l8o NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



Four-inch and smaller pots would require the size mentioned, 

 but from that to eight-inch pots may be drained with a 

 coarser kind, say the size of Windsor beans, and for larger 

 pots two or three times these dimensions will answer. The 

 depth of the drainage must also be guided by the size of the 

 pots. Three-quarter inch will be enough for small pots, one 

 inch for medium sizes, and for larger sizes i ^ inch and even 

 two-inch will occasionally be required. It is an error, how- 

 ever, to drain too much, as it must obviously be at the 

 expense of the material in which the plant has to feed. A 

 proper and careful regulation of the drainage is, therefore, 

 necessarily required, in order that the object aimed at may 

 be perfectly secured. 



Standard Geraniums. It is an axiom inflowerculture 

 that at least for the amateur one fine, well-grown specimen is- 

 worth more than any number of spindling, over-crowded, 

 or sickly plants. No plant responds more readily to careful 

 and generous treatment than a geranium. A correspondent 

 of Gardening gives the following report of experience in 

 training a fine specimen: "It takes two or three years, and 

 a great deal of patience, to train a geranium to 4 or 5 feet 

 high with a good head, but when achieved it thoroughly 

 repays itself. A Vesuvius geranium grown by me s*ome years 

 ago is now a standard 6 feet high, giving a profusion of bloom 

 eight months out of the year. During the Summer months 

 last year it had forty to forty-five fair trusses of bloom 

 (outdoors), and continued giving a few trusses up to the 

 beginning of this year. It has only been potted three times- 

 during its growth, and always has plenty of liquid manure 

 while in flower. A good subject to commence with is a 

 lanky geranium that has survived the Winter, such as is 

 generally to be found in most collections. Carefully pinch 

 off any side shoots there may be, and repot in a fairly rich 

 compost ; the stem should be tied to a stout stick, and made 

 as straight as possible. Now all that is necessary is to nip 

 off all side shoots and flower buds the moment they appear 

 and give twice a week liquid manure. When sufficiently 

 tall, pinch off the top, which will at once induce laterals ; it 

 will then, with judicious training, form a good head, and 

 when this is achieved, it can be allowed to bloom. The 

 growth will be greatly retarded if the plant is allowed to- 



