other fertilizer (this amount to a four-inch pot, and a 
tablespoonful to a five-inch pot, etc.) then cover with 
another portion of soil, in order not to burn the roots 
of the plant. The pot is then ready for the plant which 
has been removed from its previous container. Soak 
thoroughly before re-setting in pot. Be sure to pot 
firmly, because a firm soil will produce a more stocky 
growth, also the plant will bloom better, than if it were 
planted too loosely, or in a too-rich soil. Always after 
potting or repotting a thorough soaking is necessary. 
When a plant is large enough to be placed in a five or 
six-inch pot it can be fed and watered more regularly. 
SOIL MIXTURE 
For a soil mixture for potted plants it is adviseable 
to use two parts of soil, one part of sand, one part of 
leaf-mold, one part of well-rotted manure and about a 
three-inch pot full of commercial fertilizer, to a bushel 
of soil. If a heavy soil is used, double amount of sand 
or leaf-mold is often necessary. Blood, bone and fish- 
meal may also be used. 
INSECTS 
Very few insects affect these hardy plants. Occasion- 
ally greenfly, mealy-bug, caterpillars or red-spiders be- 
come troublesome. White-fly sometimes gets on pelar- 
gonium domesticum, (Martha Washingtons) but this 
can be avoided if plants are not kept in too close an 
atmosphere or in glass houses during summer months. 
There are various excellent insecticides and sprays on 
the market, which are very efficacious for getting rid of 
these insects. About the best thing for red-spider is to 
syringe the plants with a very fine spray, and remove 
affected leaves and burn them, to avoid spreading. 
Caterpillars are annoying during the summer months, 
because they eat both leaves and buds, this making them 
quite a serious pest, and rather difficult to destroy be- 
cause they lodge inside flowers and stem. It requires 
a great deal of patience to examine each plant and pick 
off these pests, but it seems about the only way to really 
destroy them. There is an excellent spray on the market 
which will destroy worms and caterpillars. For green- 
fly usually a tobacco fumigation is a very good remedy. 
Mealy-bugs can be prevented by getting rid of ants, and 
there are many ways in which to do this. 
TRIMMING 
It is adviseable to cut back all pelargoniums once a 
year. The best time for doing this is in the fall, either 
in September or October, but not later. If this is done 
