34:6 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



designed for removal to where they are to bloom, and take up 

 each patch with a full spit of earth, so as not to disturb their 

 roots, and remove them to the vacancies you have left in the 

 garden. They may, with very little dexterity, be so well 

 removed as not in the least to feel the change. The instant 

 they are placed in their positions, give the earth all round a 

 complete soakiag, and then settle them in their new places. 

 By these means pots are saved, and there is only a Uttle more 

 trouble. The sowing of those subjects which are to be planted 

 out may be on a slight hot-bed. Hot stable-dung, a foot high, 

 well pressed down, and six inches of good loam at top, will give 

 heat enough for the purpose ; and you may either put on a 

 garden-frame and light, or hand-glasses ; but, in either case, a 

 mat should be thrown over all at night to keep in the heat 

 a little. The seeds may be sown in March on this, not too 

 thickly, otherwise it is a waste. If hand-glasses are used, 

 take care that the seeds are sown within compass of the 

 glasses. If a frame is used, the simplest way of sowing is in 

 drills from front to back, and about six inches from one 

 to the other. The seeds of all the sorts only require to be 

 well covered, and the soil kept rather moist. As soon as 

 they are up, they must have air by tilting the sash or Hght 

 behind. Moisture must not be forgotten; and the lights 

 must be tilted so as to give abundance of fresh air as the 

 seedlings advance, otherwise they would be drawn up. As 

 soon as they are large enough to handle, thin them out a 

 little, and put the plants that you pull out in by the side of 

 the row, instead of throwing them away. A few of the 

 balsams may be potted, if you have convenience for them, as 

 they make very pretty pot-plants. Here you may give air all 

 mild days, and shut up at night. In a couple of months, if 

 they have had plenty of air to keep them from drawing, they 

 will be in excellent order to plant out into the nursery-bed 

 or the show-garden at once ; only recollect the places they 

 are to occupy, the height they are to grow, and the time they 

 are getting into blooming order. By careful observation you 

 can plant many between others that are coming off before 

 the newly planted ones flower. For instance, in May your 

 tulips are in bloom, late Narcissus, and other things that 

 have to come away soon. The nemophila should be close to 

 the front, but the calliopsis, or coreopsis, is a taller subject, 

 and must be placed behind. The erysimum Peroffskianum 



