ON THE PROPAGATION OF PELARGONIUMS. 247 



flower ; very full, but the petals are too small and not around enough. 

 Another certificate of merit was given to Mr. Bushell for a rosy lilac- 

 coloured flower, deeper on the under side ; and which in shape ap- 

 peared much better and more promising than the other two. 



Several stands of Heartsease and Verbenas were shown, and other 

 miscellaneous plants which our space forbids us to enumerate, 



ARTICLE IV. 



ON THE PROPAGATION OF PELARGONIUMS. 



BY A LONDON GROWER, AND A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR. 



Observing a Subscriber requests information on the best method of 

 increasing what is usually called Geraniums, I forward the following 

 particulars of the method I pursue in raising at least ten thousand 

 each season : — 



Early in June I take a sufficient quantity of cuttings of the dif- 

 ferent varieties, and after carefully preparing them, by taking off the 

 lower leaf, and cutting horizontally through the stem just below a 

 joint, I insert each sort separate, in pots previously filled with a mix- 

 ture of three parts sharp sand, and one part sandy loam, using plenty 

 of drainage at the bottom. After the cuttings are all put in, I give a 

 good watering, and then remove them to a moderate hot -bed, and 

 plunge the pots to the rim ; I keep the lights shut close, except in 

 the morning, when I admit a little air, and with due attention to 

 shading and watering, I find them to be well rooted in about a month. 

 Those kinds in which we abound I prepare cuttings as above de- 

 scribed, and prick them out in abed of finely sifted soil, in a warm 

 situation in the open air. By shading them for a short time they 

 soon strike root. When this is perceived to be the case, I pot them 

 singly into small GO's, shifting at the same time those that were in- 

 serted in the small pots. In potting I use a compost of equal parts 

 of sandy loam, peat, and well decomposed manure, adding about one 

 eighth part of sand ; when potted I place them in a frame, where 

 (lie lights are put on in the day time, in order to throw a mat over 

 them to shade the young plants from the sun ; the lights are taken 

 olf in the evening, and the plants supplied with water, until they 

 have struck fresh root, when this is found to be the case, the lights 

 are removed altogether, and the plants duly supplied with water. 



