188 
THE PELARGONIUM. 
more importance than at any other time, how can it be described 
more particularly ? when, in one day, we frequently have a cold 
cutting north-east wind and a bright sun—a combination, the effects 
of which, in the open air and under glass, is as different as summer 
and winter; in this difficulty, the beginner cannot do better than 
make the thermometer his guide, it is not infallible, but a little 
practice will amend the errors; having determined on the 
mean of temperature to be observed, it will be easy to increase 
or diminish the supply of air in a manner to suit the direction, 
by observing that the heat should not be allowed to become 
greater than the maximum given, nor to fall below the mean in 
the daytime. To determine the point with all the accuracy it 
requires and admits, the minimum should be taken as the amount 
for the night temperature, its opposite as that most proper for 
noon, while the mean is indicative of the heat which should ob¬ 
tain morning and evening ; thus, if 45° minimum and 55° maxi¬ 
mum be given, it should be understood that the variations are 
upwards from night till noon, and contrariwise from noon to 
night. Water is also a most important agent in the composition 
of all plants, but to few more so than to the Pelargonium; its 
supply must be regulated by the amount of heat and other at¬ 
mospheric influences which prevail; thus it will be observed that 
some days the soil will dry much faster than in others, this may 
be attributable either to the presence of more air, or of an increase 
of fire heat, and will require to be met accordingly; as a general 
rule, the earth about the plants should be kept moderately moist, 
which may be termed a state about intermediate between perfect 
dryness and saturation, it is, however, always safer to lean to¬ 
wards the former than to indulge in a mistaken beneficence with 
the water-pot, not that we can recommend the “little and often” 
system, for that is often equally injurious, but rather, when the 
plants are dry, give them a full supply, so that it may thoroughly 
moisten all the earth in the pot, and then leave them until they 
are again dry. Upon the management of the first three months 
after the spring potting, much of the future beauty of the plants 
will depend. Watering, stopping, cleaning, and the admission 
of air, must all receive attention as they require it, without 
delay and without grudging. Nor must the tying and training 
