GERANIUM. 171 



and be so placed as to enjoy the sun till eleven o'clock in 

 the morning. 



As the shrubby kinds grow rather fast, they will some- 

 times fill the pot with their roots, and push them through 

 the opening at the bottom ; they must therefore be moved 

 every two or three weeks in the summer, and the fresh roots 

 which are seen pushing through must be cut off. They 

 should also be newly potted twice in the course of the 

 summer : once about a month after they are placed abroad, 

 and again towards the end of August. When this is done, 

 all the roots on the outside of the ball of earth should be 

 carefully pared off, and as much of the old earth removed 

 as can be done without injuring the plants. If they then 

 require a larger pot, they should be planted in one about 

 two inches wider than that from which they have been re- 

 moved. Some fresh earth should first be placed at the 

 bottom, and on that the plant should be placed in such a 

 manner, that the ball of earth adhering to it may be about 

 an inch below the rim of the pot : it should then be filled 

 up, and the pot a little shaken to settle the earth about the 

 roots : the earth must then be gently pressed down at the 

 top, leaving a little space for water to be given without 

 running over the rim : finally, the plants should be liberally 

 watered, and the stem fastened to a stake, to prevent the 

 winds from displacing the roots before they are newly fixed. 



As the branches advance in growth, and new leaves are 

 formed at the tops of them, the lower ones constantly decay : 

 these should be plucked off every week or fortnight ; as 

 they are not only unsightly, but injurious to the air about 

 the plants. 



" The soil must be renewed, which often washed 

 Loses its treasure of salubrious salts, 

 And disappoints the roots ; the slender roots 

 ('lose interwoven, where they meet the vase 

 Must smooth be shorn away j the sapless branch 



