THE GERANIUM. 113 



them in the cold pit ; in April remove them into the 

 house for flowering. By this treatment no one will be 

 much troubled with insect pest, the universal drawback 

 to growing the Calceolaria. 



Shrubby Calceolarias. — These are propagated by 

 cuttings in September, short young side-shoots taken 

 off, trimmed, and inserted either in pots filled with 

 sandy maiden soil or under handlights in a shady place, 

 and kept moist. Again in the early spring the tops 

 may be taken off and inserted in pots, and placed in a 

 mild heat. 



The Geranium. 



A great deal has been written upon the propagation 

 and cultivation of the Geranium, which may be con- 

 densed into a few words. Some of the species are 

 certainly more difficult to strike from cuttings than 

 others ; but, as a rule, the Geranium will strike freely 

 from cuttings, if taken off and inserted in a prepared 

 bed on an open border facing the south, well closed at 

 the base of the cutting, and kept well watered. A 

 small amount of shade may be afforded them for a week, 

 just to break off the mid-day sun onty. They will strike 

 roots much better this way than by over-nursing them ; 

 or many of the more robust sorts will strike root well 

 if merely inserted in a shady border of any good 

 common soil during the summer months. This applies 

 to both the fancy and the scarlet classes ; the " Tri- 

 colours " are an exception, for they seem to require 

 heat in order to grow well. 



The successful growing of the fancy Geranium may 

 be summed up thus : — Get the young plants potted up 

 by September in small 48-size pots, stop them at once, 

 and every succeeding shoot after, up to February or 

 March. Keep the plants in an airy, light, and cool 

 house, and give them no more water through the winter 

 than will just keep them going, and no more fire heat 

 than will exclude frost. Keep down insect pest by 

 fumigating as soon as anything of the kind appears, 

 shift the plants into their blooming-pots in March, and 



