114 
PELARGONIUM. 
them a gentle watering, after which the pots should 
be placed in a hot-bed frame, where there is a mode¬ 
rate heat, the sashes of which should be kept close 
for a few days after they are first placed in the bed, 
and they must be shaded from the sun; after which 
a little air should be admitted in the evening to pre¬ 
vent their damping, and a little water may be given 
to such as are dry, but not over their leaves, as it often 
causes them to damp off, and prevents their rooting. 
After the first fortnight, air should be admitted more 
freely in the evening, and in calm warm weather, the 
glass should be left open during the night, as atmos¬ 
pheric air is of great help to them when they begin to 
grow; but it should be shut down close in the day, 
and well shaded. In five or six weeks, they will be 
rooted, and should be gradually hardened to the sun 
and air; and as soon as they commence growing, 
they should be shifted, with their balls of earth entire, 
into the next size pots, and placed in a sheltered sit¬ 
uation, until the season arrives for taking them into 
the house. 
Where there is not the convenience of a hot-bed 
or frame, the cuttings may be planted in pots of six 
or nine inches diameter, filled with light loam or com¬ 
post, to within an inch of the rim, and the cuttings 
inserted around the sides of the pots, and placed on 
the front stage of the green house, or in any warm 
situation, where they can be shaded from the sun, and 
watered occasionally, until they have rooted. The 
cuttings may also be planted in the open ground in a 
shady border, in June, July, or August, where they 
will nearly all root, if protected from heavy rains ; 
