6o 



MARKET NURSERY WORK 



pot, and a plant which satisfies in that standard is the plant that 

 is going to live. 



Closely allied as this plant is to the Zonal, its treatment has to 

 be'totally different. For example, we do not make its cuttings 

 in spring and autumn, but in the height of summer. We do not 

 make them from terminal growths, but from the hard well- 

 ripened wood. Compare this sketch with that of the tricolour 

 Geranium cutting. (See Fig. n.) 



The Pelargonium suffers under one disadvantage when com- 

 pared with the Zonal in that it is not a continuous flowerer. 

 Its season of bloom scarcely extends over two months, when the 



plant, having exhausted itself by its 

 marvellous floriferousness, demands 

 a season of rest. We begin to 

 reduce the amount of water given; 

 the leaves, if healthy, turn yellow 

 and fall off, and when that process is com- 

 plete the history of the next generation 

 begins, for, taking the ripened plant in 

 hand, we cut the current year's wood to 

 within J inch of the old and make cuttings 

 of it ; 48-size pots are carefully crocked 

 and filled with sandy soil well firmed, then 

 around the edge of the pot we insert eight 

 of these cuttings, letting them well in, 

 firming them, and only allowing about J inch 

 We immerse them in a pail of water and 

 then stand the pots well in the open exposed to every ray of 

 sunshine of the long summer days. This gives the key to the 

 whole of their cultivation viz., that they must be dealt with 

 hardly and without the slightest attempt to " coddle." 



Throughout August the cuttings receive a daily sprinkling, 

 are kept free from weeds, but otherwise left to themselves. 

 By September they are rooted and emitting leaves, and then 

 quite early they are potted up into small 6o's and given the 

 advantage of a cold frame, so that for a very few days they may 

 be shaded if necessary. The soil they are in is not rich, but con- 

 sists of two parts loam to one of leaf soil and some coarse sand. 



FIG. 1 1 .Cutting of 

 Regal Pelargonium 



appear above soil. 



