Culture of Pelargoniums. 161 



Art. XV. A Method of cultivating Pelargoniums, as practised at 

 Horsforth Hall Gardens. By Mr. Thomas Appleby. 



Sir, 



In describing new methods of cultivating fruits, vegetables, 

 or flowers, it may very probably happen that different persons 

 may at the same time have made the same discoveries, and be 

 using the very same means with equal success; yet, as it must 

 be allowed that a great many cultivators follow the same 

 beaten track of gardening that their forefathers have done, 

 without once thinking it possible to improve it, I think it 

 advisable for every gardener to communicate the results of 

 his own experience. It is for this reason that I ofi^er you the 

 following remarks on growing pelargoniums ; for though there 

 may, no doubt, be many (especially in the nurseries near Lon- 

 don) who practise the same method as myself, I can only say 

 that, as they have not described that method in the Gardener's 

 Magazine, I hope they will not be offended if 1 attempt to do 

 so, and by that means make it more generally known. 



The sorts I subject to this peculiar treatment are those 

 splendid garden varieties of Pelargonium, quinquelobum, 

 zonale, and cucullatum, so generally known, and commonly 

 called geraniums. About the 1st of Julv, I take cuttino-s with 

 three joints, from the sorts I wish to increase ; and with a 

 sharp knife I pare off" the bottom leaves quite close to the 

 stem, and finish preparing the cutting by a clean cut across 

 the bottom joint. The pots to receive them are then made 

 ready : they should be about 9 in. in diameter, and be filled 

 within an inch of the rim with a compost of rotten leaves, 

 loam, and peat, in equal parts ; and the remaining inch with 

 pure virgin loam, which, if it be not naturally light, may be 

 made so by the addition of some clean pit sand. The cut- 

 tings are then put in, close to the pot side, with a small dib- 

 ber, and are pressed pretty tight, giving a good watering, and 

 placing them in a frame facing the south. The size of the 

 frame, of course, should be in proportion to the number of 

 pots. In sunny weather my plants are shaded from nine 

 o'clock till three, or as circumstances require. When they 

 have been in about ten days, a little air is given to them, by 

 propping up the lights behind ; any dead or mouldy leaves 

 are carefully picked off*, and, if they require it, a little water 

 is given, without wetting the leaves. As soon as the cuttings 

 are rooted, they are potted into large 60-pots, in pure light 

 loam, and replaced in the frame, which is kept close for a few 

 days, and shaded until they have struck fresh roots, gradually 

 inuring them to the open air. The lights are then drawn off" 



Vol. VII I. — No. 37. m 



