THE PELARGONIUM. 
183 
knife, so as to leave a smooth base, for if the bark is lacerated or 
braised, the chances are very much against the success of that 
cutting. In the hands of a practised cultivator, this is almost a 
momentary operation, for some thousands may be prepared in 
a day; and when a number are ready, they should be dibbled 
into the soil of the bed, taking particular care to press the earth 
closely about them, to exclude air and prevent their removal, 
either by water or. worms — about two inches apart is a good dis¬ 
tance—and when all are in, let them be well watered to settle 
the soil around them; the lights of the frame must be kept 
close and shaded from the sun until the cuttings are rooted, 
when air must be given in gradual quantities until they will bear 
a full exposure, observing to keep them properly supplied with 
water during the whole of the time. When the young plants are 
able to bear the full influence of the sun they should be potted 
off, placing each one by itself into what are called sixty-sized pots. 
The soil for this purpose should be light and moderately rich, 
such as would be afforded by a mixture of half leaf-mould and 
the remainder loam and rotten manure, adding sufficient sand to 
make the mass porous. It should be broken up rather finely, 
and well incorporated. In potting, place a number of small 
pieces of potsherds in the bottom of each pot for drainage, and 
press the earth firmly round the stems, and stand the plants in a 
shaded situation out of doors, to establish themselves, which 
will occupy about a month. During this period it is of course 
necessary to supply them in a regular manner with water—a 
moderate quantity once a day is usually enough, meeting the ex¬ 
tremes of weather by giving an extra allowance in the one case, 
and by protecting them from deluging showers on the other hand, 
the object being to preserve about the plants a kindly humid 
atmosphere, as it is most conducive to a full development of new 
parts. For this purpose it is of as much consequence to water 
the surrounding soil as even the plants themselves, and if the 
bed on which the pots stand has been properly prepared with 
ashes, no injury of any kind can result from this practice, and 
it will be well to thoroughly saturate it every day. We prefer to 
strike the cuttings as early as they can be obtained, making use 
of the hot-bed to facilitate the process, and to observe the last- 
mentioned inducive. mode of treatment—all for the same object—^ 
