THE PELARGONIUM. 
185 
the great object will be to bring them into a completely dormant 
state by the admission of all the air possible, whenever it does 
not actually freeze, or blow in a manner that would endanger 
their safety on the stages. Thus, with a very moderate supply 
of water and no fire, the plants may be brought into a state of 
rest, beneficial to themselves, and causing little trouble to the 
cultivator—out of which they arouse at the proper time, with all 
the additional vigour naturally to be expected from the condensed 
energy thus imparted. Nor are plants thus treated near so liable 
to attacks from mildew, spot, or insects, as are those which have 
been forced to continue a weakly, because unseasonable, growth. 
In February, a good heap of compost, clean pots, drainage, and 
sticks should be prepared; and, after thoroughly cleaning the 
plants, let them all be repotted. The soil now should be 
stronger than that in which they have stood through the winter; 
its proportions may be about one half rich turfy loam, one fourth 
decayed vegetable mould (some cultivators use peat), and the re¬ 
mainder thoroughly rotten manure, adding to the whole silver 
sand, in quantity proportionate to the quality of the staple. If 
the loam is of an adhesive, heavy nature, and no better can be 
obtained, it may be necessary to put as much sand as mentioned 
for the minor components of the mass ; otherwise, much less 
will do. This, of course, like the proportions of the whole, will 
require to be varied according to the nature of each, at the dis¬ 
cretion of the operator. 
Particular care should be taken to properly mix the whole, so that 
each may be intimately blended one with another ; and, to further 
this end, should the soil be somewhat damp, and therefore difficult 
to work by hand, a rough screen may be used, but on no account 
should it be finely sifted. The shift requisite now will be for the 
small plants from sixties into forty-eights, while those which are 
stronger may be placed into one or, perhaps, two sizes larger, 
according as they promise to be fine, or otherwise. The roots 
should be carefully separated, and the outside of the old ball of 
soil removed, spreading the former evenly among the new soil 
as it is placed in the pot, keeping the best of them near the sur¬ 
face ; and after stopping and tying, the plants may be returned to 
their places, and have a gentle watering, to settle the new soil 
about their roots. The frequent observance of this “ stopping,” 
