FEBRUARY. 27 



ON THE PROPAGATION OF FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 



I AM unacquainted with any class of Florists' flowers that stands 

 more in need of a few practical hints as regards proper cultivation 

 than the above. Few plants are more interesting, or, when well 

 managed, greater favourites, either while in bloom, or in a growing 

 state when fine and healthy. A small greenhouse will accommodate 

 a great many different varieties ; if only fifteen feet by ten, it will 

 hold twenty fine specimens, and if the latter are in 6-inch pots, you 

 may grow forty. Being a successful cultivator of this variety of 

 Pelargonium for several years past, I will give the young amateur or 

 gardener the benefit of my experience as respects the methods I adopt 

 for propagation and making good plants. 



I know of no better season than the present for taking cuttings : 

 select some good tops from the very best sorts that are out ; get as 

 many thumb-pots as you will require for the purpose ; fill them with 

 rich turfy mould, and put one cutting into each pot ; but previous to 

 filling the pots, let them be well drained with broken charcoal or 

 oyster-shells, either will do ; then with your pencil, or a piece of 

 round stick, make a hole an inch deep, fill the said hole with silver- 

 sand, then put in the cutting, give the pot a slight blow on the 

 potting-board to settle it firmly in the soil ; dip a piece of stick or 

 your pencil into some water, and hold it downw^ards, in order that 

 three or four drops may fall from the same, close to the side of the 

 cutting, this will set the whole firmly together, and the quantity of 

 water will be quite sufficient for three or four days ; after that, add 

 a Httle more in a similar way, or with a fine-rosed watering-pot, as 

 may be thought needful. When you have finished this part of the 

 work, let all the pots be plunged into a slight bottom-heat, say from 

 65° to 70° ; give a little air in the day-time, to prevent the cuttings 

 from damping-off ; and as soon as they are rooted, they are established 

 plants ; not like some of the Nurserymen's poor sickly things, from 

 which it is impossible to make a specimen fit for exhibition, and 

 which you must grow along in the best manner you can, till you can 

 get a cutting from them at a great loss of time. 



I do not recommend the practice of putting a great quantity of 

 hard-wooded cuttings into one pot ; two out of three will take root, 

 when you spoil several in getting them apart ; strong cuttings struck 

 singly in pots as directed, and well managed after they have rooted, 

 will make fine specimens by June or July the following season. I 

 have exhibited plants in July two feet in diameter, that were taken 

 off the parent plant shewn at Chis\vick in July the previous year ; 

 but you will not find many of the sorts do this ; most of the varieties 

 will, however, make good specimens by the time stated. 



In a future Number, I will give a few practical hints on their 

 general culture and management, and also respecting the soil I have 

 proved from long experience to be most suitable for them. In the 

 meantime I trust that what has been written above may be found 

 of some service. 



Pimlico. J. Robinson. 



