The Culture of Flowers from Seed: 



May is early enough to commence operations, and July is quite 

 late enough for the final sowing. As a rule, the June sowing will 

 produce the quickest, strongest, and most robust plants. 



The soil, whatever be its composition, should be rich, firm, and, 

 above all, porous. Press it well into the pots or pans, and make the 

 surface slightly convex and quite smooth. A compost that has been 

 properly prepared will not need water ; but should water become 

 needful, it must be given by partially submerging the pans. The 

 seed is as fine as snuff, and requires delicate handling. It is easily 

 lost or blown away, and therefore it is wise not to open the packet 

 until perfectly ready to sow. Distribute the seed evenly and sift 

 over it a mere dusting of fine earth. Place a sheet of glass upon 

 each pot or pan, and the glass must either be turned or wiped 

 daily. This not only checks rapid evaporation, but prevents the 

 attacks of vermin. Germination is always slower on an open than on 

 a close stage. Perhaps the best possible position is a moist shady 

 part of a vinery, if care be taken when syringing the vines to pre- 

 vent the spray from falling upon the seed-pans. 



Under favourable circumstances, from seven to nine days will 

 suffice to bring the seedlings up in force, and very few will appear 

 afterwards. When they are through the soil remove the sheet of 

 glass, and give them prompt attention, or they will rapidly fade away. 

 Immediately the second leaf appears, tiny as the plants may be and 

 difficult to handle, commence pricking them off into other pots 

 prepared to receive them, for it is unsafe to wait until they become 

 strong. Allow about two inches between each plant. The occu- 

 pants of each pan may generally be pricked off in about three 

 operations, and there should be only the shortest possible intervals 

 between. 



With many subjects it is a safe rule to use the robust seedlings 

 and throw the weakly ones away. This practice will not do in the 

 case of Calceolarias, or some of the most charming colours that can 

 grace the conservatory or greenhouse will be lost. The strongest 

 seedlings generally produce flowers in which yellow largely pre- 

 dominates, a fact that can easily be verified by keeping the plants 

 under different numbers. But it must not be inferred that because 

 the remainder are somewhat weaker at the outset they will not 

 eventually make robust plants. 



Freely mix silver sand with the potting mould, and raise the 

 surface higher in the centre than at the edge of the pot. From the 

 first appearance of the seedlings shading is of the utmost importance, 



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