238 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 



The most suitable time for sowing is from the Ist to the i5th of 

 August, as there is then time for them to become strong, without 

 attaining a larger size hefore winter than is desirable. There are 

 four distinct colours, all of which should be grown. These are 

 the Intermediate Scarlet, Intermediate White, Intermediate Mauve 

 Beauty, and Intermediate Purple. The white and the scarlet, so- 

 called, are the two most useful colours, and if two are considered 

 sufficient, these should have tlie preference. Mauve Beauty repre- 

 sents a new strain of these fine stocks with large and exceedingly 

 double flowers, of a delicate mauve colour. Seed of the several 

 colours saved from good strains, should be procured, as common 

 seed, sold at a few pence per packet, produces a very large per- 

 centage of single flowers, and the cultivator's labours are, to a 

 certain extent, wasted. Sow in pans or shallow boxes, each colour 

 separately, and place in a frame until the seedlings are nicely above 

 the surface, and then either draw the lights off altogether, or remove 

 the seed-pans out of doors. The soil used for filling the seed-pans 

 should be rather light and sandy, and the best compost for the pur- 

 pose is that prepared by incorporating together loam and leaf-mould, 

 in the proportion of one part of the manure to every three parts of 

 the loam. Sow thin, to avoid the necessity for potting the seedlings 

 olF before they have become strong. 



As overcrowding is injurious to stocks at this stage, pot them 

 off as soon as they begin to touch each other, or when they are 

 furnished witli three or four leaves each. To avoid any unnecessary 

 labour, transfer them direct from the seed-pans to the pots in which 

 they are to bloom. Five and six-inch pota are the most suitable, and 

 these should have a layer of crocks in the bottom about an inch in 

 depth. The drainage must be covered with a little of the roughest 

 portion of the compost, and when this has been done, till the pots 

 firmly, and to nearly level with the rim with the prepared 

 compost. The latter should consist of one part well-rotted manure 

 or leaf-mould, and good turfy loam broken up somewhat roughly, 

 the proportions to be the same as advised for the seed-pans. 

 Lift the plants out of the pans with a thin piece of stick, and 

 dibble them in the pots, at the rate of two to the five-inch and 

 three to the six-inch pots. Press the soil firm, and if the pots 

 are not quite full enough when the plants have been dibbled in, add 

 a little more. Water moderately to settle the soil, and as it will 

 be some time before the pots will be well filled with roots, the 

 water must at first be applied sparingly or the soil will become 

 sour. 



The Intermediate Stocks are rather hardy, but not hardy 

 enough to withstand the severity of an ordinary winter, and must 

 have protection. A frame from which the frost can be excluded, 

 either by means of fire-heat or a covering of some kind, is the most 

 suitable place for them during the winter, as ia this they can be 

 placed near the glass, have protection from frost, and from an excess 

 of moisture, which is extremely hurtful to them. In February, they 

 should be removed to the greenhouse, and have a position allotted 

 them where they wiU be near the glass. From the greenhouse, they 



