APRIL. Ill 



premises at any season of the year, the only structures they have for 

 plants are our own house, another greenhouse 27 feet by 14 (kept 

 rather cool), a brick frame to keep bedding Geraniums in through the 

 winter, and four wooden (cold) frames ; our house has a double glass 

 roof, and is warmed by hot water in four-inch pipes. A self-registering 

 thermometer is kept in the house, and in November, when the tem- 

 perature falls below 45° Fahr., with air admitted, a fire is lighted to 

 maintain a temperature of 45° to 50° by day. It is lighted early in 

 the morning and let out in the afternoon, when there is no frost. 

 Night fires are used to maintain a temperature of from 40 to 45°. Air 

 is always admitted by day, if possible, the opportunity being watched 

 for ; but when the weather is such as to make it improper to admit it, 

 the house is kept at the minimum temperature. In January the heat 

 is increased five degrees by day, but not any at night ; this is continued 

 till the weather is warm enough to keep the house at from 55 to 60° 

 by day, and 45° by night. In spring and summer we receive proper 

 greenhouse treatment ; when our work is done (our buds formed) we are 

 not inhumanely turned out of doors, to the mercies of the wind and rain, 

 but take a quiet rest in the house, being liberally supplied with air by 

 day, and also by night as long as it is safe to admit it. We are inspected 

 every morning, and if we require it are supplied with water (rain or 

 pond water), at a temperature of 76° ; and when our buds begin to 

 swell off for blooming we are supplied with weak manure water, at a 

 temperature of from 80 to 82°, and we receive it every watering till our 

 bloom is over ; when that is the case our roots are examined, and such 

 as require it are repotted into pots two sizes larger. 



The soil is composed of equal parts turfy loam and fibry peat, with a 

 little silver sand, and some bones and charcoal broken up and mixed 

 amongst it. Our leaves are sprinkled on fine spring mornings after the 

 watering is done ; and as the weather gets warmer we have a shower 

 from a syringe. Such as were not shifted in spring are examined in 

 August, and if they require it then are as carefully done as in spring. 

 We are not shaded, but a slight shade would be very acceptable during 

 very bright sunshine. That the water is given to us at the temperatures 

 named is carefully ascertained by thermometer, but this is usually and 

 easily done by the fingers. We regard it as the reason why we do not 

 cast our buds, and also as causing our blooms to last much longer. 



In conclusion, I assert that our cause is a just one, and trust that 

 from this plain statement of facts our character will be fully vindicated, 

 and I hope it may prove the means of increasing the popularity and 

 numbers of our family. 



0. D. W. C. 



VARIEGATED GERANIUMS. 



Some time since, when writing on the subject of bedding Geraniums, 

 I ventured to say, that, with reference to the variegated class, we 

 were still a good way from what was wanted, and expressed an opinion 

 that the enterprise, skill, and perseverance of our florists would 'ere 

 long provide for our want. That we are rapidly approaching what I 



