124 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



advise that no guano, or any strong stimulant, be 

 given them at any time, for I have found that when 

 overdoses of guano have been administered, to force 

 plants into large specimens, much mischief has been 

 done -in the way of * spot,' &c. It is far better to err on 

 the safe side, and not to give enough, than to give 

 the plants very strong doses of liquid manure. The 

 best time to do this, no doubt, is when they are showing 

 flower, i.e. when the flower-buds are formed. 



Geraniums especially require to be kept as quiet as 

 possible during the dull months of winter ; all, or nearly 

 all, the growth to form a good symmetrical plant should 

 be made before November. Then the main thing is to 

 keep the plants half dry and quiet through the next 

 three or four dull months. 



Now, by a moderate calculation, this house, which is 

 sixty feet long, and will not cost more than SOL includ- 

 ing everything, will return a profit of 156L, 130?., or 

 110L, according to what is to follow the Geraniums. 

 Of course there is a deduction to be made for pots, soil, 

 and a little firing ; the fuel may be put at 25s. per 

 month, 101. for pots, with ll. for soil for potting, more 

 or less, according to distance: total expenses, say, 

 171. 6s. besides time which is a profit worth trying for. 



Generally the aphides will trouble the Geraniums 

 as soon as the warm weather comes, and they are often 

 very troublesome in the spring. No time must be lost 

 when they appear, but the fumigation must be done at 

 once. Do not syringe the plants overhead, for this 

 will cause defect in the foliage, spot, &c. No more 

 shading should be given to a Pelargonium house than 

 can be avoided, for this draws the plants and occasions 

 a bad colour in the leaf. If the house is set with its 



