110 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



snperior to the ordinary bedders, such as geraniums, verbenas, and 

 the leaf-plants usually increased by means of cuttings. They are 

 useful in supplementing ordinary bedders, and in combination with 

 the latter a splendid display may be produced with considerably less 

 labour and expense than would be possible with plants that require 

 comfortable accommodation under glass during the winter season. 

 The work of propagating the ordinary bedders must be commenced 

 in the autumn, and the stock preserved in light airy pits or houses 

 during the winter, and to do this much labour and a considerable 

 expenditure of fuel are necessary. But in the case of annuals, you 

 have only to sow the seed in spring, prick off the plants into boxes, 

 or to put them singly in small pots, and then carefully harden them 

 to bear the exposure to the weather, and they are ready for plant- 

 ing out. 



All the annuals and other bedding plants which may be raised 

 from seed in a similar manner require much the same management, 

 and a few remarks on sowing the seed and other details will probably 

 add to the value of this communication. 



As there is now no time to be lost, those who intend to raise a 

 portion of their stock of bedders in the manner here suggested must 

 make up their minds quickly. The first step will be to order the 

 seed, and as an ordinary trade packet will furnish sufiicient plants 

 for a bed about eight feet square, the quantity of seed required 

 may be readily determined. A temperature rather higher than that 

 of an ordinary greenhouse will be necessary to start the seeds, and 

 nothing better could be devised than a mild hotbed. This can be 

 prepared by forming a bed of fermenting materials, such as stable 

 manure which has been turned over two or three times to sweeten, 

 or leaves gathered up in the autumn ; or, if more convenient, the 

 leaves and manure may be mixed together with any littery straw 

 that may be at hand. The bed should be about two feet longer and 

 wider than the frame to be placed upon it. It may be from two to 

 four feet deep, according to the quantity of materials available. 

 Beds of the greater depth are to a certain extent the best, as they 

 retain their heat the longest, and by a little freshening up with new- 

 materials after the frame is no longer required for the seeds, it may 

 be turned to good account in the production of a summer crop of 

 cucumbers. After the frame has been made up a few days, cover 

 the surface with a layer of coal-ashes, and proceed to sow the seeds. 

 Either shallow boxes or pans may be used, and in either case a mode- 

 rate layer of rather small crocks must be spread over the bottom. Fill 

 with rather light sandy soil, and sow thinly, to aftord the young 

 plants an opportunity to acquire strength before it becomes necessary 

 to prick or pot them ofi". Very line soil is the best for covering the 

 seeds; and in the case of those of small size, the covering must be 

 light, for few seeds germinate so rapidly when deeply buried. Until 

 the seeds begin to make their appearance above the surface, main- 

 tain the soil in a moderately moist condition, and keep the frame 

 rather close, as no ventilation beyond that for allowing the exhala- 

 tions from the fermenting materials to escape will be required. But 

 as the plants come up freely, the ventilation must be increased to 



