Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-11-08
An Experiment With Geraniums.

I do not know of any plant which is
mentioned in a florists catalogue which
so bravely endeavors to do its best
under trying conditions as the geran-
Jun. writes A. Eva. No matter ii the
rain falls or there is an excess OF damp
weather for weeks, it continues to
send forth it's cheering brightness; and
when hot wind and sun Of drouth wilt
or destroy some other plants, it yet
more proudly lifts its glories in de-
fance.
The most lovely geranium of the
single Powered class 1 have ever owned
or seen is the Julia Marlowe."
1t is said land easily believed to be
one of the most exceptionally valuable
novelties which spring up in plant life.
The flowers are as perfectly formed
and rounded as though made OF wax.
In color it is a dazzling scarlet; the
petals are broad and overlapping and
form a flower which is fully two to two
and one-half inches in diameter. The
trusses are extremely large, and the
plant attracts much attention.
Another geranium which l believe is
without exception the most intense
scarlet bedder known is lie Soleil.'
This is one of the double type and
is extremely effective when planted
in masses. The flowers are very large
and held up by strong, straight stems,
and resist both storm and heat.
No matter what the variety Of geran-
ium. 1 have learned that we must eX-
pect effects in accordance with the
plant food which it receives.
Last year when transplanting them
to the open ground, we made the soil
rich with we'll rotted manure from The
COW stables. The plants made an ex-
ceedingly rapid growth, with leaves
which were remarkable as to size and
deep coloring, but throughout the sum
mer the flowers were so sparse that
our disappointment was great. Fol
some reason florists seldom, or never.
refer TO the proper balancing of plant
foods when preparing soil for flowers,
but I believe it fully as necessary to
success in this work as in the growing
of fruits and grains.
The fruit grower and the farmer
knows that nitrogen in too great
amount will cause too rank a growth
of leaf. and stalk at the expense OF
fruit or grain, but if the nitrogen is
properly balanced with the two Other
important elements Of all plant life
viz, potash and phosphoric acid, both
fruit and grain will be perfectly devel-
oped.
1t was plainly evident that my geran'
iums were given an excess Of nitrogen
: by fertilizing with the barn manure
alone, which is quite often very de
fcient in either potash or p%hosphoric
acids, scientists tell us, and SO l de,
cided this past spring to experiment.
Before transplanting the geraniums,
we thoroughly mixed with the soil OF
the bed, which was eight by two feet
a round quart of high grade fertilizer
such as we use for garden truck. This
contains in 100 pounds of material
four pounds of nitrogen, pounds
of available phosphoric acid and ten
pounds of actual potash in the sulphate
form.
The result has been most satisfac'
tory. The geranium leaves have not
been abnormally large, as were those
of last year, nor too greatly abundant
but the flower stems seem almost
countless and the trusses are enormcHS
and of great brilliancy Of color.
Plants of the same variety were
again given the treatment of last veal
and proved as unsatisfactory. l think
all flower growers will meet with bet,
ter success in regard to profusion OF
flowers and intensity Of color if they
will mix some potash salt with the
stable manure and soil, and I know
the flowers are far more lasting than
those grown with manure, without this
addition.