PROPAGATION 133 



round the bed, thereby making a rampart 

 which, from the slug's point of view at 

 least, is impregnable. 



I never sow, nor would I recommend other 

 people to risk sowing, the rarest or finest 

 seeds in the open air when they come to 

 hand at a time unsuitable for sowing out of 

 doors, such as the late autumn. But as 

 they should be sown at once, it is advisable 

 to use pots which can be put in a frame or 

 cold-house. 



In this treatment there are two great 

 difficulties to contend with, namely, the 

 growth of Marchantia, and keeping the pots 

 at an even degree of moisture. 



With regard to the first, there are several 

 ways of preventing its growth. The best and 

 surest means is to bake the soil thoroughly 

 and use nothing but boiled water. This is 

 an absolute preventative, but entails rather 

 more trouble than most people would care 

 for. 



Another way is, to prepare the pots for 

 sowing, and then to water them thoroughly 

 with boiling water — but it must be boiling 



