130 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



duced. Some of the old varieties possess an agreeable odor, 

 but are inferior in flowers, and unworthy of being placed in 

 a good collection. It is observable that when nature has 

 been chary in awarding a sweet and delicate perfume, 

 she has been more lavish in their beauty, which has been 

 the case with this. It has not only beautiful flowers, but 

 they often appear in large trusses, making some of the plants 

 appear a perfect sheet of beauty. Hybridizing was not so 

 well understood until the father of that system (Mr. Sweet, 

 an English florist) commenced. Colvill, Dennis, and Garth 

 afterwards appeared, and still propagate. By their indus- 

 try we get new varieties annually ; and it is to be hoped 

 they may meet with a corresponding remuneration. 



The Geranium is of easy culture, generally speaking, 

 though some hybrids are more difficult than others, without 

 a propagating house. When this is the case the amateur 

 should abandon them for other varieties. The seeds should 

 be sown in the spring, in a pan or box of light rich soil, 

 and when the plants have formed six leaves, pot them sin- 

 gly into two inch pots, and regularly water them. When 

 the pots are filled with roots, shift them into one a size 

 larger, and in the fall into one of four inch, giving them a 

 good drainage, and treat them the same as full grown 

 plants. In February the plants should be shifted again 

 into one a size larger, and the top soil removed without dis- 

 turbing the roots, and fresh soil put in and watered to pro- 

 mote their growth. In July, after your plants are done 

 flowering, cut them down, and repot the old roots into a 

 three inch pot ; the plant will flower tolerably well the next 

 season. The tops should be converted into cuttings by cut- 

 ting them through the fourth joint from the top with a sharp 



