132 THE amateur's geeenhouse 



not need elaborate explanations, for to classify and define at 

 length the whole of the garden pelargoniums would consume 

 time and space that both writer and reader would prefer to 

 occupy with matters of a more strictly practical nature. 



As to pelargoniums in general, it must be observed that 

 their popularity is due alike to their brilliant and various 

 colours both of leaf and flower, and their wonderful adaptation 

 to the circumstances which influence the selection and cultiva- 

 tion of exotic plants in this country. Our summer sunshine 

 is sufficiently fierce for them ; and although our winters are 

 always too wet and usually too cold, the most commonplace 

 means of protection suffice for their preservation. They are 

 most easily multiplied by means of either seeds or cuttings ; 

 they grow rapidly and flower freely, and altogether require less 

 care and make more show than any other plants that properly 

 belong to the greenhouse and the garden. The difi'erent groups 

 of fancies, zonals, tricolors, and the rest, require ditferent 

 management, but all agree in loving light ; all are adapted for 

 pot culture ; and the greater part of them thrive in a compara- 

 tively poor soil and a dry atmosphere. During winter dryness 

 is quite as important as warmth for their preservation ; 

 for, indeed, when kept cool, dry, and well aired, they will 

 sufi"er but little if the thermometer in the house should 

 descend to 27° Fahr. ; in other words, they will endure five 

 degrees of frost, but they should never be intentionally sub- 

 jected to a temperature below 35°, and an average of 40° is 

 safer for their winter keeping. 



. Large Plowerixg or Show Pelargoniums. — These are 

 the aristocracy of the race, and until quite lately, they were 

 the most attractive subjects presented at fiower-shows in the 

 months of May and June. They are worthy the best care of the 

 amateur because of their fine decorative properties and variety 

 of colours. The cultivation may be commenced at any season, 

 but the best time is the beginning of the year, and neat young 

 nursery plants are the best to begin with. If when they come 

 to hand, they are nicely rooted, shift them into a larger size, 

 if, however, they are not well rooted, defer the repotting for a 

 month. In either case they should be placed in a light and 

 airy position in the greenhouse, and be watered cautiously. 

 A fortnight or so after they have been repotted pinch out the 

 points of the young shoots to promote the formation of bushy 



