34 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



labelling each variety with the names of the seed and pollen 

 parents. After three or four weeks, they will be fairly dry, 

 and the seeds should be removed from the capsules (or 

 seed-pods), as they keep better if made up into packets 

 and placed in a drawer in a dry room. 



The best time to sow the seed is in March or April ; 

 it germinates best in a slight bottom heat, in a house 

 with an atmospheric temperature of, say, 55. The seed- 

 lings generally appear under such conditions within seven 

 days. They should be pricked out into boxes, putting the 

 little plants at 3 inches apart, and they may be planted 

 in the open ground any time after the middle of May, 

 provided they have been properly hardened to the open 

 air. Any good, deep garden soil will be suitable for them. 

 They require to be set out at 18 inches apart each way, 

 as the plants are capable of making specimens of con- 

 siderable size. I have counted over four hundred flowers 

 and buds on one plant. I ought to repeat that it is not 

 worth while trying to raise seedlings unless the seed has 

 been saved from the best varieties obtainable. At the same 

 time, amateurs who do not raise seedlings cannot have the 

 pleasure that belongs to those who have new varieties con- 

 tinually opening into flower ; for surely there will be some 

 prizes amongst them ! 



I know one amateur who bought a half-crown packet 

 of seed, and raised from it some beautiful varieties one 

 of them he sold for twenty guineas. 



