570 GARDEN MANAGEME^'T 



directly they are done flowering, or as soon as they have finished their growth. 

 Some of the latest might still be shifted ; but this work should have been com- 

 pleted a month ago. Plants potted so late in the season require special care 

 during the winter. All jolants seem to have a firmer hold of health and life 

 when the pots in which they grow are thoroughly filled with roots : hence 

 the desirabiUty and safety of early, and the risk of late potting. Heaths 

 must be carefully watched for the first speck of mildew, and immediately 

 dusted with sulphur. As this malady often proves fatal among heaths, it 

 should be carefully guarded against. It is generally induced by an excess of 

 stagnant water at the roots, or excessive syringing, heavy rains, or conti- 

 nuous fogs over the tops. Some of the woolly-leaved varieties seem to have a 

 constitutional tendency to it, arising, however, I believe, from their peculiar 

 structure causing them to retain so much moistm-e on the surface of the leaves. 

 The later the plants are potted, the more they are predisposed to the attacks 

 of mildew. 



1799. Pelargoniums. — Great experience in the culture of these enables me 

 to say that the gi'and secret of profuse bloom is early, strong autumnal 

 growth. I would have given ten times the value of this entire work to have 

 known this fifteen years ago. I have worked my way to this fact by many 

 failui-es and dear-bought experience. The moment pelargoniums begin to 

 fade, they should be placed out of doors in the full sun to ripen their growth. 

 When the wood becomes slightly browned, cut them down to within two, 

 three, or four eyes of the old wood. Leave them in the same position, or 

 place them in a house or pit to hrealc. When the young shoots have advanced 

 from IJ to 2 inches, shake them entirely out of the pots, slightly pmning the 

 roots ; pot them in any light soil in as small pots as the roots can be got into; 

 retm-n them to a close house or pit, and the reduction, re-potting, and 

 re-starting, are finished. I will resume at this point next month, as I only 

 intended now to impress upon the reader the immense importance of getting 

 the plants under weigh as early as possible. All plants intended to flower 

 next May or June should now be ready for removal to their blooming-pots. 

 Harden-off, cut down, and start afresh, plants for late summer and autumn 

 blooming as soon as they are ripe enough. 



iSoo. Cmerarms.—Pot-ofi" suckers from old shoots ; prick-off, pot, and shift 

 eedling plants, and push forward the first batch for flowering from November 

 to February. Calceolarias require the same general treatment. Shift chi-ysan- 

 themums, liberally water top for late blooms, and stake. Likewise prim- 

 roses, pansies, &c., shift into larger pots, and maintain in health. 



1801. Provide plenty of linums. Salvia splendens, oxalises, &c., for winter 

 or spring ; hkewise hyacinths, narcissus, tulips, &c. &c. ; pot the first batch, 

 as early rooting is the only certain foundation for good flowering; 



D. T. F. 



