1873.] A PLEA FOR FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 175 



A PLEA FOH LAKGE- FLOWERED AND FANCY 

 PELARGONIUMS. 



{Continued from x>CLOQ 141.) 

 As soon as the cutting-pots are filled with roots, but before the balls 

 become matted, the plants must be shifted into 4-inch pots. Drain 

 the pots efficiently by placing flat pieces of crocks on the holes in their 

 bottoms, over which put an inch in dejDth of half-inch bones and wood- 

 charcoal. Next to this the rough portions of the compost, to a depth 

 that when the balls are set on it the plants will stand no deeper in 

 the new pots than what they did in the cutting-pots. 



These rules in reference to drainage and keeping the plants a little 

 higher in the fresh ]3ots must be attended to at each sacceeding shift. 

 Some varieties amongst the fancies are at times subject to canker, or 

 rot off at the surface of the soil. As a preventive to this, they should 

 stand a Httle higher in the new pots than they did in the old, 

 giving the soil a gentle slope from their stems to the sides of the pots, 

 which will prevent a superabundance of moisture at a point where it 

 is likely to be injurious. 



All being ready, turn the plants out of the pots, and, without dis- 

 turbing the balls, remove a little" of the old drainage. Place them in 

 the pots prepared for them, and with a flat piece of wood make the 

 fresh soil firm around the balls. This completes their first shift, and 

 to prevent repetition, all future shifts are performed in a similar way. 

 If the soil is in a proper condition as regards moisture, the plants will 

 not require water for two or three days after being repotted. It is a 

 bad plan to saturate newly-potted Pelargoniums. Their roots will 

 take much quicker to moderately dry soil. 



Continue the plants for a week or so in the propagating structure, 

 then remove them to the greenhouse, placing them in a position as 

 near the glass as practicable. After they have been here a few days, 

 cut them back to four eyes from the surface of the soil. In most cases 

 each eye will put forth a shoot, which, on attaining sufficient length, 

 must be pegged down to the soil with hooked pegs for the purpose. 

 In doing this, be careful not to break the shoots ; they are liable to 

 snap off at their junction with the main stem. It is therefore best to 

 go over them several times, bending them down a little on each occa- 

 sion until the desired position is attained. 



About the first week in June they wiU require another sliift, the 

 large-flowering kinds into 8-inch and the fancies into 6-inch pots. 

 A cold frame standing in an open position, clear of trees or anything 

 that woidd prevent the plants receiving the full benefit of sunshine, 

 will be the best place for them from now to the end of August. 



