PELARGONIUMS. 



PELARGONIUM'S. 



and about six inches high, stop them, that 

 they may throw out lateral or side shoots. 

 When they have made their shoots, repot 



SHOW PELARGONIUMS. 



them in 48*5, in equal parts turfy loam, 

 peat, and decomposed cow or stable dung, 

 with a good proportion of road or river 

 sand, the pots being thoroughly drained 

 with potsherds or oyster-shells ; thin out 

 the leaves and small shoots occasionally, 

 to throw the whole sap into the shoots 

 which are to produce flowers. When 

 plunged into the border to flower, these 

 plants will be benefited by being lifted 

 occasionally to prevent them from rooting 

 through the bottom of the pots. Those 

 for spring forcing will require a further 

 shift in September ; and the fancy varieties, 

 being more delicate growers, will require 

 more drainage ; and a little charred cow 

 dung in rough pieces over the potsherds 

 will be found beneficial. 



Fancy Sorts for Specimens. When 

 autumn-flowering plants are required, take 

 cuttings in early summer, when they will 

 strike freely ; fill the pot half full of broken 

 potsherds, then add a compost of equal 

 parts of good turfy loam, peat, and well- 



decomposed cow dung and leaf mould, with 

 a good portion of silver-sand. By the end 

 of July the plants will require to be re- 

 potted : take care that this is repeated as 

 often as roots fill the pots. As the season 

 advances, a little heat will make them 

 expand their blossoms more freely. For 

 large fine-grown specimens select a strong 

 plant, and pot in a compost consisting of 

 two parts good turfy loam, one of leaf 

 mould, one of well-decomposed cow dung, 

 and a good portion of silver sand. After a 

 summer's free growth, assisted by frequent 

 watering, about the beginning of July begin 

 to diminish the quantity of water, so that 

 the wood may be thoroughly hardened 

 before cutting down. By the end of July 

 the plants should be shaken clean out of 

 the soil, the roots pruned at the points, 

 and repotted in a similar compost. In 

 November they should be potted again ; 

 and in February they will require another 

 shift, when each shoot should be stopped 

 at the fourth joint, to induce lateral shoots. 



ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. 



When these laterals are of sufficient length, 

 they must be stopped again. If intended 

 to flower in May, stop in July ; if in June, 

 stop in January ; and if in July, stop in 

 February. 



