THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



AUGUST 1st, 1836. 



PART I. 

 ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ON RAISING EXOTIC PLANTS FROM SEED.— By J. C. H. 

 A correspondent in the Cabinet having recently asked for infor- 

 mation on sowing Geranium seeds, induces me to send the following 

 article ou raising exotic plants from seeds in general, the method is 

 the result of long and successful practice: 



I premise the article by saying that it is necessary to he provided 

 with a stock of soils of different soi'ts. (The excellent article in the 

 July Number furnishes a description of them.) Whatever mould is 

 w&nted for this purpose, should be moderately dry, and finely sifted 

 before used : the sifting should be performed with two sieves, one of 

 which must be particu'arly fine, to procure surfacing and covering 

 mould for the finer seeds. 



The month of February is the most proper season for sowing these 

 seeds ; as they soon vegetate at this time, and make strong handsome 

 plants, by the latter end of the ensuing summer; which is an object 

 of the first consideration in this business : for when sowed later, the 

 greater part, and more especially the tenderer species, will be too 

 weak to part into separate pots; and therefore are liable to suffer bv 

 damps and rottenness, during the winter following, by being left in 

 the seed pots ; and should they be attempted to be removed at this 

 late season, which some will do sooner than suffer them to take their 

 cbance as they are, they seldom prove more fortunate Whereas 

 those sown about the latter end of January, or any time in the fol- 

 lowing month, will for the greater part be fit to pot separately in 

 Mayor June; and therefore have the whole summer to establish 

 themselves ; and even such of them as are more slow, w ill have at 

 least sufficient strength and woodiness to withstand the casualities of 

 winter, should they be left in the seed pots, much better than the 

 soft herb-like produce of later sowings. 



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