The Culture of Flowers from Seeds 



show. When the seedlings are about an inch high remove to a 

 lower temperature, and begin to harden off by giving air on suitable 

 occasions. Take care, however, that in the process no check is given 

 to growth. Soon after the middle of May the seedlings should be 

 able to bear full exposure, and it will then be time to renew the sur- 

 face soil. Gently remove the upper layer, and replace it with rotten 

 cow-manure, or some other rich dressing. Water must be given 

 regularly until about Midsummer, when the pots may be plunged to 

 the rim in a shady border, and this will keep them tolerably moist 

 until, in September, the seedlings begin to ripen off, which they 

 must be allowed to do. When the leaves have died down, sift out 

 the bulbs and place them on a shelf to dry. A mixture of equal 

 parts of peat and pine sawdust, placed in a box or seed-pan, will 

 make the best possible store for them ; the box or seed-pan to 

 be kept in any spot which is safe from heat and frost. After about 

 six weeks, each bulb should be examined, and decayed specimens 

 removed. If any of them have commenced growing, pot them and 

 place them in a pit or greenhouse. In March take the bulbs out of 

 store, pot each one singly, and prepare for planting out. The transfer 

 to the open must not be made until the danger of frost is past, even 

 though it be necessary to wait until the first week of June. 



It must be clearly understood that flowers are not to be ex- 

 pected or allowed from seedling Gladiolus during the second season. 

 Should some of the bulbs send up spikes, they must be removed, 

 or the corms will be weakened for making a display in the following 

 year. 



Further remarks on Gladiolus will be found at page 296, under 

 ' The Culture of Flowering Bulbs.' 



GLOXINIA 



Tender perennial 



GLOXINIAS can now be flowered in the most satisfactory manner 

 within six months from the date of sowing seed. Hence there is no 

 longer the least temptation to propagate these plants by the lengthy 

 and troublesome method formerly in vogue, especially as seedlings 

 raised from a reliable strain produce flowers of the finest quality, 

 both as to shape and style of growth. One great advantage to 

 be obtained from seedlings is an almost endless variety of colour, 



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