88 



THE FLORIST AND P0M0LOGIST. 



consequently, greater fruitfulness ; and when in the fruiting stage, by enabling 

 the roots to take up an extra quantity of food, and to supply it uniformly 

 throughout the successive stages of fruiting, and thereby giving power to the 

 plant to mature, in the greatest possible perfection, its fruit. A. P. S. 



THE FANCY PELARGONIUM. 



This plant, although one of comparatively easy culture, is, perhaps, more 

 generally mismanaged than any other. Instead of short, sturdy specimens, 

 how frequently are they weak, drawn, and sickly, when with an ordinary 

 amount of care they might have been all that could be desired. As a decora- 

 tive plant its merit is very great, producing, as it does, large masses of 

 flower of the gayest and most varied colours — in fact, by slightly varying the 

 ordinary treatment it may be had in bloom nearly the whole of the year. 



The mode of treatment which I have found most successful is as follows, 

 commencing with the propagation of the plant : — To insure success, the cuttings 

 should be moderately firm and well-ripened shoots ; the method of making 

 them is too well known to need description here. The soil in^ which^ they 

 thrive best is thoroughly decomposed loam and dung ; this, with a liberal 

 admixture of sharp silver sand, with the addition of a little leaf mould for the 

 cuttings, is all that is necessary to grow them in perfection. Having a supply 

 of the foregoing, next procure some clean 48-sized pots, well drain them with 

 broken potsherds, make the soil fine, fill them, and press moderately firm; then 

 insert the cuttings, as many as the pot will hold without crowding ; make them 

 quite tight, and the operation is complete. Now set in alight airy place, pro- 

 tected from heavy rains. Do not shade, as they will bear any amount of light ; 

 give occasional supplies of water, and in three weeks or a month they will have 

 struck root. When rooted sufficiently, pot them off separately into small 60- 

 sized pots, taking care to preserve as much of the root as possible ; after 

 potting, place them where they can be kept moderately close and warm. As 

 soon as established, give abundance of air; and should green fly make its 

 appearance, fumigate immediately. This is of the greatest importance. Their 

 next shift may be into 48-sized pots, in which, after growing a few joints, they 

 may be stopped, which will cause them to break, and make dwarf bushy plants. 

 If they have been well attended to, they will be ready for their final shift by 

 the middle of November into 32-sized pots, which will be large enough for the 

 first season. Well drain the pots and use the compost rather coarser than 

 before. After this keep them rather close for a few days, until they are esta- 

 blished, when, on all favourable opportunities, they should have abundance of 

 air. The night temperature need not exceed 42° : it is a common mistake to 

 keep Fancies too warm. Carefully remove all decayed foliage, and keep the 

 stage, glass, and all about them perfectly clean. In watering, great care must 

 be taken ; at this season it is better to keep them rather on the side of dryness 

 than otherwise. If possible, choose a fine bright morning for this operation. 

 Make a little fire, and open the sashes at the same time to dispel the damp, so 

 that the house may become perfectly dry before closing, which should be done 

 early to dispense with fire heat as much as possible. As soon as shoots are 

 sufficiently long they should be tied out ; fasten a piece of string beneath the 

 rim of the pot, and draw the shoots down gradually as they elongate When 

 the days lengthen, they will require rather more water, and occasionally a little 

 weak liquid manure may be given them— sheep or deer dung is the best. As 

 the plants progress, they will require all the space that can be given them. 

 Pay every attention to them now, as it is of the utmost importance that they 



