GERANIUMS 



379 



propagated in Midwinter can go into 4s from their 23^-in. pots by 

 the time you give all of your plants their final shift. 



April first, or thereabouts, is usually the time to do this final 

 shifting, and it is always well to mix an 8-in. potful of horn shavings 

 with every wheelbarrowful of soil. If you haven't got the shavings, 

 use a 7- or 8-in. potful of bonemeal. A heavy soil and firm potting 

 will give you stocky plants and large flower trusses. Place your 

 plants, pot on pot, and as they grow space them to allow more room 

 between them. 



If short on bench space, a mild hotbed can be used by the middle 

 of April, or a coldframe by the first of May. You can grow Ge- 

 raniums for Winter flowering, but it doesn't pay. Your customers 

 who have had Geraniums all through the Summer, get tired of them 

 and there are so many other flowering plants to select from. 



Plants which have been used for stock, can be planted out the 

 foUowing Summer and wiU be fine for flowering or to take cuttings 

 from in FaU. Another way is to root cuttings from outdoor plants 

 in flats- filled with a sandy soil about September, and keep them in 

 frames untU the first Chrysanthemums are out of the way, after 

 which they can be potted up into 3s. The most satisfactory way 

 of aU is to bench in Summer the plants you wish to propagate from. 



Fig. 166.— Geranium Mrs. Lawrence. Because of its freedom of bloom, ideal 



habit and charming soft sahnon-pjnk color, Mrs. Lawrence makes one of the finest 



of bedding sorts. You can sell other Geraniums besides Nutt, Poitevine and Hill 



if you give your patrons a chance to see them displayed as shown here 



