1873-1 PELARGONIUMS. 79 



the greater number of plants that can be obtained by it than by 

 propagating from ordinary cuttings. I found it best to insert them 

 in a sloping direction, and all sloping one way, as when inserted up- 

 rightly they are apt through watering to get tumbled about. Cut- 

 tings struck in the spring make nice little plants for autumn and early 

 winter ; but summer is the season when they can be struck with least 

 trouble, making serviceable plants the following year. AVell-ripened 

 shoots should be chosen in preference to "sappy " ones, and especially 

 in spring no leaves should be taken off. They may either be inserted in 

 the open ground in pans, round the edges of pots, or singly in small 

 pots. For summer propagation the latter mode is not so suitable as 

 the others, the easiest being the first mentioned. Whichever mode 

 may be followed, they should be potted off, except in the case of those 

 singly in pots, as soon as the roots have grown an inch in length, 

 using 3-inch pots for the smallest ones, and putting them mainly in 

 4-inch pots. They make nice blooming plants in this sized pot ; and 

 except it be for extraordinary purposes, 7-inch pots will generally be 

 found large enough. The compost I prefer consists of loam, leaf- 

 mould, and sand, the loam of a sound fibrous texture, broken roughly 

 in pieces, using it as four to one of leaf-mould, which should be put 

 through a ^-inch sieve, if pieces of w^ood, &c., are found mixed with it. 

 The Pelargonium enjoys a good quantity of sand, and a sixth part 

 of the compost should consist of it. If the loam should contain much 

 organic matter likely to decompose quickly, less leaf-mould should be 

 added. No manure is recommended, because of the gross growth it 

 engenders ; and it is always an easy matter to supply it through the 

 medium of the w^atering-pot when really necessary. As many crocks for 

 drainage take up room which can be filled with better plant-sustaining 

 material, and there exists no real necessity to use many in the size of 

 pots recommended, more than one crock for 4:-inch, and a few more 

 for 7-inch pots need not be used, a little of the roughest of the com- 

 post being laid on the crocks. If the plants are properly attended to 

 the roots soon make sufficient drainage for themselves. Those not in- 

 tended for winter blooming, should have no more water than necessary 

 to keep the roots in a healthy condition. According to atmospheric 

 conditions, they may require watering from once a-fortnight up to once 

 a-month. When they are watered, give sufficient to moisten the soil in 

 every particle. During this period they may be dismembered of any 

 straggling points ; but if cuttings are wanted, this must be deferred till 

 spring. Some time in spring they ought to be shaken entirely free of 

 soil, and repotted in 4-inch, shifting when necessary into 7 -inch pots. 

 Treated thus, they obtain a fresh supply of soil every year, keeping 

 them in a state of vigorous health, and reducing the chances of a soured 



