78 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



window. Cuttings started in spring, if shifted, kept 

 growing and pinched back occasionally, should be in 

 splendid condition for early spring blooming. In 

 growing Geraniums never lose sight of the fact that 

 stocky, many-branched plants give flowers in abun- 

 dance ; tall, spindly plants the reverse. A Geranium 

 should always be as broad as it is high to be at its 

 best. Ivy Geraniums need extra care to keep them 

 low and stocky. Water sparingly and give abundant 

 sunshine if you wish these to bloom. 



Geranium seeds come up very irregularly, so that 

 it is well not to disturb the ground for some time after 

 the proper season of germination has passed. In this 

 way many extra plants are secured. 



L 



Gloxinias 



IKE all fine seeds the Gloxinias often give a sur- 

 prising number of plants from a single packet. 

 The seed is sown on the surface of small flats in the 

 house and the plants appear in about ten days. They 

 are very tender at first and must be protected from 

 undue heat, moisture, cold or draughts. They may be 

 potted when large enough and plunged in the shady 

 side of the sand-box, in a cold-frame, on the east side 

 of the house, or in a shady corner in the open ground, 

 where they will be protected from the sun during the 

 hottest part of the day. Keep the soil constantly 

 moist; a light mulch of sphagnum moss or lawn clip- 



