ON THE CULTURE OF PELARGONIUMS. 245 



formed they are carefully thinned out. In the greenhouse, the plants 

 intended for exhibition are kept four feet apart ; the front sashes are 

 kept open on all convenient occasions. In November the plants are 

 stopped, and a stake put to each shoot. The leaves are thinned out 

 to allow the air to circulate freely. In December and January the 

 strongest plants are again selected, and potted into eight-sized pots ; 

 and at this time additional heat is applied to enable the plants to root 

 rapidly. In February they are syringed in the afternoon, but suf- 

 ficiently early to allow them to dry before night. In March they are 

 again re-potted in No. two-sized pots ; water is now very liberally sup- 

 plied. When the flowers begin to open, a shading of cheese-cloth is 

 used on the outside of the house. Air is admitted before the sun has 

 much power on the glass, and this is found to prevent the attacks of 

 the green fly. The success of all the other operations depends on the 

 mode of applying fire-heat. The fires are lighted at three or four 

 o'clock in the afternoon, and allowed to go out about nine or ten. They 

 are again lighted about three or four in the morning. The ther- 

 mometer, during the night, is kept at 40 or 42 degrees Fah- 

 renheit. The soil is prepared thus : — a quantity of turfy loam is 

 chopped and laid up in a heap, a quantity of fresh stable litter is then 

 shaken up and laid in the form of a mushroom bed. If the weather 

 is dry at the time, the manure is well watered ; liquid manure and 

 the steam or ammonia is prevented from passing off by a covering of 

 slates. In this state it is allowed to remain fifteen or sixteen days, 

 and is then mixed with about an equal quantity of fresh loam ; and, 

 when the mixing is completed, the heap is at last covered with loam. 

 At the end of a month or five weeks it is turned over three or four 

 times, in order that the dung and loam may incorporate well together. 

 At the end of twelve months it is fit for use. To two barrowfulls of this 

 compost is added one of leaf-mould and a peck and a-halfof silver sflnd. 



Those persons who have not seen the superb specimens exhibited 

 by the London growers can scarcely form an idea of their superiority 

 over what are seen in the country. By the above attention plants are 

 obtained of the most healthy and vigorous growth, two to four feet 

 high, and three to four in diameter, unique in form, and so clothed 

 with fine foliage, down to the rim of the pot, that not a stem is seen. 



When bees are allowed to enter the house, they injure the petals 

 and disfigure the flowers : to prevent this, gauze blinds arc used. 



