AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



59 



Pelargonium continued. 



better plan is to preserve until spring, and sow thinly 

 in pans of light, sifted soil, covering to a depth of 

 iin. If placed in a gentle heat, the seeds will soon 

 germinate, and the young plants may be grown on 

 tinder similar treatment to those previously established. 

 They should be placed in pots not larger than Sin. 

 until after they have flowered; any worthless ones 

 should not be retained beyond this stage. In select- 

 ing plants from any section with a view to procuring 

 seeds for raising new varieties, it is most important that 

 only those which are very choice should be retained, the 

 standard of excellence being already so high. There is, 

 however, apparently still much room for improvement 

 in one or another essential; and, with such a popular 

 flower, that has already been so vastly improved by 

 hybridising, selection, and seed raising, the work will 

 probably continue to be pursued, and unlooked-for results 

 may, and doubtless will, yet be obtained. The most 

 general method of Pelargonium propagation adopted is 

 that of cuttings, made either from the shoots, or from 

 the roots. Cuttings from tolerably firm shoots will root 

 easily, at almost any time of year, provided they are in 

 a proper state, and placed under suitable conditions. 

 Spring, and the latter part of summer, are the best 

 seasons; and these are most convenient for raising or 

 renewing a stock of plants. The species and hybrids 

 are readily increased by cuttings, made from some of 

 the strongest roots. They should be cut into lengths 

 of lin. or 2in., inserted in sand, so that the tops show 

 just above the surface, and placed in a temperature of 

 about GOdeg. But little water must be given until some 

 leaves are formed, when the young plants may be potted 

 off singly, and grown on in a cooler temperature. 



CULTIVATION. It will be most convenient, in referring 

 to cultural details, to deal with the several sections 

 separately, as, although all will succeed under treatment 

 differing but little in many respects, the purposes for 

 which the plants are required, and their seasons of 

 flowering, vary considerably. The principal sections of 

 Pelargoniums, apart from species and their hybrids, are 

 the Show, Decorative, Fancy, Zonal or Bedding, Varie- 

 gated-leaved, and Ivy-leaved. 



Species and Hybrids. Many of these may be propagated 

 by all of the methods to which reference has been made. 

 They are mostly slender-growing plants, and do not re- 

 quire very much root-space, 5in. or 6in. pots being suffi- 

 ciently large for growing good-sized specimens. Any 

 that are found to be of an evergreen nature should not 

 be kept quite dry in winter, but should be treated as 

 recommended below for the large-flowered Show section ; 

 the tuberous-rooted species, and those with succulent 

 stems, require no water all the winter. In early spring, all 

 should be introduced to a little warmth, and gradually 

 watered, when growth will commence for the season, and 

 a house or pit, where plenty of air is admitted, will be 

 the most suitable position. Turfy loam, with a little leaf 

 mould or decayed manure, and some charcoal or sand 

 added, will be the best compost; the pots should be 

 well drained, and the soil rendered tolerably firm. Full 

 exposure to sun and air after flowering will be an 

 essential, in order to thoroughly ripen the wood for the 

 following year. 



Show and Decorative Pelargoniums. Large- flowered 

 Show Pelargoniums represent a very extensive and im- 

 portant class of plants, useful for greenhouse decoration, 

 and specially adapted for exhibition as specimens. Decora- 

 tive sorts are, as their name indicates, more especially 

 suited for ornamentation ; their flowers are not so evenly 

 formed, but they are produced in the greatest pro- 

 fusion; the habit is also extremely sturdy and compact. 

 Cuttings should be procured, early in August, from the 

 ripened shoots of plants that have been exposed to the 

 sun until the current year's wood has become hardened. 



Pelargonium continued. 



Every two firm joints, or even one, will, if required, form 

 a short cutting, which, under proper treatment, will be 

 almost certain to grow. Insert them, about 2in. apart, in 

 pots or pans of sandy soil, and place in an ordinary frame, 

 fully exposed to sun. When rooted, pot off singly, in 

 about Sin. pots, and press or ram the soil quite firm; 

 give only a little water, and return the plants to a close 

 frame or house until re-established. If the points are 

 soon afterwards pinched out, three or four new shoots 

 will form, and these should be tied down, when large 

 enough to handle, close on the rim of the pot. Keep 

 near the glass, in a cool house, and apply sufficient fire- 

 heat to maintain a night temperature of about 45deg. ; 

 anything above freezing point will, however, suffice in 

 very severe weather. About December, the final potting 

 may be given, and if the plants are wanted in flower 

 early, they should receive no further stopping ; if late, 

 pinch the points out again about the middle of January. 

 Grow on near the glass, in a light, airy structure, 

 and, when the flower-trusses appear, give some weak 

 liquid manure. Show Pelargoniums require good drain- 

 age, and should be kept rather dry than otherwise, par- 

 ticularly in autumn and winter, when progress in growth 

 is but slow. Good fibrous loam, torn up by hand, with 

 about one-fourth decayed manure or dried cow-dung 

 added, and sufficient sand to keep the whole open, will 

 form an excellent compost. It is important that the 

 soil should be rendered firm in potting ; otherwise, the 

 shoots are inclined to become sappy, and lengthen more 

 than is desirable. A good plan is that of preparing 

 the compost some time beforehand, and thoroughly mix- 

 ing it occasionally. 



When the plants are flowering, they should be shaded 

 from sunshine, and be placed where plenty of air 

 can be admitted ; they are at all times most impatient 

 of a close atmosphere. Decorative varieties are now 

 very popular, and are extensively grown, because of their 

 early flowering and compact habit. Young plants of these 

 should not be stopped more than once; they should 

 receive their final potting earlier, and be kept rather 

 warmer in winter, than others which are intended for 

 flowering later in spring. When the season of each is 

 over, and the plants are removed from under glass, they 

 should be placed out of doors, in full sunshine, for about 

 a month, when they may be cut back, and again started 

 into growth. 



Large specimen Pelargoniums are obtained by grow- 

 ing plants for several years. They may receive the treat- 

 ment already described for the first season. After being 

 cut back, about August, they should be kept syringed, 

 and moderately moist at the root, until beginning to 

 break, when they should be shaken out, the roots par- 

 tially pruned, and replaced, with new soil, in pots a size 

 smaller than before. Grow on in a similar way to young 

 plants, and transfer, about the end of the year, to the 

 flowering pots, which, for very large plants, need not 

 exceed Sin. or 9in. in diameter. Timely attention must 

 be given to training and tying the growths, in order to 

 equalise and balance the head. When grown in Sin. or 

 Gin. pots, for ordinary decoration, a piece of matting 

 may be tied round, beneath the rim ; to this, other 

 pieces may be temporarily attached for tying out the 

 shoots. As the wood solidifies, it will usually remain 

 in the position in which it has been placed, and the ties 

 may be removed. Thus, established plants may be grown 

 several years in pots of a similar size, the soil being 

 annually renewed, and due attention given to feeding 

 with manure water, or artificial manure, at the time the 

 flowers are being formed, and when they are expanding. 



Fancy Pelargoniums. These form a class of plants 

 with an exceedingly compact habit ; their flowers, though 

 small, are prettily marked, and borne in the greatest 

 profusion. They are tenderer than the large-flowered 



