CLXTUKE Ol' TIIE rKLAKGONlUM. 



tcra in the grccn-liouse, when thoy will soon commence flowering and continue to ^ s^j 

 til! the R'turu of liot wwither. Great care must be taken in watering this plant in the 

 suniiniT season, as then it is comjiaratively at rest. All hlomns that make thtir 

 a|ij>i.'arance before the final potting should be carefully removed. 



[Mr. 1 )i:xrER's communication should have appeared in our hist number. Tin's was 

 his intention when he referred to the season. We can not too strongly recommend 

 these beautiful Doulile Primroses to all who have green-liouses. Blooming profusely 

 in a low tfiuperature, they furnish most reliable contributions to tlie winter bouquet. 

 A\'e can cheerfully endorse the soundness of Mr. Dextbr's brief instructions. — Ed.] 



OX THE CULTURE OF THE PELARGONIUM. 



BY B. MUNN, LANDSCAPE GAEDENEK, NEW YORK. 



I HAVE seen no really fine Geraniums in this country. The reason is obvious, and is 

 this : The plants are not got into a fit state for blooming suflBciently early, and they are 

 forced into bloom by the rapid increase of temperature before they have made and 

 matured their proper growth. The consequence of tliis is, straggling plants and small 

 flowers. 



Let me recommend some amateurs of the flower to try the following plan : — At this 

 time (early in Febniary) many have their Geraniums in small pots, in which they were 

 ]>laced when cut down last fall. Repot them at once into pots eight or nine inches across, 

 which is large enough to gi-ow a Pelargonium in jjerfection, although they may be pro- 

 duced larger in great pots. The compost for them — one-half old hot-bed manure, one- 

 half good loam, with a small portion of sand if the loam is stLft'. Put one piece of broken 

 pot over the drain hole, and then, for drainage, put about an inch, or rather more, in 

 depth of lumps of stiti" loam as large as walnuts. This is a valuable resource to the 

 roots by and by. Then put in the compost and pot the plant without breaking the ball 

 of roots, and press down the compost roimd the sides of the pot, moderately hard, with 

 a potting stick Water them through, and put them near the glass in a house kept at 

 about 50°. Give but little water until the roots liave reached the sides of the pot — they 

 will soon be seen at the drain-hole on turning up the pot. Then increase the tempera- 

 ture vary slightly, and syringe the plants every day. As they gi'ow, still keep them 

 near the glass and pull the shoots down horizontally toward the edges of the pots all 

 around and secure them to sticks. By degrees they may, most of them, be brought 

 down nearly to touch the edge. The growth will in another month be rapid, and the 

 shoots and leaves will increase much in size. By the end of March, or early in April, 

 the foliage will be of large size and hang over and conceal much of the pot, and the 

 plant will be filled up in the center by growth which the admission of light there (by 

 the continued perseverance in tying out) has encouraged. Then the plant is formed — 

 Its growth vigorous, and it is fit to bloom. But this growth will require to be matured, 

 and to secure perfection in the bloom the vigor of wood growth must be stopped. To 

 that object, withhold water. Lay the syringe aside, for the present, altog 

 the plants positively droop in the leaf, from want of water, for a few hours, but 



