of Pelargoniums. 293 



mould; it should then be raked over two or three times, to re- 

 move such parts of it as may not have been broken fine enough: 

 sifting gives more labor, and does more harm than good, except 

 for cuttings. 



The time when I generally put in my cuttings is the month of 

 August, although the month of June will do as well; cuttings 

 put in in July do not do so well, owing to the great heat of that 

 month. I prefer the month of August, because the plants gen- 

 erally produce better cuttings at that time, and they do not have 

 to struggle against the heat so much as those put in in June, for 

 then the weather gets warmer; whereas it gradually gets cooler 

 after the second week of August: the month of June may an- 

 swer very well in the neighborhood of Boston, as the summer is 

 generally much cooler there than here.* The cuttings should be 

 about four inches in length, and should be taken off with a heel, if 

 possible, and cut smoothly across with a sharp knife, and divest- 

 ed of all but the two or three top leaves; they should then each 

 be put into a No. pot, [called number one's around Boston,] 

 holding about half a pint, filled with the above mentioned com- 

 post, well sifted, and a little sand mixed with it: after being 

 moderately watered with a fine rose they are to be put into a 

 moderate hot-bed, the sashes of which must be kept down and 

 no air admitted, except when it is necessary to water them, which 

 should be done moderately for a week or ten days, observing to 

 shade them whilst the sun shines upon the frame; after ten days' 

 time air may be gradually admitted, and, at the end of four or 

 five weeks from the time of putting them in, they will be well 

 rooted; they are then to be put into No. h pots, [number two's 

 around Boston,] and placed in a cold frame until they are housed 

 for the winter. 



The house in which they are placed should be kept cool, the tem- 

 perature not to exceed 40° or 43°; the plants should have plenty of 

 air, plenty of light, and plenty of room, and should be hut sparingly 

 watered; particular attention to these particulars is necessary, for if 

 the house is kept too close, and too warm, and too much water 

 given, the plants will begin to grow and become drawn; they must 

 just be kept in statu quo until they are put into the forcing house, 

 of which I am now about to speak. About the 15th of January 

 some of the plants are to be shifted into No. 1 pots, [three's 

 around Boston,] and placed in a house having a minimum tempe- 

 rature of 50°, where they must be kept near the glass^ have 

 plenty of air, plenty of room, plenty of light, and plenty of 



* Very little. The difference between the temperature of the month of 

 July of Boston a^id vicinity, and New York, is trifling. The growing 

 season is nearly two months longer around New York, but it is very 

 little warmer. — Cond. 



