PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM. 1~'> 



A COMPOUND FOR PROMOTING THE GROWTH AND 

 BLOOMING OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 



BY MR. H. STILWELL. 



The compound consists of sulphate of ammonia, four ounces, and 

 powder of nitre, two ounces ; mix these together in an earthen vessel, 

 and add a pint of boiling soft-water. Cover it close clown until it 

 becomes cold, then put it into a glass or other bottle, and cork it down 

 afr-tight ; the next clay the compound will be fit for use. It must be 

 used°with care, and ought to be only in the hands of experienced 

 »ardeners. I have used this liquicL, with great success with both 

 flowering plants, particularly the soft-wooded kinds, and vines in pots. 

 I doubt not but its application will prove satisfactory, and be found a 

 valuable acquisition to the early exhibitors of plants at our first 

 shows of the year. 



To plants in pots add five drops to every quart of water, and apply 

 it as follows: say the beginning to be on the first day of the month, 

 then the third, then the fifth, being every alternate day. By this 

 apparent small application the rapid growth of plants will be much 

 promoted. It is, too, a considerable assistant in contributing to the 

 earlier blooming of bulbous plants, whether grown in pots or glasses. 

 To all the kinds of plants which I have applied it, I have found it to 

 promote a fine healthy foliage, and a more quick bloom. 



I used the above mixture to a vine growing in a pot this spring, and 

 the advantage was very strikingly apparent after only six clays using. 

 ( Ither vines were well fed with manure-water at the same time, but a 

 very marked difference existed in favour of the former. 



THE PROGRESS OF THE PELARGONIUM DURING 

 THE LAST FEW YEARS. 



BY ORION. 



Were a collection of Pelargoniums, say the best which were in culti- 

 vation in the year 1837, staged at one of our principal exhibitions side 

 by side with one of those superb displays contributed by either Cock, 

 Gaines, Beck, or Parker, of the present day, the contrast between them 

 would better confute, rather than all the arguments which can be 

 brought forward, the opinions of the not quite all-powerful " botanical 

 Statesmen" who have so long been striving to check the onward course 

 of improvement in what are now understood as florists' flowers. 

 Florists' flowers! what are they? The question will soon be 

 difficult to decide, for now we see that florists do not disdain giving 

 their attention to some of the more simple ornaments of the flower- 

 garden, such as the Crocus, Gladiolus, Phlox, Ixia, &c. May we not 

 onably infer that all flowers seeding freely in this country, and 

 possessing ;i variety, may at some time or other be increased and im- 

 proved in the Bame astonishing maimer as we have seen lias already 

 been accomplished within the last few years by the assiduous care and 



