BRIEF KEMARKS. 181 



claims of this institution on your support, and to beg tliat you will join 

 with me in drinking " Success to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institu- 

 tion." (Loud cheers.) The toast was drunk with three times three 

 and one cheer more. 



Prolonging the bloom of Pelakgonidms. — The art of pro- 

 ducing a lengthened bloom is well worthy the attention of all lovers 

 of this charming tribe of flowers, and to elfect this successfully attend 

 to the following particulars : — Place those plants which flower earliest 

 under a wall, and fully exposed to the sun's influence, in order that 

 the succulent wood may be well and early ripened ; when this is 

 effected, cut them down to within four inches of the pots : remove 

 them to a rather close frame until they begin to break, when air may 

 gradually be given them ; eventually the lights may be taken oft', in 

 order that the young slioots may be hardened and strengthened, previous 

 to tiie plants being placed in their winter quarters. By having a suc- 

 cession of plants so treated, a prolongation of bloom is readily ob- 

 tained. 



One of the main points in the culture of the Pelargonium is keeping 

 the plants near the glass, and sufficiently far apart to prevent the 

 foliage of one touching that of another. Give abundance of air in 

 mild weather, and allow it to circulate freely amongst the plants. 

 TJiis will check their tendency to get leggy. Good loamy soil, 

 moderately rich, suits the Pelargonium perfectly ; for liquid manure 

 can be readily administered in spring when it is growing rapidly. 



Guano beneficial to American Plants. — I have been in the 

 habit of using guano and other strong manures in a liquid state for 

 some years past, to the Rhododendron, Ghent and Indian Azaleas; 

 and with great advantage. My practice is to use the guano in the 

 proportion of one pound to thirty gallons of manure-water, that runs 

 from the stables and farm-yard. I water the Ehododendrons and 

 Ghent Azaleas as soon in the spring as I perceive the blossom-buds 

 beginning to swell, and continue it at the rate of eight or ten gallons 

 to eacii plant luitil the flowers are expanded, varying the watering 

 according to the weather ; if the weather continues dry, water is given 

 once a week, but if damp, only once a fortnight. I also vary the 

 quantity given each time according to the size of the plant, taking 

 care that each plant gets enough. As soon as the blossoms begin to 

 drop I again have the plants well drenched with guano-water, so as to 

 encourage the early growth of wood ; by this means the latter is made 

 earlier, and is consequently better ripened, and the foliage is of a 

 much deeper colour than if no stimulus had been given. I treat the 

 Indian or greenhouse Azaleas .in the same way, with the exception of 

 giving them a short rest for a fortnight or three weeks after flowering, 

 when ihey receive but little water of any kind. I then bring them out, 

 and give them such pruning as is necessary to keep them in a good 

 pyramidal shape, after which they are supplied with strong guano- 

 water, until they have completed their growths ; they are then placed 

 out of doors in a sunny situation, where they remain with the pots 

 protected from the action of sun and wind until the autumn rains set 



