216 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAKDEN GUIDE. 



possible, with tHe above-mentioned precautions, they will scarcely ex- 

 perience a check. These things ought not to remain either in the 

 seed or nursery bed a day longer than is really necessary, for it ruins 

 them to be drawn up with weak spindly stems. About September, 

 or even earlier if of sufficient strengtb, the plants should be planted 

 in the border, and a careful watch kept to prevent their being de- 

 stroyed by snails or other vermin. 



Seeds of a large number of the finest perennials may be obtained 

 at prices ranging from threepence to sixpence per packet, but for the 

 information of those who may be desirous of saving seed of any 

 flowers they have, I will add a few words on saving seeds of hardy 

 flowers. First of all, let me say that as soon as the ripening of the seed 

 commences a sharp look-out must be kept, or it will be blown away 

 by the winds long before a thought enters the cultivator's head about 

 gathering it. Very few plants open all their flowers at once, so that 

 the whole of the seed cannot mature at the same time ; therefore, if 

 the flower-spikes are left until all the seed is ripe before being 

 gathered, a large portion of the seed must be lost, I have hit upon a 

 capital plan for avoiding the loss of seed from outdoor plants, and it 

 is so simple that it is within the reach of every one. At the com- 

 mencement of the season I have a lot of five-inch pots filled with 

 sand, and watered sufiiciently to make it thoroughly moist. These 

 are placed in a cool airy place, generally a peach-house from which the 

 crop has been gathered ; but a room-window will suit equally well. 

 The borders are looked over frequently, and the flower-spikes of any 

 plants from which it is desired to save seed are cut oft' as soon as the 

 lower or outside pods begin to ripen, and stuck in one of the pots of 

 sand. A label is put to each, and the pot set upon a piece of paper 

 to catch the seed as it falls out. The spikes must be cut off with a 

 sharp knife ; for when twisted or bruised the stems do not take up 

 the moisture so readily, and the seed shrivels and perishes. The 

 stems may be taken out, and half an inch of the stems cut ofi" about 

 once a week, until the whole of the pods are ripe. Care must be 

 taken not to remove the spikes until the first tier of seed-pods are 

 matured. By this simple method any loss of seed is effectually pre- 

 vented. 



MESSRS. SUTTON AND SON'S SEED STORES, 



READING. 



jHE seed stores of Messrs. Sutton and Sons at Eeading are of such magni- 

 tude, and so unique in their way, that we feel assured our readers will 

 be interested in a brief description of them. To describe them so fully 

 as we could wish is rendered impossible by the limited space at our 

 disposal ; but we hope to be able to convey an adequate idea of their 

 colossal proportions, and their adaptability to the purposes to which they are devoted. 

 The frontage to the offices and seed stores in the Market Place, notwithstanding 

 the boldness of its design and the beauty of its decorations, conveys a very inade- 

 quate idea of the extent of the premises, or of the immensity of the business trans- 

 acted therein. A visitor to Eeading, unacquainted with the operations of the firm 

 — if that were possible — would probably be struck by the elegance and commanding 

 appearance of the fa9ade ; but be would little imagine that behind are ranges of 



