STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 



answer invariably is, tr\' Cyclamen Persicum, and with good care, fine results will 

 follow, and here also is an opportunity for those who wish to try cross breeding for 

 the improvement in color, size and shape of the tlower. In performing this opera- 

 tion the pollen of one flower should be used to fertilize its neighbor The quantity 

 of seed thus obtained will well repay the trouble to those who wish to commence 

 tlie growth of this charming flower, especially those not provided with a greenhouse. 

 Procure in the beginning of February from some reliable seedman, a package of seed 

 for which you will probably pay twenty-five or fifty cents. The best thing to sow 

 the seed in, is a shallow box or pan from two to three inches deep, with holes bored 

 or open seams in the bottom, through which the water will easily drain. Over each 

 hole place a crock, or broken pot, near the bottom, with half an inch of moss, easily 

 obtained from any swamp. Use leaf mold two parts, well decayed vegetable 

 mold one part, and one part of sharp sand VVell incorporate the whole, take a 

 rough kitchen sieve and sift sutRcient to fill the box to within half an inch of the 

 top, then pat down evenly the surface, and with a fine sprinkler water the soil. 

 When dampened evenly, distribute the seed. Do not cover except with ver}' fine 

 leaf mold, and then only sufficient to cover the seed; place the box where the direct 

 sun's i'a}'s will not reach it, nor where the soil will get baked by the heat of the 

 stove or furnace, taking care to water only with a very fine spra}' whenever the soil 

 appears dry; in about three weeks the seeds will begin to germinate and form a 

 small cone or bulb. When they have grown sufficiently strong, which if sown in 

 March, will be in about four weeks, take up carefully and pick off singly into thumb 

 pots, using the same kind of soil as for seed box; as soon as the weather permits 

 place outside on a sandy bottom, or if a box with glass sash is available, so much the 

 better, as they will require to he kept from the bright sun and heavy rains; re-pot as 

 fast as the pots become filled with roots; to the soil already named, add a small por- 

 tion of drj^ cow manure A slight sprinkling of fine bone dust over the mass at the 

 bottom of the pot will prove advantageous. In the fall, before removing to rooms, 

 and when giving their final shift, be careful the drainage of the pot is clean and 

 good, and that no insects or worms infest the soil or the plant. When removing to 

 the room j'ou wish to grow them in, place as near the light as practicable; water 

 when dry with Tepid water; a slight sprinkle of the foliage twice or thrice a week, 

 on sunny mornings, will prevent the red spider from making its appearance. The 

 seed has been sown, the plant grown, and now for the harvest. A window full of 

 sweet scented flowers of all decided colore, and in some instances beautifully 

 spotted, although the latter is generally produced from too much moisture. They 

 last a long time in flower, and every amateur grower can be successful in growing 

 these, hence they are well suited for windows in city and country. Those having 

 well appointed greenhouses, have also gardeners, well versed in plant raising, so 

 that any information from me on this subject will be quite unnecess.ar}-. I will also 

 add one more important item. After the bulbs have done flowering the first season, 

 water should be gradually withheld until the leaves decay, when shey should again 

 be placed outside in a shady place, protected from heavy rains, when the seeds will 

 bulb also. When again wanted, carefully shake out, removing as much of th^old 

 soil as possible with a pointed label or stick, care being used, however, not to injure 

 the roots. The same treatment will follow, when the plants thus treated will pro- 

 duce the second and third years even much finer results. 



