248 THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



in good-sized pots, and let them stand in a dry situation till the frost 

 commences ; the pots should then be plunged in cinder ashes in a 

 cold frame, and kept quite dry, but air must be given as often as 

 practicable, particularly in spring. 



When frost is severe, cover the frame with a mat, which must not, 

 on any account, be removed during the day if the sun shines ; more 

 plants are lost in the spring, especially by not attending to this rule, 

 than by the severest frost. New varieties of course must be raised 

 from seed, which may be sown at any time from March to September, 

 either in pans or in the open ground. In about six weeks the 

 seedlings will be ready to plant out, but if sown so late in the year 

 that they cannot be removed, the seedlings will require some pro- 

 tection during the winter, either by a frame or otherwise ; they can 

 be planted out early in spring. As a general rule, pansy seed should 

 be sown as soon as convenient after being gathered ; for if allowed to 

 remain some time unsown, vegetation is much longer in taking place, 

 and many of the seeds will not come up at all. Seed should be saved 

 from those plants which have the best shaped blooms ; and if these 

 be fertilized with the pollen of other flowers, which have bright or 

 good eyes, it may have a good effect. The seed-pods when ripe 

 become erect, and open on the first fine day, and if not gathered, 

 would shed in the course of a few hours during fine weather ; there- 

 fore the beds should be looked over at least once a day, and such 

 pods as appear ripe should be gathered. It only remains to notice 

 succession beds, which it will be necessary to have, in order to ensure 

 a continuance of bloom ; for this purpose I would recommend that 

 the first cuttings which can be obtained be taken from the spring 

 plants, and, when struck, be planted out in a bed, to bloom in the 

 autumn. The treatment of the plants will be the same as before 

 directed, but the situation of the bed must be due south. I may 

 add, that the whole of the remarks I have just made are the result 

 of several years' practical experience in the cultivation of this plant. 



POT CULTURE OF SCARLET PELARGONIUMS. 



jjHIS, though so common in all collections, from the 

 windows of the poor man to the conservatory of the 

 wealthy, and, withal, so brilliant and showy an orna- 

 ment, is rarely seen in the perfection to which, by 

 judicious culture, it may be brought. I have produced 

 most excellent specimens of it by the following mode of manage- 

 ment : — About the middle of July I select healthy plants, having 

 from two to six shoots of young wood, as close to the pot as can be 

 obtained, and set them in a sunny situation. I give them little 

 water for a fortnight ; at the expiration of that period I cut them 

 down, leaving about two eyes of the old wood. I then set them in 

 the shade, and water sparingly until they have broken well, which 

 they will have done in about three weeks. I cease watering them 



