Ixvi INTRODUCTION. 



nity from heavy rains. A few hoops arched over the 

 beds, on which to stretch any handy Hght shading mate- 

 rial when required, will secure this sufficiently well. The 

 screen should only be used when necessary. Watering 

 should be done in the morning, and the water will be better 

 if the chill is taken off it before being used. When the 

 seedlings are large enough to handle, a bed, big or little, 

 according to requirements, should be in readiness for 

 them against the occurrence of a showery day or two. Into 

 which they should be pricked, on the plan already sug- 

 gested for pricking out in frames, be sprinkled with water 

 to settle the soil about them immediately after being 

 pricked out, and attended to with respect to watering 

 and shading till they are fairly established. Those seed- 

 lings which come away late will not be sufficiently ad- 

 vanced to be safely trusted out in the open borders by 

 the time winter comes on ; and as a measure of safety It 

 is advisable to prick them into pots, so that they may be 

 stored away during winter handily and compactly, in 

 such a way as that they may get a little protection If 

 necessary in the shape of a few branches, straw, or mats. 

 Perennial seeds may be sown at any time from March 

 or April to August. It is not advisable, however, to sow 

 weakly or diminutive kinds so late as August, except 

 they can be provided with frame accommodation in 

 winter. Those sorts, however, which we are aware will 

 not germinate the season they are sown, may be sown at 

 any time if under cover, or as long as the state of the 

 soil will admit of sowing in good condition out of doors ; 

 and some saving of time will thereby be made, as they 

 will most likely start away pretty early the following 

 summer. 



