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THE CUI.TIVATIOM OF PRIZE PELAEGONinMS. 
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[The above is a ropresentatiou of the Pelargomum presented by Mr. Oughton, through the Royal Botanic Society, to tlic Queen.] 
protection of a frame or hand glasses in the open ground, and in light rich sandy soil, g'i\'ing- Httlc 
water for the first week or two, except a slight sprinkling on warm evenings, hut exposing the plants 
to the dew throughout the night. AATien the cuttings are well rooted, which will he seen by their mak- 
ing robust growth, and short stiff foKage, they must be potted singly into pots suitable to their size 
and the state of theii- roots, using a compost of well enriched turfy loam, and thoroughly decomposed 
two-year-old cow dung, in equal proportions, with one-tMrd peat, all sifted through a coarse sieve, and 
liberally intermixed with silver sand. In potting, take care to use plenty of di'ainage, covering it with 
rough pieces of turfy loam, as nothing is more injurious to the Pelargonium than stagnant watei- 
about the roots. "Wlien the plants are potted, place them in a cold frame, and keep them close in the 
day-time, until they are well rooted ; but withdraw the sashes, and expose them on dewy nights. As 
soon as they are properly established, remove the sash altogether ; and when they become inm-ed to 
fidl air, remove them from the frame, and place them thinly upon boards, until the time arrives for 
housing them for the ^vinter. 
The time for placing Pelargoniums in their vsdntor quarters, depends entirely upon ch-cumstances. So 
long as the autumn is fine and mild, they are best out ; but, at the same time, great care must be taken 
to have them secui-ely housed before they become wet, or what gardeners sometimes term water-logged. 
Too much water at the root dm-ing dull weather, and a cold stagnant atmosphere, is, in mj' opinion, 
the principal cause of the sjMt — a disease to which Pelargoniiuns are subject, and from which, when 
once attacked, it is difficult to recover them. Plants of Pelargoniums wliich once become stunted or 
unhealthy, may be considered as useless for the leading piu'poses of cultivation, and should never be 
used. A young, vigorous specimen, grown steadily from the cutting-pot, is the secret of a fine and 
permanent specunens. The plants being thoroughly estabUshed will require to be re-potted in Novem- 
ber, using pots suitable to the size of the plants, and the same compost as before directed, with the 
exception of the peat-earth. If properly managed, the plants will require a second shift in February, 
and then each shoot should be stopped at the fourth joint, to induce them to produce lateral shoots ; 
when these are sufficiently long, tie each out in a horizontal position, so as to lay a proper fomida- 
