THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
195 
They are more liable to be destroyed by excess of moisture than by any 
other cause. Most of them inhabit those parts of the world, such as the 
Cape of Good Hope and Mexico, where they are often subjected to seasons 
of extreme dryness, and it seems from what we know of their constitution 
that nature has fitted them for the situations in which she has placed 
them. 
In cultivating them, therefore, in this country, we must guard against 
too much wet, by potting them in well-drained pots, and using soil which 
will allow the water to filter readily through it. For this purpose, take 
one half free loam and peat, one fourth brick-dust, and one fourth silver 
sand; mix them well together, and add a little leaf-mould, if it can be 
readily procured. This will make an excellent soil for such plants. 
Light is the next thing to be considered. In those countries where 
they are indigenous, they are fully exposed, growing frequently on rocks, 
on sand, and sometimes even on trees. In cultivation they must, on this 
account, be placed close to the window, and fully exposed to the influence 
of the sun’s rays. In the summer months most of them succeed very well 
if turned out of doors, and a proper situation chosen for them. 
CLASS II. 
Pelargoniums (any of the var.) 
Aloysia citriodora (sweet-scented verbena.) 
Fuchsia globosa. 
„ coccinea. 
Fuchsia microphylla major. 
„ Ricartonia, and many others. 
Alonsoa incisifolia, 
,, linearis. 
The treatment which these must receive differs materially from the last. 
They should be grown in rich soil, such as friable loam well mixed with 
sand, leaf-mould, and cow or liorse-dung; about one half of loam, 
and the other half made up of the other ingredients. This should be 
procured a year before it is to be used, laid up in a heap, and fre¬ 
quently turned over. In the winter months, when they are either not 
growing, or growing very slowly, they will require but little water; but in 
spring and summer this must be liberally given to them whenever they 
are dry. 
The pruning of these plants is a very particular operation I have 
known several ladies kill their Pelargoniums, or allow others to do so, by 
pruning or cutting them down at an improper season. The plants I allude 
to had flowered beautifully all the summer and autumn, but began to look 
bare in winter; they then cut them down, and the result was, they never 
grew again. Now this should never be done at this season, particularly 
with room plants, because, if they are not extremely vigorous, they will 
not be able to form fresh buds, and the old stem and roots must neces¬ 
sarily die. 
