The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-04-02

lnlnl, tne uOhyuOCh dhN iiidV INV
SNOWFALL, because they were the flow
ers cared for by fond mother. Is II
not true that those who have a
hobby seem more contented? To be
interested in something good and
true elevates the mind.
"A house may be well furnished
but It Is not truely homelike unless
there are flowers in the windows to
welcome our coming by their pleasant
faces.
For foliage, the Rex Begonias are
our favorites. have mentioned put
four varieties. Have all the beauties
you like, ephemeral though they be
but not at the expense of that dea
and faithful old floral watchdog, the
Geranlum. Now, as this plant is the
first, last and always favorite, II
were to say much about their culture
/ would indeed get between the deep
ditch and the sea, and the botanlsts
would at once declare. | do not know
! what | am talking about. But for the
banent of very few we might say
| that the real and only Geraniums
are the wild Cranosbil! and Herb Rob-
| erts of the woods. That the 'Oxalis
and the Balsam are almost as much
entitled to the name, and that the So
called Geranium is a Pelargonium
| The public utterly refuses to call the
most popular flower OF our day a
Pelargonium. 1t is Geranium first,
last and all the time with the people
We call the Geranium a common
flower; yet there are those still living
who can remember the new flower
Those not yet beyond a midle age
reccllect when It was a sign Of floral
aristocracy to have few Fish Gs-
ranlllms. They stood everything and
wero as near sun-proof and insect
proof as grumblng mortals deserve.
From New England to Alaska, and
from Texas to Asia they will grow,
and they will bloom alike In tin
can In q tenement window, or in
jardlniere in Fifth avenue conserv-
atory Thank God that so bright and
happy a flower has become common.
Strange to say, the Geranium that
will grow everywhere Is found grow
Ing wild in but one corner of the
world. When the Dutch took posses
sion of the Cape of Good Hope, In
South Africa, in 1862, the untitled
land was a garden of Geraniums. The
cape IS yet paradise of the Pelrgo.
mum, nearly COO species being found
there. The natives ate the leaves OF
some kinds as q salad, and cooked the
neshy roots of others I'm their native
stews. As time went on, gardeners
began To cross breed them, and then
came the bright, scarlet flowers, red
red, as little folks say, unlike any
thing ever seen before in flower gar
denng The staid English went wild
over Il. and Americans followed their
example The great heart OF Dickens
loved this scarlet Geranlum. He in
troduced Il in his favorite work,
where Dora takes David into the con-
servatory among the Geranlums and
played havoc with his heart the while.
He makes David buy his sweetheart
bouquet of them. and shows us the
wickedness of dog Zip when he tears
the blossoms with his sharp teeth.
The ideal Geranium OF our day is
thrifty strong grower. II has
strong, thick wood, and makes many
branches. so that It makes a broad,
circular specimen, branching from
nearly every joint. The foliage should
be luxuriant, the leaves should grow
leaf good size, and be borne
on stout foot stalks. and the trusses
should be full, like a nosegay itself
As to the flower, II should be well !
shaped and the petals broad and
round. This Is the idai toward
which We must work, instead OF those |
tall, gaunt, leggy plants, about as
as Shanghai rooster. |
Variety may be the spice OF life, but |
In a small place too much variety IL |
unpleasant Plenty OF one kind OF |
plants makes batter show. IL the |
space Is limited, select for each sea-
son some flower that you love and
devote your energies 10 that. Have
plenty OF one thing rather than a
mixture OF many plants. In the first
place the effect is better. In the sec
ond place, the plants grow better,
because the soil is made to suit the
needs OF one kind of plant. DO not
ct things get scattered and strung
about the place. Primness on the one
Iand and crazy patch work on the
ther are 10 be avoided, but plan for
xtras, our hearts will grow larger
nd more compassionate as we cult
'ate our little "giye-away" plat OF
round. The preacher is never more
pleased than when mother in Israel
rings bouquet or plant and places
on the stand by the side OF the
acred desk.
Many OF us are planning TO fix up
he yard this spring. and TO plant
rees for beauty, shade and shelter.
a our planning we should not forget
ood views from the windows OF the
nost-used rooms, and we should aim
D cut off the view of things which
re unpleasant or unsightly. Trees
nd shrubs. remember. are often as
Iseful for sereens as they are for
hade.
"Hlde all that's ugly; emphasize
tL.s l.. \