Ix INTRODUCTION. 



a large stock of duplicates, should have a frame in 

 readiness to receive the newly-transplanted stock, as- 

 suming that the pricking off is to be done into pots — and 

 I would recommend that plan to all who wish to realise 

 early results for their labour. But it will save some 

 labour and trouble if the seedlings are pricked out in 

 the frame in good sandy soil that has been passed 

 through a rough sieve : in fact, such soil as has been 

 already described as fit for the seed-pots will do equally 

 well for transplanting into, but the mass need not be 

 quite so sandy — only a thin stratum of the surface need 

 be so, in order to facilitate rooting. If pots are adopted, 

 they are better small than large, for the reasons urged 

 regarding the seed-pots ; much, however, will depend 

 on whether large stock or small is wanted, and the avail- 

 able space under glass for their accommodation. But 

 assuming there is plenty of convenience for raising a 

 moderate stock of duplicates, 3-inch or 4-inch pots may 

 be regarded as the most convenient. It is necessary to 

 go through the same preliminaries as to draining and 

 filling the pots with soil as has been already detailed 

 for the seed-pots, but the soil may be filled up to 

 the rims. When all is in readiness, the operator will 

 carefully raise the seedlings in the seed -pot in a 

 general way first, by means of a flat sharp-pointed 

 slip of wood, till they are all quite disturbed in 

 the soil ; then selecting the strongest for pricking 

 out, if all are not required, he should dibble them 

 into the prepared pots at distances of two inches apart 

 round the circumference, and one in the centre, each 

 pot being labelled as finished with labels already pre- 

 pared for the purpose. When all are pricked off, and 



