TREATMENT IN THE HOL'SE. 



99 



will materially injure, and in many cases kill the Pelargoniums growing 

 beside them. 



" To grow Cape Ericeae and Geraniaceae well together, would require far 

 nicer management than I profess to be acquainted mth. I know, how- 

 ever, that heaths will bear a degree of cold in the greenhouse in winter, 

 (which, I am persuaded, is beneficial to their health), that will materially 

 injure Cape Geraniaceae. If therefore a particular point is to be found, 

 to which the thermometer may be allowed to sink in the inside of a 

 greenhouse during a severe frost, which will preserv e the Geraniaceae fi'om 

 injmy, and not produce too much heat for the safety of the heath, it is 

 one which I have never been able to ascertain. 



I am speaking however of these two famihes so as to have them in 

 a high state of perfection. They may be both kept in the same house so 

 as to make a tolerable appearance ; but, I beheve not in such a state of 

 perfection as if they were in separate houses ; for the fire heat which is 

 absolutely necessary during severe frost for the one, is, as far as my obser- 

 vation goes, sure to be in some degree injm-ious to the other." 



Most of the true Cape species are much hardier than the English 

 hybrids, for many of the former, particularly the tuberous-rooted kinds, 

 stand in the open borders of this country diuing winter, while none of 

 the latter, so far as we know, have ever been found to do so. The same 

 degree of cold that would not injure the most tender Erica, would be fatal 

 to the whole tribe of hybrid Geraniums. 



During winter, frost must be excluded by covering the Geranium house 

 with canvass, or by the apphcation of artificial heat from the fire, either 

 through smoke flues or hot water pipes, so as to keep the temperature 

 from falling below thirty two degrees, but it should by no means be 

 allowed to rise by the same means to forty degrees ; a higher temperature 

 during the day and by sun heat is quite a different thing. 



On the general treatment of Pelargoniums, we find the following com- 

 munication of Mr. Appleby, in Vol. V., p. 55 of Horticultm-al Cabinet, 

 so replete with good sense and practical skill, that we cannot do better 

 than give the quotation almost at length. 



" The season to take Geraniums into the greenhouse depends upon the 

 weather ; and as all Cape plants are much healtliier, and flower more freely 

 the more they are exposed to the full ah, so long as frosts keep oft', I delay 

 the taking them in : in fact, tliis last season, I did not house them generally 

 until the middle of October. Choice kinds I have covered up with mats 

 or large sheets of canvass, elevated on stakes, on such nights as are likely 

 to be frosty. 



H 2 



