328 On the Propagation and Culture of 



Art. III. On the Propagation and Cidture of Prize Pe- 

 largoniums. By James W. Russell. 



The great improvement in the color and shape of the 

 flowers, has given entirely a new stimulus to the cultiva- 

 tors of this delightful family of plants. At the prize exhi- 

 bitions in England the plants are objects of great beauty, 

 the whole contour of the plant being so perfect, spreading 

 in a horizontal direction, so that the plant completely cov- 

 ers the pot from the view of the admiring multitude, — the 

 close, compact and spreading top, thickly studded with 

 flowers of the most charming shades and colors, mark it 

 at once as one of the choicest of Flora's productions. 



In order to be successful in obtaining a fine specimen 

 plant, raised from a cutting, preference should be given to 

 a strong, short-jointed growth ; about 3 inches in length or 

 less, but not more, would be found to be the best suited for 

 this particular mode of growth ; a good method of obtain- 

 ing the cuttings would be to cut in an old plant early in the 

 spring, and place it in an airy situation near the glass: and 

 when the lateral growths arrive at the length proposed, cut 

 them ofl" close to the old wood, and take off" two or three 

 of the lower leaves, and they will be ready for the earth, 

 which should be light vegetable mould, mixing with it one 

 third pit or fresh water sand. The smallest size thumb-pot 

 should be used. Having the cuttings ready, and the pots 

 and compost at hand, fill them with the earth nearly to the 

 rim, and put a little sand on the top ; smooth it off" and 

 press it gently down, and insert the cutting in the centre of 

 the pot, one inch in depth ; a piece of porous pot placed for 

 the base of the cutting to rest on, would facilitate the emis- 

 sion of roots ; a moderate bottom heat to plunge them in, 

 with a slight shade over the glass through the hours of 

 sunshine, with a little water when needed, finishes the 

 work until the plants begin to grow; at this period air 

 must be admitted to circulate through the plants at every 

 opportunity, except in severe cold weather. 



Now will be the time for stopping the growth, by cutting 

 out one fourth of an inch of the leading shoot; this will be 

 the means of starting the lateral or side shoots, which are 



