ON THE CULTURE OF PELARGONIUMS. 205 



The following particulars of treatment practised by the most suc- 

 cessful grower, Mr. Cock, of Chiswick, was given us by him, which 

 we here annex: — 



Mr. Cock strikes his cuttings about the beginning of June, or sooner, 

 if the plants will bear cutting. As soon as rooted they are removed 

 into sixty-sized pots, and set in a shady situation on boards or slates, 

 or in a cold frame. When rooted, they are removed to an open situa- 

 tion, and as soon as the plants will bear the sun without flagging they 

 are stopped. In September they are re-potted into forty-eight sized 

 pots, and at this time he commences training. In December and 

 January those that are sufficiently strong are again shifted into sixteen- 

 sized pots ; in these pots they are allowed to bloom. About 'the 

 middle of July or beginning of August they are headed down and set 

 in a shady sheltered situation ; and, when the plants have shoots 

 nearly an inch long, the soil is nearly all shaken from the roots, and 

 they are again re-potted into the same sized pots. As the shoots are 

 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 4 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 

 supplied. 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 Fahrenheit. 

 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 



