` two upper petals marked scarlet-blotch ; and “ Purity,” its 
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A THE GEELONG NATURALIST. | 
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from the roots—with a pair of scissors cut the fibfrous BESS. 
taking care not to cut the tap-root; then place plant back 
into the pot, with some well decomposed soil, consisting of 
three-parts rich soil and sandy loam and one part manures— 
if chemical manures not so much will be required. After 
about a month or so, you will be able to shape the plant to 
your taste and trim as you please. The propagation of 
cuttings of this plant is very interesting. You take your 
cuttings, and with a sharp knife or scissors cut them close to 
the bottom joint, leaving three or four joints above; you then 
get a box or pot,and fill with sand or very poor soil (the 
poorer the better), crock with broken bricks; then make the 
holes flat and firm, place the cuttings in these holes and press 
firm in filling in and around your cuttings; water occasionally. 
Turning now to another beautiful flower, the Pelargonium, 
with its numerous varieties—such as the “Pet Purity,” 
* Desdemona,” ** Clara Maude,” “ Sir James Palmer," * Lilc 
King," ‘Selecia in Singles,” &c. Then we have the doubles 
or regals—“ Prince of Wales,” ‘Queen Victoria,” &c., and 
very many others, which would occupy too much time to 
mention. The treatment of this plant is similar to the pre- 
vious, only that it is hardier than the fuschia; the petals of 
the pelargonium are beautifully marked—the “ Pet,” with its 
streaks of pink; and very many other beautiful and interest- 
ing markings are to be found upon this flower. 
Looking at the Geranium—another plant of which there 
are a great variety—either for garden or pot purposes, and 
the numerous variety is a great acquisition to our pot plants. 
We have the common scarlet “Tom Thumb,” white-eye 
«Tidlewink," * Donald Beaton,” * Dr. Denneys," ** Ros¢y 
Morn,” and a host of others in the singles. Then we have 
the doubles—** Triumph de Soriane," * Andrew Henderson,” 
&c. Then we have the Tricolor Geraniums; and for beauty 
of foliage I do not think they can be surpassed for pot cul- 
ture, the colors are so numerous in each plant that they help 
to show off our stands, and when flowers are not in bloom we 
have the beautiful and varied colors of this plant to adorn 
our home with. The plant strikes very freely from cuttings, 
and there is not much trouble in its cultivation. 
Having, then, just glanced at these few plants, I may add, 
in conclusion, that those who give their spare time and atten- 
tion to flower culture ought to be possessed of three things, 
viz., sympathy, refinement, and patience—sympathy with 
their work, refinement of taste, and plenty of. patience, which 
is required to do justice to their work. 
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