142 ROCK GARDENS 



not despair of their coming up, even had 

 they been sown eighteen months ; but after 

 that they may be thrown away, for the 

 chances of success are by then almost nil. 



If there is no frame available, the seeds 

 should be sown rather later, say about the 

 beginning of April, and the pots plunged in 

 sand or cinders in a warm and sheltered corner, 

 protected from the hot sun and heavy rains. 

 But I strongly recommend a frame when- 

 ever possible, for the temperature and 

 moisture can then be so much more easily 

 regulated and kept even. 



After the seedlings are up and strong enough 

 to handle easily, they may be pricked off into 

 4-inch pots, or, still better, into shallow boxes 

 about 5 inches deep. After pricking out, the 

 pots or boxes should be kept protected from 

 the sun for a few days until the seedlings have 

 recovered from the move. As frost has great 

 effect on pots and is very liable to loosen the 

 roots of plants in them, some protection will 

 be required during the winter months, although 

 this may be obviated to a certain extent by 

 plunging into a bed of sand or fine cinders. 



