ON THE CULTURE OF BROMPTON STOCKS. 129 



them a greater number of double ones than when the seed- bearing 

 plants grew under diil'ercnt circumstances. 



2. The best time for sowing is the beginning of May. This should 

 be done on a border of light sandy soil prepared for the purpose, on 

 an eastern or south-eastern aspect ; never on a south aspect, as this 

 would be too hot for them. Of all other modes the best is to sow 

 the seeds in shallow drills, six inches apart, scattering the seed very 

 thinly. 



3. Water as often as they recpiire it, but never do this in the 

 middle of the day, when the sun is hot, for the plants would be liable 

 to be damaged by the sun, rendering the drops of water hot, and 

 thereby scalding the leaves, which, if it did not entirely destroy them, 

 would greatly retard their growth. The best time is either very early 

 in the morning, or towards five o'clock in the evening, when the 

 sun's rays are oblique. 



4. When the plants are nearly three inches high they should be 

 thinned out to six inches apart in the rows, and afterwards to a foot, 

 taking up every other row ; and those plants taken out should be 

 transplanted carefully into a similar border as that prepared for the 

 seed-bed, or be planted three or four together in the flower borders ; 

 the former plan is the best, if it is convenient, because the whole are 

 more easily protected through the severity of winter. In either case 

 they must be taken up with balls, and be sheltered from the sun, and 

 regularly watered, until they have begun to grow again. Those left 

 in the seedling bed will be much finer plants in the autumn than the 

 transplanted ones, from the circumstance of having received no check 

 in removing, which, from having so small a quantity of fibrous roots, 

 prevents their growth for some time. 



5. On the approach of winter the borders may either be hooped 

 over, and be covered with mats in severe cutting weather, or a frame 

 may be set over the plants, and the glasses put on to preserve them. 

 If they are left entirely exposed, if the plants are not killed, the long 

 leaves will be beat to pieces by the winds, and the naked stalks, at 

 the approach of spring, will be very unsightly. Those planted 

 in patches in the flower borders may be protected by branches of 

 snruce fir, stuck into the ground round them, in the absence of other 

 shelter. 



G. In March, if the weather be line, or if not early in April, take 



