228 ON SOWING THE SEEDS OF EXOTIC PLANTS. 



removed, particularly the larger kinds of seed, to some shady border, 

 •where they can be plunged nearly up to the rim in coal ashes or 

 sand, which will greatly assist to keep them in a proper moist state. 

 Here all the care they will require is to be kept clear from weeds and 

 regularly watered morning and evening, if requisite, but never when 

 the sun shines strong upon them, lest the tender leaves of the young 

 plants should get scorched ; it will be also necessary to have a careful 

 eye, daily, for slugs, worms, &c, otherwise they will be liable to 

 suffer much from the depredations of these insects, particularly in 

 the evenings. Should there be any fine light-covered seeds, such as 

 heaths, &c, they must be set in such manner that they may be 

 covered with a common hotbed frame, in a moderately exposed 

 situation, so that, in case of sudden or heavy showers, which might 

 otherwise wash the seeds out of the pots, they may be occasionally 

 covered, to preserve them from such violence ; yet they may be ex- 

 posed to gentle rains at times, but never long together, lest they 

 become over wet, which would soon perish them in this tender state. 

 They will likewise require to be shaded with a mat in clear weather, 

 or even a double mat in the very hottest season. 



Early in July, many of them will be growing pretty fast, and will 

 require to be potted off into separate pots, as it is much preferable to 

 do this while they are young and small, before their roots become 

 matted together, than it is afterwards ; besides that they have a con- 

 siderable portion of the growing season before them to establish them- 

 selves, before the winter stops their career. 



In performing this work care should be taken to match the pot to 

 the size of the plants, and nature of the species to be potted, as over- 

 potting these seedlings might be of the worst consequence. The 

 largest sized pots I would recommend for this use (unless the plants 

 be particularly strong) are what are called small sixties, or halfpenny 

 pots ; but for heaths, and such like very small articles, a still less 

 size is to be provided; these are known by the very appropriate name 

 of thimble pots, on account of their diminutive size. 



Being provided with a quantity of these, and the different sorts of 

 mould properly prepared that may be requisite for the kinds to be 

 done, proceed to part the plants, in doing which let the nicest care be 

 taken to preserve as much roots and earth to each plant as can pos- 

 sibly be done without injuring the others. Let them be neatly potted 



