CYCLAMEN 



THE BULB BOOK 



CYCLAMEN 



seed, and hundreds of thousands are 

 so produced annually to supply the 

 regular demand in all the big 

 markets; and at Christmas-time 

 especially a wonderful trade is done 

 in the plants. 



As a rule, two distinct sowings of 

 seed are made the first during 

 October or early in November, to 

 secure a display of blossom about 

 twelve months later ; and the other 

 during January or February, to keep 

 up a supply early the following year. 

 Many growers, however, prefer to 

 sow in July and August, and keep 

 up a succession from the later 

 germinating varieties. Pots or pans 

 are used, care being taken to secure 

 perfect drainage by placing some 

 clean "crocks" over the base, and 

 covering it with a thin layer of moss 

 or fibre extracted from the turfy loam 

 that should be used. The best com- 

 post to use consists of about equal 

 proportions of rich turfy loam and 

 well - rotted leaf - mould, to which 

 sufficient coarse silver sand is added 

 to secure perfect ventilation and 

 drainage. The pots or pans are filled 

 to within three-quarters of an inch 

 of the rim, the soil being pressed 

 in firmly and made level on top. 

 The hard grain-like seeds are then 

 sown carefully about an inch apart 

 over the surface, and are covered 

 with a quarter of an inch of the same 

 gritty compost that has been passed 

 through a sieve. Some growers 

 dibble the seeds in about a quarter 

 of an inch deep after levelling the 

 surface. When sowing is completed, 

 the pots or pans should be gently 

 watered with a fine-rosed can, after 

 which they may be covered with a 

 pane of glass, a sheet of paper, or 

 have some sifted coco-nut fibre spread 

 over the surface. Either operation is 

 to check evaporation of moisture 

 from the surface, which would other- 



wise perhaps be inclined to develop 

 a growth of fine moss. This, 

 however, often depends on the water 

 available for use. 



TEMPERATURE. The October and 

 November sowings may be placed in 

 a cool close frame with a minimum 

 temperature of about 45 F. This 

 will be sufficient to soften the seeds, 

 and start them into germination. At 

 the end of two or three weeks, the 

 seed -pots should be transferred to 

 the more genial warmth of a green- 

 house with a temperature of about 

 55 F. 



The sowings in January and 

 February should be placed in a 

 temperature of about 60 F. at once, 

 covering the pots with glass, paper, 

 or fibre, to check the escape of 

 moisture. 



The seeds of the Persian Cyclamen 

 are notoriously erratic in their 

 germination, some being much more 

 sensitive to the surrounding heat 

 and moisture than others, probably 

 owing to having somewhat thinner 

 coats than the others. However, if 

 the seeds are sound, they all ger- 

 minate in time, several weeks perhaps 

 intervening between the appearance 

 of the first and last seedling in the 

 same pot or pan. When the young 

 leaves push through the soil, the 

 glass or paper coverings are removed. 

 The seed-pots are then placed close 

 up to the glass, so that the maximum 

 amount of light may be secured, to 

 keep the seedlings sturdy and "un- 

 drawn." Careful attention must be 

 given to the watering, never allowing 

 the soil to become too dry, or the 

 atmosphere to be lacking in some 

 humidity. A sprinkling or syringing 

 early in the afternoon, generally 

 keeps the aerial conditions in proper 

 condition. Ventilation also must be 

 regulated, especially on all mild 

 days, taking care, however, that 



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