262 THE FLORIST AND 



night after they have done flowering. It is best to let the plants stand out 

 doors that time to get a little hardened. Take the cutting off below 

 the third joint, and then cut off smooth under the joint, allowing all the 

 leaves to remain, except those at the joint" to be inserted, which are 

 best taken off. By using a small thumb pot, and inserting one cutting in 

 each, in the centre, with good drainage in the bottom of the pot, of finely 

 broken crocks, the cutting as soon as it has struck, and the roots showing 

 outside the ball which will be in about three weeks, may be at once shifted 

 into larger pots without disturbing the roots. The cuttings will strike best 

 if placed in a cool frame, and kept near the glass, shaded and moist, but 

 not wet. 



About October, if the plants are strong, they may be shifted into four 

 inch pots ; in December, they may have their shoots stopped, keeping them 

 somewhat dry till the eyes have pushed, and as soon as they have fairly 

 started, they may be shifted into a six or eight inch pot, which is large 

 enough for them to flower in the first season. The plants may be again 

 stopped in February, and the branches regulated, after which they will re- 

 quire no more shifting till after they are cut down, when they may be pre- 

 pared for making specimens. 



We will now suppose, that we have a one year old plant from the cut- 

 ting, and in the month of July, cut the plants hard back into old wood, so 

 as to form as neat a bush when broken as possible, using a sharp knife 

 on all occasions, as the wound heals over much sooner. Keep the plants 

 dry till the shoots are pushing freely. By the end of August, the eyes 

 will have started sufficient to reduce the roots. Take the plants, shake the 

 soil entirely from them, pruning the roots somewhat closely and repot into 

 the smallest size pots the roots will go into. Place them in a frame and 

 keep them close till they get established, occasionally damping them over- 

 head with a fine rose, after which, give plenty of air night and day, merely 

 keeping them from drenching rains and blustering winds. 



All plants intended for exhibition or fine display, are housed by or soon 

 after the first of September, having received a shift into a size larger pot. 

 In October, all the plants intended for the May shows, receive their final 

 shift into the flowering pots. Those intended for flowering in June, should 

 also receive a shift as the pots become filled with roots. In December, the 

 June flowering will require stopping, and in February, they may receive 

 their shift into the flowering pots, after which no Pelargonium should be 

 shifted, as the consequence if potted later is, that the wood does not get 

 sufficiently ripened to bring a good head of bloom, but have a vigorous 



