210 cur/nvATioN of the scarlet pelargonium in pots. 



being, as before stated, to get all the shoots left on the plants to 

 bloom at the same time : the trusses will keep in perfection for a 

 month or six weeks, A strong one-year old plant, witii a single 

 stem, flowered Hydrangea-fashion, presents a superb appearance. 



In staging the plants for the winter they should be placed as 

 near the glass as possible, and no more water should be given 

 them than what will merely keep them from flagging. 



About the beginning of February they siiould be introduced 

 to the forcing-house, and placed where they can receive the 

 greatest amount of sun. They will now require an increased 

 supply of water ; and when they shall have commenced growing 

 vigorously, and while throwing up their flower trusses, they like 

 a copious supply, in bright dry weather sometimes twice a-day, 

 gently syringing the foliage and flower-trusses with a fine rosed 

 syringe morning and evening. Liquid manure made from 

 sheep's droppings, applied two or three times a-week, will add 

 much to the strength of the truss of bloom and to the beauty of 

 the foliage, but this should not be applied till the flower-trusses 

 have made their appearance. As soon as these can be plainly 

 distinguished from tlie points of the shoots, the latter must be 

 carefully nipped ofi^ immediately before them, the flower-stalk 

 will then take the lead and grow most vigorously. A stake will 

 be required for each shoot, but it should not show above the 

 foliage ; the flower-stalk will be sufficiently strong to support 

 the truss. Soon after the shoots are stopped they will send out 

 laterals ; these should be picked out with the point of a knife 

 on their first appearance, in order that the whole energy of the 

 plant may be directed to the main shoots and flower-trusses. 

 By the middle or end of May plants treated as above will be in 

 excellent order for the conservatory, and when placed there it 

 is absolutely necessary to avoid all extremes in regard to water- 

 ing, or the consequence will be that the foliage will assume a 

 sickly hue and prematurely drop off", and the flowers will not be 

 so persistent or long-lived as if the soil were kept in the happy 

 medium between wet and dry. These are facts borne out by 

 experience, and I am anxious to impress them on the minds of 

 my readers. 



When the beauty of the plants begins to fade they should be 

 turned out to harden oflT previous to their being cut back in 

 July, being intended for the first blooming in the following 

 May, and the conservatory should be replenished by a batch cut 

 down early in September. When the latter have broken, are shook 

 out and re-potted, they should be kept as dormant as possible 

 all winter. In April they must be shifted into large pots, 

 and at once introduced into the forcing- house, where they should 

 receive the same treatment as the former lot. 



