PART L] CULTURAL 91 



to arrange so that no seeds shall be seen on. the surface after 

 the operation. If the seeds are minute, a very small quantity 

 will be required to attain this end ; if they are large, more will 

 be requisite. This completed, and each pot duly labelled with 

 the name of the plant and height of growth, the pots should 

 then be placed in a cold frame tolerably near the glass, taking 

 care that each pot is set level or as nearly so as practicable. 



"In preparing the frame for their reception, it is desir- 

 able to have a good thickness of lime-rubbish in the bottom, 

 say from 9 to 12 inches deep, as a protection against 

 worms. 



" Many seeds come up a long time after others ; in fact, 

 seed-pots are often thrown away in the supposition that the 

 seeds are dead, when they are perfectly sound ; and some will 

 come up a year or so after being sown. All that is necessary 

 with the seeds that do not come up during the spring is to 

 give them occasional watering, and to guard against the growth 

 of the Marchantia. This is frequently a great pest in damp 

 localities, and is only to be kept in check by carefully removing 

 it on its first appearance, for if allowed to make too much head- 

 way, any attempt at removal carries away the surface soil, and 

 with it the seeds. In the month of October each pot should 

 be surfaced with a sprinkling of fine soil, well pressed down ; 

 in fact, the process before described after sowing should be 

 repeated. The pots may remain in the frame till the spring, 

 nor should they be despaired of altogether till May or June, 

 or in some instances later. 



" To those who may not have the advantage of a cold frame 

 to carry out the foregoing instructions, I would still recommend 

 the use of flower-pots rather than sowing in the open ground ; 

 but under these circumstances I would say sow one month 

 later ; place the pots in a warm sunny corner, and arrange some 

 simple contrivance so that you can shade with mats during hot 

 sunshine, and also cover up at night, in order to keep off heavy 

 rains ; the same care in watering should be observed, and the 

 same watchful eye after snails, wood-lice, and other depredators, 

 should be maintained. 



