GERANIUM. 131 



knife, and trimming the leaves ; then stick them round the 

 pan as previously directed for cuttings ; place them in the 

 shade and keep them moist, and in six weeks they will be 

 well rooted and ready to pot off, and be placed into their 

 winter quarters. The cuttings will flower to perfection 

 in the spring, which makes it necessary to propagate every 

 season. 



The Geranium is tender, and will not stand frost, and 

 should therefore be kept in a place where the cold will 

 never be below the freezing point. Should the thermome- 

 ter fall to 26 Fahrenheit, where your plants are, remove 

 them into a dark place, when the frost will come out grad- 

 ually. No ill effects will then result ; but if you take them 

 into a room where light is, and the room warmer than 

 where frosted, you will lose your plants ; neither does this 

 plant like a damp place for the winter, which is injurious. 

 The Geranium should never be placed out of doors before 

 the last of May, when all danger of frost is over. All these 

 little items should be borne in mind by the amateur, as one 

 night may derange all your hopes. 



The soil best suited for this plant is one third rotten ma- 

 nure, from an old cucumber bed, and two thirds sandy 

 loam, well incorporated and exposed to the weather for three 

 months before used. The season of potting will depend 

 more on your plants than any set time, as you must be 

 guided by circumstances. July is the best time to cut them 

 down, or they may be delayed until August if you have ta- 

 ken cuttings. When your plants are attacked with the 

 green fly, you must either smoke them, or make soap suds 

 with whale-oil soap ; the latter is the safest plan, and done 

 with the least trouble. 



