THE GERANIUM. 123 



trade resort for the profession generally; and next 

 comes Sutton first or last, they bear a good name. 



The Geraniums should be propagated annually from 

 cuttings of the short-jointed young stuff taken off with 

 a small heel of the solid young wood, as early as it can 

 be had, for very early and strong young plants, to flower 

 in May or the beginning of June. As soon as the cuttings 

 are well rooted, pot them off into small pots singly 

 large 60-size pots three and a half inches in diametei ; 

 and nip out the point of every plant, and continue to do 

 so, as soon as young growth is made of two inches in 

 length, until' the middle of March, when the stopping 

 should be discontinued, or else the flowering will be late. 

 The longer the stopping is continued, the later will be the 

 flower. The main thing is to strike the plants as early 

 as possible, say about May or the beginning of June, and 

 then get the young plants on well, and stop them so as 

 to form them dwarf and quite stemless, covering a five- 

 and-a-half-inch pot before the winter ; then the founda- 

 tion for a fine flower, and an early one too, is laid. 



In the month of October (earlier if a wet season) 

 place the plants in the house where they are to remain 

 for the winter, admitting all the air possible to them. 

 Give no fire heat at first, except the weather is very 

 wet and cold, then a little may be put on to drive off 

 the damp, admitting an abundance of air daily, to 

 keep the plants dry about the foliage, and not too 

 moist about the root. The chief thing is not to excite 

 the plants any more than is necessary at this time, nor 

 indeed till the month of March, when more stimulants 

 may be given them ; not, however, in the shape of heat, 

 but in that of very weak liquid manure once a week 

 from March until they are in flower. But I particularly 



