THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. lol 



should now be watched minutely for a week or so, in order to get them 

 all stopped pretty even, and as they make a little growth should be 

 hardened off, and as soon as possible take off the lights, for the 

 hardier you get them the better they will stand the winter. For 

 early flowering, a fe^ of the best may be potted about September, 

 and placed on a dry stage, and keep them gently growing all winter ; 

 but those intended for flowering in May or June should be kept dry 

 in the pit above mentioned, watering very sparingly, and shift into 

 48's in February ; for tliis shift I prefer two-fourths good loam, one 

 of leaf-mould, and one-fourth of rotten dung, with a good sprinkling 

 of river-sand. 



As soon as the shifting is done, should the weather be dull, a 

 little forcing should be given them, but give air on every favourable 

 opportunity, and as the weather gets warmer every day will tell 

 upon them, for they Avill grow rapidly. Smoking and cleaning 

 should be well attended to, and if any stopping is required it should 

 be done at once. If a few plants be required for later blooming, 

 they may be shifted into 82's, and in this case must be stopped 

 again. By April the plants should be pretty strong, and will begin 

 to take water freely, and a little weak liquid manure may be given 

 them once a week, and the syringe may be used sometimes on fine 

 sunny mornings. I have no doubt I shall meet wath a good deal of 

 ditierence of opinion about the use of the syringe, for it is the idea 

 of a good many growers that it tends to bring damp, spot, and other 

 diseases. But as I never found such diseases among my plants, I 

 have no inclination to alter my views ; and my opinion is, where 

 such diseases do exist, it is caused by irregular watering or bad 

 drainage. 



Sticking and tying should be the next point to consider, which 

 should be done as they throw up their buds, and give water freely, 

 for at this season the pelargonium will keep its foliage and have a 

 better appearance by an abundant supply of water than it would by 

 allowing it to frequently get dry. Be careful how you apply liquid 

 manure, for if given too strong it would soon put them in a sickly 

 state ; and as the flowers open, liquid manure may be discontinued 

 altogether, for the plants will set their blooms and afterwards ripen 

 their wood better without it; in fact, if it continued until the plants 

 are cut down, it is a question of doubt whether the cuttings would 

 strike. 



As your plants cease flowering, they should be stood out in the 

 open air to get well ripened, and should be cut down and kept dry, 

 with a sprinkling overhead occasionally. In the operation of cutting 

 down, three eyes should be left, from each of which it will break, for 

 nothing is got by cutting too near the stem, and very often the death 

 of your favourites may be attributed to no other cause. Six weeks 

 is long enough for the plants to break and make a nice growth, and 

 they should then be shaken out and repotted into smaller pots, 

 taking care to well trim in the roots. Stand them out on a bed of 

 ashes, to keep all worms out of the pots, and the growth they make 

 will be of a hardy and strong nature, and they will better endure 

 being kept close in the winter months. "When the time for housing 



