The Culture of Flowers from Seeds 



greenhouse, and the very same treatment will suit them equally well. 

 The soil should be principally loam and sand, with a little old 

 thoroughly well-rotted manure from a hot-bed or compost heap ; and 

 light, air, and moisture must be regulated with a view to insure a 

 free and vigorous growth from the first, and with the least possible 

 amount of artificial heat. In some cases, however, the sowing should 

 be deferred to March or April, and the result will be far more 

 satisfactory than the growth made under the stimulus of artificial 

 heat earlier in the season. In every case, however, the plants must 

 have sufficient time ; for although the rapid system has been 

 developed, the constitution of the plants remains unchanged, and 

 those which have heretofore been classed as biennials and perennials 

 need a long season when treated as annuals. 



A considerable proportion of the finest flowers may be raised from 

 seed by the aid of a frame and a little careful management. We will 

 take as an example a very restricted garden. Here is a small frame 

 and some packets of seed, and the month of February or March has 

 arrived. The pans and pots are made ready with sweet sandy com- 

 post, and the seeds are sown and labelled, and the pans and pots are 

 packed together in the frame on a bed of clean coal ashes, or some 

 slates, or tiles, or bricks laid on the soil, to promote warmth and 

 cleanliness and to prevent the intrusion of worms amongst the seeds. 

 By simple management almost as quick a growth of seeds can be 

 insured in this frame as with the aid of a hot-bed, and the secret 

 consists in careful storage of the heat of the sun. Lay over the 

 seed-pans sheets of glass to prevent evaporation, and let the sun shine 

 full upon them. Be careful as to moisture: they must never be 

 wet, never dry, and the water must not be slopped about carelessly. 

 It is a good rule to immerse the pots or pans in a vessel containing 

 soft water, slightly tepid. When the seedlings begin to appear, 

 give a little air and lay sheets of paper tenderly over them during the 

 hour or two at midday when the sun may be shining brightly. But 

 keep them from the first as ' hard ' as possible with plenty of light 

 and air, always taking care that they are neither roasted, nor blown 

 away by the cruel east wind, nor nipped at night by a killing frost. 

 A few old mats or light loppings of trees laid over the frame from 

 sundown to sunrise will be sufficient protection at those trying times ; 

 and when spring frosts are making havoc with the tender sprouting 

 leaf and bloom in every part of the garden those little things will be 

 safe under their glass cover, and slight experience will show that a 

 common frame may become a miniature hot-house in the hands of 



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