THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 175 



prove severe. "When large enough, which will be by the beginning 

 or middle of August, transplant thetn into a moderately rich soil, 

 and water freely after planting if the weather is dry ; but, if possible, 

 defer planting until showery weather. In making a selection for 

 transplanting, first reject all the very strong-growing plants, because 

 they are almost sure to be single ones, and also those with a single tap 

 root, preferring ouly the smaller and stunted plants with horizontal 

 fibry roots, as these in most cases produce double flowei's. . In plant- 

 ing at this season, much of the success depends upon the kind of 

 winter which follows ; and it is a very good plan to plant one portion 

 on very poor soil, to stand if the winter should prove very severe, 

 and another on rich soil (these should be the produce of the latter 

 sowing), to produce fine flowers, in case the following winter should 

 prove very mild. These plants will flower from the end of April to 

 the middle of July, or even longer, and should be supplied with 

 manure water once or twice in April and May, particularly if planted 

 in rather poor soil. The next sowing should be of Ten- week Stocks, 

 for potting or keeping in cold pits or frames during winter, to be 

 afterwards turned out into the open border about the end of April. 

 The seeds of these are best sown on a good rich border, about the 

 beginning of September, in the same manner as those of the pre- 

 ceding, and a selection should be made in the same manner, reject- 

 ing the very strongest and tap-rooted plants as much as possible. 

 When the plants are sufficiently large, pot them in five-inch pots 

 (43's), putting three or four plants into each pot, round the side, 

 and in very rich compost ; they must be shaded for a very few days, 

 and afterwards placed in a somewhat sheltered situation, so that 

 they may remain out of doors as long aa possible before they are 

 placed in the pit for winter ; otherwise, if placed in the pit or frame 

 too early, they get drawn, or lose their bottom leaves, and become 

 unsightly. In spring, as soon as they begin to grow, allow plenty 

 of air, and remove the lights entirely in very tine days, watering 

 frequently with manure water, or, what is better, placing a portion 

 of rotten dung on the surface of the pots. When the plants begin 

 to show for bloom, the single ones can at once be pulled out, leaving 

 only those that are double ; these plants will flower in April and 

 May. In sowing in spring for a succession to flower from the middle 

 of July until September, sow the various kinds of Ten-weeks in the 

 open border, in very rich soil, about the middle of March, and thin 

 out the strongest plants at first, and afterwards all the single ones, 

 as they show bloom (unless you want them for seed), and by the 

 end of July you may have nothing but a bed of double stocks ; by 

 transplanting some of the smaller plants about the end of May into 

 very rich soil, you may have a later succession of bloom ; and finally, 

 if some purple and white Queen Stocks are sown at the same time, 

 and treated in a similar way, they will commence flowering in 

 August, and remain in beauty until they are destroyed by winter 

 weather. 



If the winter should not prove severe, however, these plants will 

 keep on blooming until those sown in July take their place, thus 

 producing a constant succession all the year round. In many cases the 



June. 



