MULTIPLICATION BY SEED AND HYBRIDIZING. 133 



tected. The pots should be kept out of all heat, except- 

 ing what may be required to keep the frost from them, 

 until the first of April, in this latitude, and at the South, 

 earlier ; this is requisite, in order to prevent their germ- 

 inating before all danger of frost is past in the open air. 

 At the time the pots or pans are brought from their shel- 

 tered place into a warm temperature, beds for the plants 

 should be made in the open air, that they may be ready 

 the moment they are required. For these an eastern as- 

 pect is the best, and in our hot climate, on the north side 

 of a fence would answer very well ; if they are in an open 

 piece of ground, they should be sheltered by an awning 

 from the hot sun. The soil should be a rich, light sandy 

 mould, with a little peat, if convenient, and should be 

 finely pulverized. The seeds should now be closely watch- 

 ed, and the moment they are seen pushing up the sand, in 

 order to obtain light, they should be taken out singly with 

 the point of a knife, taking a small portion of the sand 

 with them. The bed having been j^reviously watered, and 

 raked fine, drills can be made, half an inch deep and 

 about a foot apart, in which the germinating seeds can be 

 placed, at a distance of six inches from each other, and 

 then carefully covered Avith finely pulverized soil. Having 

 commenced germinating in the pots, the seeds, now in the 

 genial w^armth of a spring sun, but protected from its 

 fiercest rays, will soon show their heads above the ground, 

 and striking deep root in the rich soil, grow rapidly. 

 While the plants are small, care should be taken to keep 

 the ground constantly moist. 



We are aware that this process is somewhat new with 

 rose seeds, although it has been long practiced with 

 Rhododendrons and other plants, but we are convmced 

 of its superiority to the old mode. The delicate roots of 

 young plants are very susceptible of injury by change, 

 and many are frequently lost by the first potting ; this 

 risk is avoided by transplanting the seed before the first 



