226 ON SOWING THE SEEDS OF EXOTIC PLANTS. 



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

 chance as they are, they seldom prove more fortunate. Whereas 

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

 ing month, will for the greater part he fit to pot separately in May 

 or June, and therefore have the whole summer to establish them- 

 selves ; and even such [of them as are more slow will have at least 

 sufficient strength and woodiness to withstand the casualties of winter, 

 should they be left in the seed pots, much better than the soft herb- 

 like produce of later sowings. 



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 

 being 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 con- 

 sequently 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, 

 according 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 



