INTRODUCTION. Ixi 



have received a gentle watering to settle the surface soil, 

 but not sufficient to saturate the mass of earth in the 

 pot, they may be transferred to the frame, plunging the 

 pots as before recommended. The frame will require to 

 be kept close for a few days, and shaded from bright 

 sunshine till the plants have somewhat recovered from 

 the effects of transplanting, and be afterwards treated, 

 as regards shading and the admission of air, in the way 

 directed above for the frame they occupied previously. 

 If the pricking off is to be made directly into soil in the 

 frame — and it has much to recommend it to those who 

 have only scanty time to devote to watering, and only 

 very limited space — the mode to be adopted is the same 

 as in transferring to pots, only that straight lines and 

 tolerably exact measurement must be attended to. A 

 piece of string long enough to pass from side to side of 

 the frame, or a straight-edge in wood and two measuring- 

 sticks two inches long, with a board or couple of boards to 

 prevent treading and disturbing the surface, are aids that 

 are requisite on this plan. If the work is not done reg- 

 ularly and correctly, it is doubtful whether economy of 

 space will ultimately be effected. The measuring-sticks 

 must be used to tell off the first line from the side of the 

 frame, and a string be stretched, or a line formed by the 

 straight-edge being pressed equally into the soil from 

 end to end, just sufficiently to guide the operator in 

 planting. The plantlets are then to be dibbled on the 

 line two inches apart, and the succeeding line be placed 

 the same distance from the first — and so on to the end. 

 The labels are best placed so as to read from the front 

 of the frame, with their backs to the subject they indi- 

 cate. By the first or second week in May many will 



