JULY. 
145 
In the case of Geraniums the middle of August is considered a good time 
to make a commencement (except in the case of Golden Chain, which is always 
surest if in a fortnight earlier); and if all can be put in by the middle of 
September it is a great deal better than later attempts. After trying a good 
many ways in striking all the different varieties of variegated Geraniums I 
prefer striking them and wintering them in eight-inch pots. They are not 
very heavily but carefully crocked. Over the crocks-- is placed a layer of 
mushroom-dung ; and the pot is filled to within 3 inches of the brim with one 
part loam and one part leaf mould, and is then filled up with the same soil 
after mixing another part of coarse pit sand with it. The number of cuttings 
put into each pot varies from eighteen to twenty-four according to the size of 
the sorts. Large cuttings are preferred as those which root soonest, are 
least likely to damp-off, and make the finest plants in spring. These are 
dibbed into the pots immediately they are made, watered, and placed in a. 
position where the pots will stand on a dry bottom, and be fully exposed to the 
sun all day long, with no covering at any time, unless it be to throw off heavy 
and continued rains. Most of the larger leaves are removed in making the 
cuttings, but in no case are they dried before being put into the cutting-pots, 
never being able to discover what was gained by such drying except mischief. 
In hot days, when water may not be needed in the soil, the cuttings are 
slightly dewed over in the evening when the sun has left them. 
I have found that cuttings struck and wintered in pots of the size 
recommended keep much better, and are more conveniently managed, than 
when put into either smaller or larger sizes or into boxes. The advantage 
over boxes I conceive to be derived from the better drainage secured, and the 
more free play of air and light among the plants when in smaller and round 
detachments. The earthenware has also a little to do in the matter. The 
whole winter they are kept very dry, and in spring when shaken out of the 
soil there is a great amount of irritability about the whole plant, and their 
bunches of white roots are almost ready to take up the very sand itself. 
The common scarlet varieties are struck and managed in the same way, except 
that the great bulk of them have been put into boxes to economise space. But 
from the conviction that they do so much better in pots, fewer of them will be 
put into boxes in future, but will be managed the same as detailed in the case 
of the variegated sorts. There are usually struck more than 15,000 plants, 
and a little calculation will show that, at the rate of eighteen to twenty in an 
eight-inch pot, it will not require such a vast space to winter them in. 
I will not at present enter into the many methods which might be adopted 
under various circumstances, but have simply given what—after having tried 
various ways—I have found to be the most sure and satisfactory mode where 
such means as are necessary are at command. 
D. Thomson. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEP CULTIVATION. 
In any systematical management and routinal cropping of a kitchen garden, 
the practice of moving the soil to a great depth enters so largely into the economy 
of the matter, and is attended with so many advantages, that I have thought it 
worth while in a few words to keep the attention of all who may be concerned 
in such things directed to its importance. 
It may be well to inquire in the first place into the reasons why this deep 
moving of the soil, or in common parlance trenching, is likely to act beneficially. 
We know that the practice is followed out by experienced men because they 
well know the benefits that will follow, but younger practitioners may not be so 
h 2 
