170 ON EXOTIC PLANTS. 



As an exception to the above rule, may be mentioned Erica, and 

 such like seeds which are at first slow of growth, and produce firm, 

 woody, though perhaps small stems : these, from their nature not be- 

 ing so liable to suffer from damp as gross, quick growing articles, 

 may be sown with every prospect of success in the Autumn. Indeed 

 for heaths, I prefer a September sowing, towards the end of the 

 month. If the seeds are good they soon vegetate, and will acquire 

 sufficient strength to carry them through the winter ; and being so 

 small, they stand more detached ; therefore they do not damp or rot 

 each other : whereas if they are sown in spring, they are not fit for 

 potting off until it is too late in the autumn to attempt it, and conse- 

 quently they are left for the winter in their seed pots : when from 

 their increased size, they will have become so close as to inevitably 

 injure each other, perhaps, even to the destruction of the whole crop. 

 Those sown in the autumn are not of sufficient size to be potted off 

 until July or August in the ensuing year. 



The day being resolved on, let a quantity of the different sized 

 pots be filled with the mould best suited to the nature of the seed to 

 be sown ; as on other similar occasions, it must be pressed down 

 pretty tight to about half an inch below the rim of the pot, adding 

 more if requisite ; on this may be sown, any of the coarse large seeds, 

 which should in general be covered one fourth, or half an inch, ac- 

 cording to their size ; but if the seeds are small and curious kinds, 

 such as heath, &c. a little more nicety is required. For these, the 

 pots must be surfaced with some very fine mould, in depth about a 

 quarter of an inch, which will raise it to the same distance below the 

 rim ; on this, it being perfectly level, and firm, let the seeds be sown 

 neatly, and even ; then with the same fine machine, sift a very light 

 covering over them, and press it gently down with the hand. If the 

 parcels of seed are small, two, three, or more kinds, may be sown dis- 

 tinctly in the same pot, distinguishing each by a small painted stick, 

 to be set perpendicular in the centre of the pot with the name or 

 number inscribed thereon. 



The sowing being finished, give the pots a gentle watering with 

 the rose of a water-pot, to be repeated three or four times, until the 

 mould therein becomes sufficiently moist for vegetation ; let them be 

 then set in the most convenient, dry, airy part of the greenhouse, 

 where they can be regularly attended, as to watering and weeding. 

 Watering they will require at least once a day, in a greater or less 

 degree ; for if they are not kept properly moist, the seeds will not by 

 any means vegetate freely, if at all ; however, the other extreme is to 

 be studiously avoided. The weeds should be regularly pulled out 



