10 
“SULTIVATION OF THE PELAR- 
GONIUM. 
By Mr, Joun Everest. 
‘Having been asked to write upon 
the ‘*Cultivation of the Pelargonium,” I 
will endeavor to jot down a few facts 
learned from my own experience. They 
are fa valuable and hardy class of plants, 
aud I think there is scarcely any one class 
#o showy in its various colors or so interest- 
ing as a collection as these when in bloom. 
i-class them together as Shows, Fancies, 
Small-flowering, and Regals. They all re- 
quire about the same treatment in cultiva- 
11up, but most of the Fancies are the easiest 
to manage; they are the most floriferous, 
ut not so showy in themselves as the other 
varieties. To make it properly understood 
i thiuk it best to begin with the soil. I 
consider that the soil best adapted for Pelar- 
goniums should consist of one-third good 
,urfy loam, pulled in pieces; one-thiad 
ttack soil or peat (being a substitute for 
juaf-mould); and one-third well-rotted 
«= o¥ manure, with a dash or two of 
shemical manure, which gives a_ rich, 
s.ealthy, green look. When these are well 
muixed together the soil is ready for use. I 
do not use sand, as it is not wanted; and 
unother reason is that the tender roots in 
working through sharp sand get bruised. 
“there is this objection to sand, that the soil 
being open it requires so much more water- 
ang, which runs the strength out of it. 
Many gardeners are of opinion that one 
potting is sufficient, but I believe in second 
potting. Pick out nice sturdy young plants 
trom the rooted cuttings in 4-inch pots, and 
tur the first shift they should be put in 6-inch 
pots; this' should be done early in April. 
. Sve that the drainage is good betore setting 
the plant in the pot; put im a little rough 
anoss Or cocuanut fibre on the ‘drainage, 
then throw in some soil, cram down well, 
aid a little more louse soil, and then set the 
plant in. It should be sufficiently below 
uie rim of the pot to allow a layer of soil 
over the ball, leaving one inch for watering. 
A-ramming-stick should be used, one end 
being flat, and the other round and level. 
Pelargoniums should be potted very firmly. 
ihe second shitt should be isto 8 or 9-inch 
pots, thoroughly clean, these being large 
vaough to grow on a good plant. Use the 
sume soil. Before placing in the plant 
throw in a handful of bonedust, as this is 
un excellent thing for bringing color in the 
Mower. See thay the plants are well ready 
jor their potting up. They should not be 
eft to yet at ull potbound ; but if potbouad 
superate the rusts carefully with a pointed 
suck so that the plant will not lose much 
time In getting a tresh start. After this 
potting gved attention should be paid to 
ihe tyiny-out and stopping of the shvots. 
Snore sticks can be used fur a time, and 
then a wire frame can be placed around the 
pot. If this is properly carried out there are 
mot iany sorts which require the knife 
_anuch next season. Smokes them once a 
week if there are any signs of fly. 
Wa11rinc.— This is an important matter, 
audis not always properly managed. ‘There 
are muny bua effects caused by mistakes in 
watering. If overwatered plants become 
very sickly, and remain at a standstill for 
sonie time, aud the foliage becomes spotted 
aud unhealthy. Some growers tap each pot 
‘the pores open. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
with the knuckle, and it is astonishing how 
“soon one gets used to the ring, and is 
enabled to tell whether the plant requires 
watering. White on the foliage is often 
caused by sudden changes, and by the water 
resting on the folaige when the sun is 
shining powerfully on the plants, or too 
strong menure water will have the same 
- effect. Do not apply manure water for a 
week or so after freshly potting, especially 
when potted the first time. Care should be 
taken when plants are setting their bloom 
to be very sparing with manure water, as 
when hurried on in this stage the pips will 
turn yellow and drop, or when opened they 
will be deformed. When the plants are in 
bloom discontinue manure watering alto- 
gether, as the flowers will last much longer : 
syringed overhead once or twice a week late 
in the afternoon keeps the foliage clean and 
Choose a ary day for 
syringing. ‘The house most suitable for 
growing is a low spanned-roofed one; the 
plants being grown close to the glass, they 
can be grown dwarf. If beds or benches 
are not high enough for the plants, they can 
bo raised on pots, and also when coming - 
into bloom can be lowered to draw the 
flower well above the foliage if required, 
Allow plenty air night and day. 
SHapine.— We cannot get all through the 
season without shading a little. There are 
different shades used—whitewash, tiffanyf 
calico, ete. Calico with rojlers is a good 
shade, as it can be worked to suit the 
weather. ‘There is one great fault in using 
blinds on houses—they are rolled down flat 
on the grass, the circulation of air is 
stopped, and the glass becomes very hot and 
hurtful to the plants. I should recommend 
to have rollers mounted on a rod about nine 
inches above the glass, giving space for air 
between the blind and the glass, After 
these plants go out of flower they can by 
turned outside. Choose rather a shade 
place for a few days, and then afterward. 
expose them in the sun, still giving them 
water. ‘’hey are often neglected and dried 
off so suddenly that many die. Pelargo- 
niums should be cut back early in March, 
and they are then ready for a new starts 
The cutting back should be done with care. 
Where they have been allowed to grow up 
rauk shoots they have a hard struggle to 
break when they should be only six or 
seven invhes high. When a plant has been 
properly growu and tied out the knife need ~ 
only be used to thin out and tip back shoots. 
This should be done when the wood is 
thoroughly ripe and the weather still and 
dry ; put them in a shadehouse and sprinkle 
them lightly twice a day until they break 
nicely. Then they can be brought into the 
house, and will sooa be ready for shaking 
out avd fresh potting. The roots can be 
pruned back a little where they are strong. 
Pelargoniums are easily propagated by 
cuttings, and some of the weaker kinds of 
the Fancies are better grafted on the Show 
varieties. To make good plants this should 
be done after being cut down, when the sap 
is rising. There are many points to con- 
sider if intending to show at exhibitions. 
Some sorts are no. worthy, having a bad 
habit of growth or being shy in flowering. 
The pollen should be removed to keep the 
flower clean, and some gum dropped into 
the calyx to keep the petals from dropping. 
August 1, 1904 
SCIENTIFIC, 
Tux ComposirEs. 
The Composites are so called because the 
flowers are gathered into a compound head ;. 
but although this is their chief characteris- 
tic it must not be supposed that all flowers 
so grouped belong to this order—the- 
Scabious, for instance, is not a Composite. 
In further description, it may be said that 
the corolla consists of a single tube, that 
the ovary is below this, that the anthers 
cohere by their edges, that the seed is. 
single, and that the leaves are generally 
alternate. In the early state of the flower 
the style is short, and the authers shed 
their pollen into the tube formed by their 
cohering edges. Ata later stage the style. 
increasing in length pushes out the pollen 
and exposes it for visiting insects to carry 
about on their feet. As the flowers'crowded 
together mutually protect each other, and 
as the whole head is often surrounded by 
hard, spiny scales, there is no need for a. 
number of separate green calyces for pro- 
tection purposes, but they are utilised in 
another way. ‘They split up into a series of 
. fine, radiating hairs, and serve as a verit- 
able parachute to float away with the 
adhering seed. The outer petals are often 
greatly enlarged, and serve as flags to 
attract the notice of passing flying insects, 
which by rifling the flowers for their honey, 
or by merely walking over the surface, 
effectually perform their unconscious work 
of pollination. 
As there are about 10,000 species of 
Composites it is quite to be expected that. 
our gardens are largely mdebted to this 
order. We have the Sunflower with a disc 
more than a foot across, furnishing seeds 
useful for the poultry yard and for oil;. 
named, accordiug to some, from its resem- 
blance to a flaming sun; according to 
others, from its supposed habit of turning 
to the sun (French, tourne-sol). It is evi- 
dent to any observer that the heavy, foot- 
across disc does not follow the sun, but is 
generally found with its back against the 
prevailing westerly wind. Not to compile a 
long list we will merely mention the UChry- 
santhemunis of various types, Dahlias, 
Cornflowers (some of delicate scent), the 
showy Gazanias and Graillardias, the 
Daisies, Helichrisums and other Hverlast- 
ings, the Golden Rod (a favorite with. 
Americans), and the elegant, but little 
grown Humes. 
The prevailing colors of the Composites. 
are yéllow and white, but Agathaea and 
Felicia are blue, and Asters are of yarious 
colors. 
Among useful plants we may mention 
various herbs, Tarragon, Tausy, Camomile, 
&¢.; Salsify or vogetable oyster, Artichoke, 
Lettuce with its opium-like juice, and Pyre- 
thrum, the base of the insect powders. 
The weeds are uumerous enough :— 
Inula (stinkwort), Hypochaeris, known as 
“ flat-weed,” ‘‘cat’s ear,” ‘conqueror ;”” 
Helminthia, or ox-tongue, easily recognised 
by the leaves being covered with stiff 
bristles springing from tubercles; the many 
Thistles; and the Cape marigold which, 
however, is much relished by catfle. 
