llV INTRODUCTION. 



a miscellaneous lot of seeds of perennials under glass, 

 I would here describe what I have found in my own 

 experience successful practice. 



It is necessary at the outset to state that, be the struc- 

 ture what it may, it is requisite that it should be in two 

 compartments. If only a two-light frame, it should be 

 divided under the rafter with boarding ; and if hand- 

 lights only can be conveniently set apart for the work, 

 there should be a set of them in addition to those occu- 

 pied by the seed-pots immediately on their being sown. 

 The reason why this is urged is, that as all seeds do not 

 germinate alike quickly, and it is desirable to keep up 

 conditions in the seed-frame that are inimical to the 

 wellbeing of the plantlets, a fit place should be in readi- 

 ness to receive those that start early as soon as it is 

 necessary to remove them, and in which they may re- 

 ceive that treatment essential to their healthy and vigor- 

 ous development. The frame or hand-light should be 

 prepared for the work by being thoroughly cleaned and 

 repaired if necessary. The site for the frame should, if 

 possible, be sheltered ; but it is indispensable that it 

 should be in a light position — one in which it may enjoy 

 the fullest influence of the sun. The frame will require 

 further preparation when placed in its site, by having 

 plunging materials of some sort put in the bottom. This 

 may be soil, leaf-mould, sand, or coal-ashes ; but for the 

 seed-frame the latter is perhaps best, and it is generally 

 convenient to obtain. The next requisite is soil to sow 

 in : any good light loam will do, and it should be passed 

 through a coarse sieve in order to remove all the larger 

 stones and other gross rriatter, as well as to equalise the 

 mechanical condition of the mass. Of course the better 



