Zonal And Ivy-Leaved Geraniums

Although the Zonal Geranium is supposed to have declined as a garden plant (as a matter of fact, it has not done anything of the kind), it is reputed to have increased in favour as a winter flower for the greenhouse. I believe this, although I do not believe the other. A burst of Geraniums is apt to raise such a colour racket in the summer sunshine as to annoy you like a red brick house. But it is another matter on a grey winter day, with the air full of fog. Then one wants to be cheered first of all; that is the primary consideration. Few winter-blooming plants are more invigorating than the Zonal Geranium. It has the same inspiriting effect on an amateur gardener as a football cup-tie has on a Sheffield cutler. But there is less noise about it! If cuttings of Zonals are put in now the plants resulting therefrom will bloom next autumn and winter. They may try to flower before, but the attempt should be suppressed by picking out the young trusses. A temperature of 500 to 550 is desirable.

The Ivy-leaved section is as useful for autumn blooming as the Zonal is for winter, and it may also be increased by cuttings inserted now. In both cases soil containing a great deal of sand should be used.

Among The Garden Shrubs

It is often convenient to dig shrubberies at this time of year, because there is no urgent current work, and it is a good time, too, provided that the soil is not snow-bound, nor so wet as to clog the tools. Of course there are shrubberies and shrubberies. There are shrubberies in the open and shrubberies under trees. The gardener is not likely to do much digging among the latter, because the soil is too full of large roots. The fact that certain shrubs, notably Aucubas, thrive under trees (some of the largest, handsomest, and best berried Aucubas which I know of are growing under large evergreen trees) might lead one to suppose that shrubbery-digging is not advantageous. I think it is, provided it is done by sensible workmen using a fork. A foolish person armed with a spade might easily do more harm than good.

Shrubs differ as greatly in their root systems as in their branches. Aucubas make a great, close mass of thick, fleshy roots. So does the Box. The Cypresses and Pines (trees really, but commonly used as shrubs) have more spreading and fibrous roots. Those shrubs which have the thickest mat of fibres move best, and can be planted at any time; but February and March suit the majority. While evergreen shrubs are needed for quick screens, deciduous kinds should be worked in among them, partly for the effect of the delightful feathery film of greenery which they fling out in spring, and partly for the flowers which follow. The Spiraeas are particularly good from the former point of view, and ought to be made much use of. The Mock Oranges (Philadelphus) are also graceful. As for the Flowering Currant (Ribes), it no sooner begins to grow than it blooms. There are two beautiful and little-grown flowering shrubs which the reader may be advised to take note of as under improvement by nurserymen, and they are the Ceanothus and the Buddleia. Most shrubs flower in spring, but these are summer bloomers, and in good soil will be at their best in August probably. I ought to say of the Buddleia that it is the species Variabilis, and not Globosa, which I have in mind. The latter bears little orange balls, and is both quaint and pretty, but it cannot vie in beauty with the former, which bears its inflorescence in large cones.

The Ranunculus

The old-time Scottish kailyard knew the Ranunculus better than Sassenach gardens know it now. I think its day is past, but February is the time for those to plant it who consider that its bright colours and neat form render it worthy of a place in the garden.