678 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Nov., 191 2. 



Likie some others of the essential oil-producing plants, rich soil is not 

 absolutely necessary ; but where there is poor or medium soil, its cultiva- 

 tion can be undertaken with the expectation of success. The only after- 

 cultivation is the usual ploughing to keep the surface in good tilth and 

 free from weeds. 



The planting may be done either in autumn or spring. If a good 

 bed of cuttings is put out in August or September these will be suitable 

 to plant out early in March, or as soon as there is sufficient moisture to 

 continue a growth. 



Good results are also obtained by planting good strong cuttings in 

 early spring, and this may be adopted where a bed of cuttings has not 

 been provided. A bed should be well prepared and the set pressed firmly 

 in at the base. A good solid tramping at the bottom is important, so as 

 to exclude the air from the soil, but it should not be tramped on the surface. 



NO. I. THE AFRICAN. 



NO. 2. PELARGONIUM ROSEUM. 



The distance at which the plants should be placed in their permanent 

 position should be regulated by the class of labour employed in the 

 cultivation. The rows should stand about 4 feet apart, and the plants 

 3 feet in the rows; but if hand labour is to do the work, then 3 feet 

 each way may be sufficient for carrying out operations. The plant is a 

 strong grower and requires liberal feeding room, and nothing is lost by 

 giving plenty of space. 



Plants. 



No plants are more easily raised — a geranium cutting of any size stuck 

 into the ground grows rapidly into a strong plant — and if planted out in 

 the autumn a fair clipping may be obtained the following summer. 



Cuttings may be struck almost at any time. If planted out in a 

 well-prepared bed in spring, they will give strong, well-rooted plants 

 for the following autumn. When planting out, all that is necessary is 

 to trim the top so as to give a well-balanced head, and all long trailing 

 branches should be cut back — this should be accomplished without regard 

 to the depleting of the top, as the plant will soon adjust any loss in 

 this respect. All long trailing roots .should also be trimmed off. 



