PELARGONIUMS. 
65 
way superior. It requires, in common with other South American 
orchids, the humid atmosphere and temperature of the orchid- 
house, but does not flourish if subjected to a very close and strong 
heat; about 70° is sufficient during even the time of its most 
vigorous growth, and it should also be hung in some part of the 
house where it can daily receive a little air; in its intermediate 
or flowering season, a lower temperature should be given, and, 
during the time of its torpidity, should be kept quite cool and 
dry. It will not grow if potted in rough peat, whatever attention 
may be bestowed. The best way is, to plant it in an open formed 
rough wooden, or other basket, filled with sphagnum and pot¬ 
sherds, which should be hung from the roof of the house ; it also 
grows freely if fastened to a naked block of wood.— Pax. Mag. 
Bot . 
SPRING MANAGEMENT OF PELARGONIUMS. 
Whoever attempts the culture of Pelargoniums, will speedily 
find the necessity of very strict attention from the period of re¬ 
potting in February till the blossoms are set; there is scarcely 
another family of popular flowers requiring such unremitting 
care, and on which the several, apparently trifling, manipulations 
present such real effects. Immediately after the plants are trans¬ 
ferred from the small pots they have stood in through the winter, to 
those in which it is intended they shall bloom in, it will be 
necessary to keep them rather warmer than usual; the check 
consequent on the removal has to be recovered, and until new 
roots are emitted and the development of fresh foliage resumed, 
the house must be kept at a higher temperature, not so much by 
fire heat as by the exclusion of the external air ; a close and 
rather humid atmosphere, by preventing evaporation through the 
leaves, allows the plants time to regain their vigour, and the 
functions of their several organs go on again in unison one with 
another. As the first great step towards correcting an error is 
the conviction of its existence, it may not be amiss to point out 
a very general mistake made at this stage of the plant’s progress, 
and its results ; if air be admitted in any quantity, or the applica¬ 
tion of fire indulged in, the atmosphere of the erection is pro¬ 
portionately dried, to counterbalance which a drain upon the 
iii. 6 
