THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 45 
covered with the same soil as employed in filling the pans. The 
seed-pans may be placed in any convenient structure, provided the 
temperature is sufficient to insure the speedy germination of the 
seed, a heat of 60° being ample for that purpose. The seed-pans 
may be placed in a warm corner of the greenhouse; but the seed 
will be longer in germinating, and several weeks’ growth will, in 
consequence, be lost. 
Immediately the seedlings are about three-quarters of an inch in 
height, remove them from the seed-pans, and prick off into shallow 
boxes at a distance of about one and a-half inch apart. With a little ex- 
tra attention in the way of keeping them rather close, screening from 
brilliant sunshine, and sprinkling overhead occasionally, they will 
soon take possession of the new soil, and be ready for potting-off sepa- 
rately. Let this be done immediately the leaves begin to touch; for 
if they are left in the boxes until over-crowded, they soon become 
drawn and weak. Large sixties are the best pots in which to put 
them, for the small sixties do not hold sufficient soil to maintain a 
free, healthy growth until they are planted out. If it is more con- 
venient, a bed of soil may be made up in a frame, and the plants put 
out in it at a distance of four inches apart each way. This will 
save the trouble of potting; and if a dull, showery day is taken 
advantage of for planting the beds, they will not receive a check 
worthy of being taken into consideration. 
After the potting-off they will not require the assistance of any 
more artificial heat than is necessary for keeping out the frost, and 
if there is a sufficiency of covering materials at hand, fire-heat may 
be dispensed with altogether. It is important to bring them along 
steadily in a cool temperature from the first, as the growth is then 
much firmer, and they can be planted earlier, and will make better 
progress than in the case of those grown in a temperature in excess 
of their requirements. The shoots must be stopped as soon as they 
are established in the small pots, and again at the third or fourth 
leaf, to promote the plentiful production of side-shoots. The remarks 
in reference to stopping apply with equal force to plants raised 
from cuttings, for when furnished with four or five shoots each, and 
a few inches in length, they commence immediately they are planted 
to extend on all sides, and quickly cover the beds. But when the 
petunias are not stopped, they attain a considerable height, and 
commence to bloom whilst in the pots, and after being planted they 
have practically to make themselves. 
If specimens are required for the decoration of the conservatory, 
the desired number of plants should be selected previous to any 
portion of the stock being bedded cut. These should be shifted into 
six-inch pots, and as soon as they have filled these with roots repot, 
and use eight or nine-inch pots at discretion. The shoots should be 
stopped twice or three times after they are put into the six-inch 
pots for to make nice bushy specimens they must have from twelve 
to fifteen shoots each. Very little training will be required until 
after the last shift, and then a few neat stakes, about twelve inches 
in length, will suffice for supporting the shoots. The growth should 
be allowed to extend six inches or so above the tops of the stakes, 
February. 
