ON PRODUCING TALL PLANTS OF SCARLET GERANIUMS. 57 



liot-bed till they recover from shifting, and when they begin to grow 

 they may be placed in the greenhouse, and as soon as mild weather has 

 fairly set in plant them out in beds, in a sheltered situation ; or if 

 desired to continue them in the greenhouse, they must be shifted into 

 thirty-two sized pots, and in the same kind of compost as before. 



When treated in this way they make fine plants, and are a great 

 acquisition to either the greenhouse or flower-garden. 



ON PRODUCING TALL ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF 

 SCARLET GERANIUMS (PELARGONIUMS). 



BY A nobleman's FLOWER GARDENER. 



"With much pleasure I have read several articles in this Magazine on 

 the management of Scarlet Geraniums, as suited for bedding plants in 

 the flower-garden during summer, but I have not seen any observations 

 about growing them to large plants, suitable for ornaments in the 

 conservatory, greenhouse, or to stand out upon a terrace, or placed in 

 vases on the lawn or in the flower-garden. 



In the floral department in the establishment of which I am manager 

 we have numerous fine specimens from five to ten feet high, grown in 

 ornamental pots and tubs, wliich are disposed of in the conservatory 

 and greenhouse, wliere, by having a succession, tliey bloom all the 

 year; others, also, are placed for ornaments upon a terrace, which is 

 sheltered from the wind on every side but the south, having the benefit 

 of an open, warm aspect. No plants are more ornamental than these, 

 whether in-doors or out, and they amply repay for every attention, more 

 especially so now, when we have such a number of strong- growing 

 varieties suitable for the purpose. 



The following is the mode of treatment I have most successfully 

 pursued for many years : — 



Early in spring I put off cuttings, and as soon as well roofed pot 

 them off" singly in a compost of equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and 

 old well-rotted cow-dung, or well rotted hot-bed dung. A liberal 

 drainage is given, and I never have sifted soil, but well chopped witli 

 the spade or trowel. As soon as I perceive the roots have began to 

 push afresh I stop the leads of all shoots that are six inches long, in 

 order to cause the production of side shoots ; and when these are an 

 inch long I retain the uppermost to train erect, in order to form the 

 plant aright, so as to have it any desired heiglit, which, being properly 

 attended to every following season, is readily effected. The leading 

 upright shoot is stopped at every six or eight inches, in order to have 

 a regular supply of side shoots up to the summit. As the side shoots 

 advance they too are stopped when five or six inches long, and of the 

 lateral ones they produce, two of them, best placed for forming the 

 plant, arc kept, and the others taken away. P>y this piocess of stopping, 

 thinning the young shoots, &c., in all the stages of its size, an admirable 

 plant of any height and form is easily obtained. Tlie branches are 

 secured at proper distances, either to sticks, or, which is far better, a 

 hoop of brass wire, to which they are tied ; it is a very neat and 



