NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 121 



Summer. The plants will now require shading to 

 prolong the season of bloom, too much air cannot be 

 given. A much larger amount of water is now required ; it 

 will frequently be necessary twice a day. If a can or two 

 of water is thrown upon the floor occasionally during hot sun- 

 shine, it creates a moist and cooler atmosphere. Smoke 

 frequently with tobacco to destroy the green fly. As the 

 plants go out of bloom cut them down, and set them out-of- 

 doors to be repotted, as directed for Autumn treatment. 



Pelargoniums may be grown out of doors in beds and 

 borders. Plant out in November. 



Petunia. Characteristics of a Shoiv Petunia. i. Form. 

 The flower should be round, without notches on the edge, 

 and it should be rather inclined to cup, that is, the outer 

 edges should not bend back. 2. Substance. The petals should 

 be stout, and able to keep the form nearly as long as the colour 

 lasts perfect. 3. Colour. When a self, it should be clear 

 without fading at the edges ; when striped, each stripe should 

 be well defined, and each colour distinct. 4. Size. Each 

 flower should be at least one and a-half to two inches across ; 

 if large they are liable to bend back. 5. Habit. The plant 

 should be rather dwarf, and produce flowers abundantly ; the 

 foliage should be rather small, in order that every flower 

 may be seen distinctly. 



Propagation: by Cuttings. Petunias are easily propagated 

 by cuttings from August to April. The best cuttings are 

 the young tops of rather weakly-growing plants. In Spring 

 the cuttings require a gentle hot-bed ; but in Summer and 

 Autumn they strike root readily enough in a cold pit or. frame 

 or shady border. The cutting pots should be drained in 

 the usual way ; then place a layer of rich, light, very sandy 

 compost nearly up to the rim of the pot ; and lastly, fill up 

 the pot with fine sharp sand ; then give a gentle watering to 

 make it firm. For the cuttings, choose young weak shoots, 

 and cut them off close to a joint, dress off the lower leaves 

 so as to allow about an inch to be planted in the sand, and 

 not more than three or four leaves at the top. Plant them 

 with a short stick, pressing the sand closely to each. The 

 pot may be filled with cuttings in rows across it, or, if space 

 is plentiful, place them out round the edge. Observe that 



