Our drawing of this pretty species was made from a
plant in the Nursery of Mr. Lee, at Hammersmith, who
had lately received it and several other curious, species from
the Cape.
We were much gratified, last Summer, with the sight
of a new method of cultivation, of the tuberous rooted species
of Cape Geraniaceas, and also of the curious hybrids
that have been raised from them, in the Earl of Liverpool’s
Garden at Coombe Wood, where Mr. W. Smith had planted
them all out in a border, in the garden, in Spring, and
they were thriving in the greatest luxuriance, and continued
to bloom all the Summer, and many of them were still in
bloom the beginning of October; but the greater part of
them were becoming dormant, and they were soon to be
taken up, when they were to be kept in a box or case of
dry earth or sand all the Winter, where the frost could not
get at them to injure their roots; they there remain all the
Winter, and about the latter end of April or May they must
be planted again, or if planted earlier they will still be
stronger, but will then require to be covered with a mat at
nights for fear of frost; a great many may be grown in a
bed by this means, and will make a fine show all the Summer,
as they will be continually in flower, and the great variety
of colours of the different sorts make a very elegant
appearance; the soil in which they are grown must be light,
and the more sandy the better; the greater part of them are
readily increased by the little tubers of their roots, but those
should be taken off when they are in the dry state, or the
wound in the old root will be apt to cause it to rot. By this
means any number may be grown, even where there is no
Greenhouse, or other means of protection.