PEL 
PEL 
leaved alter nans is typical of the fifth 
genus Otidia. The first two mentioned 
contain some beautiful little subjects, 
and are well worth attention; they re¬ 
quire to be grown in sandy peat, and 
should have a rather warm situation 
through the winter, in the full influence 
of the sun. The Pelargonium proper 
embraces all the fine varieties which 
grace our collections, and contribute so 
much towards the splendour of floral 
exhibitions. All these have their origin 
in the untiring zeal of the florist; they 
are obtained by cross impregnation, ef¬ 
fected by cutting the anthers from one 
plant before they have time to ripen and 
distribute then’ farina, and afterwards 
fecundating the stigma of the same with 
pollen from another variety. If a pro¬ 
per selection is made of the subjects to 
be operated on, having a view to the 
blending of rich colour with a fine form 
and substance, the result is the estab¬ 
lishment of a new variety, which, if it 
withstand the test of competition, is 
received into collections, and places its 
raiser’s name among those who have 
benefited the science by their exertions. 
About the middle of August this seed 
is usually ripe, and should be sown at 
once in pans of light rich eartii on a 
gentle heat, and when the young plants 
have attained a stature of an inch or 
two, they should be potted separately 
into small pots in a mixture of half 
leaf-mould, a quarter loam, and the re¬ 
mainder fine sand and rotten manure; 
placed in a cold frame they will progress 
rapidly, and form strong plants before 
the winter. When they have nearly filled 
their pots with roots it is advisable to 
withhold the supply of water so as to 
reduce the quantity very considerably, 
in order to induce a state of rest, that 
on being repotted in the succeeding Fe¬ 
bruary, they may be in a condition to 
start vigorously, and thus make the most 
of the growing season. At this shifting 
the plants may be placed, the strongest 
in t hir ty-two sized pots, and the re¬ 
mainder into forty-eights; with atten¬ 
tion to watering, and an equable, gra¬ 
dually rising temperature of 45° for its 
mini m um and 55° for the maximiun, the 
frequent admission of air increasing in 
quantity as the season advances, and the 
necessary attention to cleansing, tying, 
&c., the plants will be in a healthy and 
vigorous state for the production of 
flowers in the following klav and June. 
After selecting those which appear worth 
preservation, and here the cultivator 
must exercise great self-denial, firmly 
determining to save none but those 
which are really superior in some respect 
or other, and at once transferring the 
remainder to the rubbish heap, the 
plants should be cut down, repotting 
them into a compost made a little 
stronger than that first mentioned, by 
the addition of rather more manure and 
loam, and at the same time the stock 
of the best should be increased by pro¬ 
pagating from the cuttings thus afford¬ 
ed ; these should be struck in a gentle 
hotbed, and afterwards be treated in the 
manner pointed out for seedlings; and 
in the meautine the parent plants should 
be stood in a somewhat shaded position 
out of doors, where thev mav grow and 
become re-established, which will occupy 
about a month, when it is advisable to 
remove them to a sunny place, that tire 
new wood which is formed may be pro¬ 
perly matured and prepared for the 
winter, it being greatly preferable to 
have the plants in a ripened and com¬ 
paratively dormant state in the dull 
months, than full of soft green wood, 
which causes an infinite deal more 
trouble in the management, and usually 
results in an unsatisfactory manner. 
By the middle of October the weather 
usually renders it necessary to remove 
the whole of the plants to the protec¬ 
tion of the greenhouse. Here it is es¬ 
sentially necessary to provide them as 
much light and a free access of air as is 
possible, above all, avoiding the crowding 
so frequently practised; the treatment 
from tins time up till the period mentioned, 
for repotting in the spring should be 
of a character conducive to the state of 
repose and. dormancy so invigorating to 
all plants ; only just so much water as 
will preserve them from drooping, keep¬ 
ing the atmosphere of the house dry, 
and avoiding the application of fire heat 
