280 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



seed of Phloxes to germinate, although self-sown 

 seedlings of some varieties come freely in certain 

 years. This is also the case with the seed of the Gen- 

 tianella, a capricious plant in all respects, which grows 

 and seeds itself like a weed in some places, and in 

 others only lingers and dwindles. It is a good plan 

 to soak the seed of both these plants for some hours 

 before sowing in tepid water; but even then, if the 

 seed is not fresh, disappointments must be expected. 

 Again, the seed of Auriculas, and of many other kinds 

 of Primula, such as P. Japonica, is slow and capricious 

 of germination, unless it is sown as soon as ripe. But, 

 in all these cases, the gardener should not despair 

 after a few months. Seed sown in June may not ger- 

 minate till the next spring. The seed boxes should 

 be kept in frames through the winter, and then put 

 out in warm spring rains. A sudden crop of seedlings 

 will often be the result. Snow often produces ger- 

 mination in certain stubborn seeds, particularly those 

 of the Gentians; and it is worth while to expose a 

 box of these to a fall of snow in early spring. There 

 are many plants which may ripen seeds in England 

 in hot summers, so the gardener should choose his 

 own time to experiment with them. Indeed he will 

 be wise to try most of his bolder experiments in seed 

 sowing after a hot summer; as the seed, even of plants 

 well accustomed to our climate, is apt to be uncer- 

 tain when there has been little sun to ripen it. It is 

 well always to be on the look-out for seed even on 

 plants that are not generally supposed to ripen it in 



