186 
LIST OF GREENHOUSE SHRUBS. 
must not be allowed to flag- for want of water, neither should they be overwatered^ 
either of which are usually fatal. Cuttings of the young- wood taken off in April, 
planted in pots of sand covered with a bell-glass, and plunged in a gentle heat, 
will strike root very freely. 
PEN^A. 
P. SQUAMOSA. A remarkable plant v/ith rose-coloured flowers; it is very scarce, 
and is generally considered difficult to keep. The great nicety is in watering ; if 
not well drained, and there is the least stagnation of water, the plant is soon 
seriously injured, if it does not totally perish. A good soil for it is equal parts of 
leaf mould, heath mould, and sandy loam. Cuttings of half-ripened wood planted 
in pots of sand, plunged in a gentle hotbed, and covered with a bell-glass, will 
quicklv strike root. 
PETUNIA. 
For the culture of Petunia, see Vol. I. page 7 ; and Vol. II. pages 173, 
and 219. 
PROSTANTHERA. 
P. LASiANTHUS. This is very handsome, but the flowers are remarkably 
fugitive ; it should be potted in a mixture of equal parts of sandy loam and heath 
mould, and should stand in an airy part of the g-reenhouse. Cuttings of half-ripened 
wood planted in pots of soil, and plunged in a gentle heat, will readily strike root. 
PELARGONIUM. 
The beautiful varieties of this extensive genus are so numerous, and the names 
so arbitrary, that any attempt at giving a list would be quite superfluous, they are 
all very beautiful and very easy of culture ; the general particulars of which may be 
stated as follows : — 
1. All the species and varieties which are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, 
require the shelter of the greenhouse ; but, with a few exceptions, all will flourish 
in the open borders during the summer months. 
2. The tuberous rooted kinds should all be potted in a mixture of equal parts 
of light turfy loam, heath mould, rotten dung, and sand. They also require 
particularly well draining, and when not in a growing state they must be kept 
perfectly free from water ; but at the seasons of growth and flowering they require 
a good supply. 
3. All the tuberous rooted kinds are propagated by a division of the roots 
during the season of their torpidity. 
4. The herbaceous species and varieties will thrive in any light rich soil, and 
are usually propagated by cuttings of both the stems and roots, also by seeds. 
5. The succulent kinds should be potted in the same soil as the tuberous 
rooted ones. They must be well drained, as recommended above, and require but 
little water at any time, but especially during the winter months. 
6. All the shrubby kinds are of the most easy growth. A soil composed of two 
parts of sandy loam, two parts well rotted dung, one part heath mould, and one 
part fine sand. 
7. They are propagated most readily by cuttings of the half-ripened wood 
any time, either in spring or summer. The best way, if convenient, is to prepare a 
gentle hotbed, place a frame over it, and cover it with about six inches of old bark 
