ON THE CUr.TURE OF PELARGONIUMS. 203 



and* leaf mould; then placed in a cool frame, plunged to the rim, 

 which is kept pretty close, and shaded from the sun. Sometimes, 

 instead of being inserted in pots, the cuttings are inserted in an open 

 border, fully exposed to the mid-day sun. This is especially the 

 case when a considerable quantity is required. 



In about six weeks the cuttings are rooted ; they are then carefully 

 removed, so as to retain the new roots, and potted separately into 

 what are termed sixty-sized pots, in a compost of equal parts of well- 

 enriched loam and sandy peat. After potting, they are placed on 

 boards or slates, in a warm situation in the open air, where they can 

 be shaded for a short time till they can bear the sun, after which 

 they are fully exposed, and the plants of early-struck cuttings have 

 the leads pinched off as soon as the plants begin to push anew. 

 Where there are frames to place them in, the facility for readily 

 shading is afforded. Some of the extensive growers have boards, a 

 foot or so deep, placed along the sides at about five feet apart, and 

 have hoops over, so as to throw mats over for shading, protection from 

 excessive wet, or to afford security against a sudden frost in autumn. 



About the last week in September, the plants are usually removed 

 into the house or cool frame, where they are placed as near the glass 

 as circumstances admit of ; at the same time they are re-potted into 

 forty-eights, and the leading shoots stopped at the third or fourth 

 joint ; this induces the production of lateral shoots, and causes the 

 plants to become bushy. The compost used is one-half well-enriched 

 turfy loam, and the other leaf-mould and sandy peat, to which is 

 added a small portion of bone-dust ; but this is given with caution, 

 and never near the surface of the soil. When fire-heat is required, 

 its application is only so as to keep the temperature of the house at 

 about forty degrees; and, whenever admissible by day, to give all 

 that can be, so frost is kept out. 



About the middle of December the plants are re-potted into thirty- 

 twos. After this potting, the temperature of the house is increased 

 for about three weeks, so as to stimulate the roots immediately to 

 push afresh, as well as to obtain an early supply of new shoots. 



About the middle of February the plants are again shifted into a 

 »ize larger, any shoots requiring to be stopped are done, and each 

 shoot is tied separately to a proper stake. 



At the end of March the plants are carefully examined, and very 

 rccly thinned of the lateral shoots, and a regular distribution retained. 



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