60 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



in doing so, the writer is fully sensible that so much has been written 

 on the cultivation of the Pelargonium, many will be induced to think 

 that but little that is new or fresh can be written on the matter. Yet 

 having regard to the many miserably-coloured examples frequently 

 seen at our large exhibitions, it is only too evident that some mis- 

 conception exists as to the real requirements of the plants. Should 

 the reader have failed in his past attempts to colour the leaves success- 

 fully, he may, perhaps, by following the few simple directions about 

 to be given, be enabled to achieve better results. 



To secure a good specimen plant, there must be a proper foundation 

 laid, so to speak ; and I am led to attach much importance to the 

 selection of a proper cutting, out of which to manufacture the future 

 specimen. Select, therefore, short-jointed points of shoots from 2 to 

 3 inches in length, which should be taken off during the month of 

 June, and inserted singly in the smallest-sized pots, using a soil made 

 up of good yellow loam, sand, and leaf-mould. Place them in a situa- 

 tion where they can be screened from the full glare of the sun's rays till 

 rooted, and then shift them into 3-inch pots, using a mixture of good 

 yellow loam, with leaf-mould, and plenty of silver or river sand, and 

 don't make the soil too fine ; place them in a cold frame where, if 

 found necessary, they can be shaded for a time during the middle of 

 the day, and, if the weather should be showery, sheltered from the 

 heavy rain ; but slight showers will benefit them, and the lights can 

 be kept off as much as possible ; but when it is necessary to keep them 

 on, give all the air possible. The plants will soon require another 

 shift, and on this occasion a richer compost is necessary. I advocate 

 the use of loam as before, but in place of leaf-mould pure horse- 

 droppings, which should be prepared by being thoroughly dried and 

 then broken up small : use plenty of sand, and break the loam up by 

 hand that it may not be too finely powdered. Mix thoroughly, and 

 in potting avoid pressing the soil very firmly, for to grow the plants 

 well they require during the summer months a plentiful supply of 

 water, and must on no account be allowed to suffer from the want of it. 

 On the occasion of this shift they should be potted into 6-inch pots, 

 and replaced in a cold frame in the open air. Should they be 

 wanted for exhibition during the following May or June, it will be 

 best at the end of August, if they have not branched out into two or 

 three shoots, to cut them back to within 3 or 4 inches of the pot, so as 

 to secure by the end of autumn four shoots at the least to each plant. 

 By the end of September they should be reduced a little at the root 

 and put into a smaller pot, using the same compost, and placing them 

 on a good light airy shelf in a greenhouse. If the weather should be 

 sunny and dry, an occasional syringing will benefit the plants. 



