7 6 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



sandy soil and kept fresh, in a warm house or frame, speedily emit roots, and under 

 good management make attractive flowering plants the following season. 



Pelargonium — Established Plant. 



Specimen Plants. 



Trained plants are sometimes required for conservatory decoration and also for 



exhibition purposes. Commence with 

 young plants that have flowered once, 

 selecting those with dwarf, well-balanced 

 heads. After these have ceased flower- 

 ing they should be rested in the open, 

 giving only enough water to keep the 

 wood plump. About the second week 

 in August cut them down, shortening 

 to within two or three joints of the main 

 branches (Fig. 36, which shows the 

 cutting down the first and second years). 

 Give no water to the roots for about a 

 fortnight, but daily syringings assist the plants to break strongly and evenly. "When 

 the young shoots are half-an-inch or rather less in length, all the plants should be 

 turned out of the pots, 

 have the soil removed, and 

 the roots freely trimmed, 

 so as to be able to return 

 them to pots two sizes 

 smaller than those they 

 were previously in. For 

 this potting the compost 

 may consist of two parts 

 sound fibrous loam to one of 

 leaf soil and well-decayed 

 manure, with enough sharp 



Sand added to secure porosity. Pot rather lightly, and dispose on a bed of 

 in a shallow pit or frame, placing on the lights in wet weather only. Apply water 

 sparingly till fresh roots have formed. Before the pots become crowded with roots 



Fig. 39. Pelargonium — Flowering Specimen. 



