attractive plant, and make pretty borderings for beds or mounds of the taller kinds. Baby Boy, scarlet, with white eye. Little Dear, a delicate rose, spotted with white. Cupid, a salmon color, with white eye. Pretty Jemima, dazzling scarlet, white center. Golden and Silver Tri-Color Geraniums. These varieties are noticed under the head " Ornamental " Foliaged Plants; and the Ivy-Leaved Geraniums are embraced under the same heading. The Sweet Scented Geraniums. These plants are indispensable for bouquets and vases, their fragrance being agreeable to all lovers of flowers. Formerly, the Rose and the Oak-Leaved were the only kinds commonly cultivated, but now there are a dozen varieties from which to make a selection, and all of them are desirable and beautiful, indeed, are quite essential, for there are few plants which afford such graceful backgrounds for borders or bouquets. Denticulatum is a rose-scented variety, with finely cut foliage. Lady Plymouth is also rose-scented, and its leaves are prettily margined with white. Shrubland Pet is of dwarf growth, and very sweet scented. Odoratissimum possesses a spicy apple perfume. Graveolens is of a pleasant scent, with bright flowers. All these plants will grow luxuriantly with but little care. Any one can raise Geraniums. They delight in a good, rich loam, with a mulch of manure; have a special fancy for "barn-yard coffee," or liquid manure. If watered with it, twice a week during the summer, will bloom profusely. If your plants are old, prune them closely, cutting the branches well in, and they will reward you for the sacrifice. If they are taken from pots, you should also prune the roots, cutting away all the largest roots to within five or six inches of the main stalk. After this vigorous pruning, the plants should not be exposed to the heat of the day, but must be shaded for a day or two, until they recover from their loss; but thus treated they will speedily put forth new roots, leaves and buds. If the bed is shaded a little during the hottest part of the day, they will bloom the better. To produce the largest clusters of flowers, the stalk above the buds should be pinched off, thus throwing all the strength of the plant into the formation of flowers. A rich, light loam will grow Geraniums to perfection, and the soil fresh from the woods and pastures, if enriched with well-rotted cow manure, is the best that can be obtained. Plants delight in a virgin soil, and those who live in the country can provide themselves with it by lifting the sods from cow or sheep pastures, and taking the earth from under them. If cuttings are desired from the Geraniums, they should be taken in July, from the healthiest plants, and planted in small pots filled with a compost of loam and sand, having one or two inches of the former on top of the pot. Insert the cutting firmly, and keep the sand sopping wet until it has rooted. When one or two leaves are developed, transplant it into a larger pot, with a compost of one-third rotted cow manure, one-third black loam, and one-third sand, and by November you will have vigorous plants for house culture. The large roots can be lifted from the ground before the frost blights their leaves, and after cutting away all the tender shoots and buds, and shaking the earth from their roots, hang them up in a dark, cool, dry, but frost-proof cellar, heads downward. In the Spring they can be brought to the light, the branches cut in, and though they will look shabby enough, yet, if planted in boxes in a warm kitchen, they will put forth leaves and vegetate rapidly, and can then be transplanted into the borders. The tender branches and buds should be cut off, else they will continue for awhile to grow in the cellar, and thus lose their lives. Cuttings can be started in the open borders, but they are not as sure to live. It is no more trouble to grow a Geranium than a cabbage, yet one is far more desirable than the other, unless hunger is at the door. Geraniums are never attacked by the aphis, or red spider, and this is a great attribute; one is not forced to fight for their lives. The Pelargonium. The flowers of this plant are much sought after on account of their perfect coloring and blotches. There are all shades of scarlet, crimson, pink, purple and white; the lower leaves, and frequently the upper, are veined and blotched with the darkest crimson, purple and red, beautifully veined with the lighter shades. The leaves of the plant are more pleasantly perfumed than those of the Geranium, and have no zonale, or horse-shoe markings, but are of a rich, vivid green. No description can convey any idea of the beauty of the flowers. They bloom in border or bed all the summer, and are to be had in hundreds of varieties. They are propagated both from cuttings and seeds, and the "novelties" are produced by careful hybridization. They require a light, sandy loam, well enriched with cow manure, and if they are not plentifully supplied with water, their buds will wither away. They need more sunlight than the Geranium to bloom in perfection. Some of them are tall in growth, and produce a good effect planted singly on the lawn. They are the most showy-flowered of all the bedding-out plants, excepting the Scarlet Salvia, and their varied tints and exquisite colors make them very desirable in the smallest garden. Their habit is not always compact, but they can be cut and trimmed to a fine shape, and the older plants require such treatment to bloom well, the second year. Among the many varieties offered for our selection, the most desirable ones are: Gen. Taylor, of a rich crimson, blotched with the darkest tint of red. Niagara, white, striped and blotched with crimson. Competitor, black, edged with rose. |