CULTURE OF GERANIUMS. 



73 



To cultivate the Pelargonium well in pots, 

 a moderately rich soil is required. Take for 

 the free growing kinds the top three inches, 

 (grass included,) of a free loam pasture, 

 mixed up with one-third well rotted horse or 

 cow manure, and one-sixth rotted leaves, 

 which have lain together twelve months. Do 

 not riddle or sift it, but break the larger 

 lumps with the back of the spade. When 

 potting, after putting in the bottom of the 

 pots an inch or two of crocks, lay some of the 

 decayed turfy and lumpy parts, and fill up 

 with the finer portion ; by so doing, the su- 

 perfluous water can drain away and prevent 

 the soil from becoming sodden. For the weak 

 and tender growing species, use equal por- 

 tions of peat, leaf mould, fresh loam and sand. 

 When the plants have clone flowering, cut 

 them down as above mentioned, place them 

 in a shady place in the open air, and turn the 

 pots on their sides for two or three days, only 

 allowing sufficient moisture to sustain life. 

 This will prevent bleeding, which sometimes 

 takes place, and the escaping sap from run- 

 ning down the branches, which rots them. 

 When they have grown an inch or two long, 

 they may be turned out of the pets, and the 

 old soil shaken from the roots, and all de- 

 cayed parts cut away. Shorten-in the healthy 

 roots a little, and re-pot in the same sized 

 pot — using the above compost ; but if much 

 diseased reduce the size of the pot, and use 

 fresh, turfy, free loam, without any manure 

 until the plant again becomes healthy ; re- 

 place them in the shade for eight or ten days, 

 and place boards or other substitutes under 

 the pots to prevent the ingress of worms ; 

 they may afterwards be placed in an open 

 situation till about the middle of October, 

 when they are to be removed into larger pots, 

 which will serve for blooming in. If fine and 

 abundant bloom is an object, never pot a Pe- 

 largonium in spring ; the plant is thereby 

 thrown into an undue luxuriant state, and the 

 Vol. v. 5 



flowers small and few. I again repeat, avoid 

 sharp winds, but admit air freely at every 

 favorable opportunity ; be careful of drip from 

 the roof, and do not water overhead. Care 

 in these points will help away the spot, which 

 sometimes commits such ravages in this tribe. 

 About the middle of February, examine all 

 over, and thin out any superfluous or weak 

 shoots, leaving four or five of the strongest. 

 Provide a quantity of small stakes, and ar- 

 range them equidistant, according to the num- 

 ber of branches round the inner rim of the 

 pot, slanting outwards ; tie the shoots down, 

 one to each stake ; be careful that they do not 

 break off" at the base, as this is easily done. 

 It is well to run the ties through to the op- 

 posite branch before bringing down, which 

 will prevent the base of both opening too 

 wide, when the head may be brought down 

 as low as required without danger. Top the 

 end of V. ach, which will cause them to throw 

 off" side sh( ots and render the jdants bushy. 

 Nothing further is required but occasionally 

 fumigating with tobacco when the green fly 

 (A]ihis) appears — careful watering, and tying 

 the branches as growth proceeds. There is 

 no occasion for a display of sticks, merely 

 sufficient to prevent the plants from breaking 

 down. When spring growth commences, oc- 

 casionally (say once a week,) give a little 

 weak solution of guano, (about one pound to 

 twenty gallons water,) or liquid drainings from 

 a dunghill. Where both are at hand, it is 

 better to use each alternately. Always use 

 these liquid manures in a dear state ; for if 

 nmddy, they clog up the soil and prevent the 

 air from percolating, thereby rendering the 

 whole mass " sodden and sour." To ensure 

 success, the plants must be kept near to the 

 glass, have air abundantly supplied, and, 

 when growing freely, they must never be al- 

 lowed to droop for want of water. Without 

 care in the latter case, the leaves will turn 

 yellow, and the whole plant will present a 



