218 DESCRIPTION OF SEEDLING GERANIUMS. 



Take the seeds and place them in the pans belonging to the pots 

 commonly used in gardens, filled with water, and let them soak for 

 two or three days, till the shell which surrounds the interior of the 

 seed will come easily off. After removing the shell, which requires 

 to be done with great nicety, or you will injure the principal point of 

 the seed, prepare some pots, filled with some good rich compost, 

 composed as follows : two parts good decayed leaf-mould, one part 

 hazel loam, and the fourth part of equal portions of bog-earth and 

 sand, which mix well together ; then fill the pots about three parts 

 full, or rather more, of this mixture ; then place the seeds on the top, 

 (not too many, or you will not be able to remove the plant after it has 

 formed a tuber,) and fill the remaining part with fine white sand, 

 giving it a gentle pressing. Then remove the pots to the cool green- 

 house, and place them in as shady a place as you possibly can, without 

 anything being kept too close to them. Keep the pots always in a 

 damp state ; but mind when you sow the seed to place plenty of 

 drainage at the bottom. As soon as some of the plants appear above 

 the soil about one or two inches, take a small stick, and lift the seed 

 from the soil, moving as little as possible the other soil, or you will 

 injure the remaining seeds. Pot the young plants into the size pots 

 called thumbs, which afterwards treat the same as for old plants in a 

 growing state. The seedlings thus raised will flower the succeeding 

 summer, and the year following make good established plants. 

 Should any further remarks on them be required, I should be very 

 glad to send them. 



August 30th, 1840. 



ARTICLE VIII. 



A DESCRIPTION OF SEEDMNG GERANIUMS. 



BY J. It. 



Blushing Maid, Pontey's, a very delicate blush ground, with fine 

 crimson spot, and a bright vermilion flame to the edge of the upper 

 petals ; a truly striking first-rate variety, with large showy trusses. 



Rival, Pontey's, dark rose ground, large and of fine form, the 

 upper petals covered with a beautiful splash ; form and habit first 

 rate. 



