Flowers all the Year Round 



compost, and see that the drainage is exceptionally good. Give the 

 pots a warm moist position, and a light sprinkling of water daily will 

 assist germination. The first seedlings that are ready should be 

 lifted and pricked off without disturbing the remainder of the soil. 

 Follow up the process until all are transferred. Although the leaves 

 may rest on the surface, the hearts should never be covered. Pot off 

 singly when large enough, and shift on until the 48-size is reached. 

 For ordinary plants this is large enough, but extra fine specimens 

 need more pot room, and so long as increased space is given the 

 flowering will be deferred. Between each plant there must be a 

 clear space, or the leaves will decay through contact. While growing, 

 a moist atmosphere, with a temperature of 60 or 65. will suit them ; 

 but immediately flowering commences, humidity is a source of 

 mischief. The forwardest plants from this month's sowing will begin 

 to flower early in June if well treated. 



Grevillea robusta. Seed of this exceedingly handsome shrub 

 may be sown at any time of the year, and the pots containing it 

 must be kept moist until the seedlings appear. How long it will be 

 before they become visible we cannot tell. Germination may not 

 occur until hope has died, and the pots have been contemptuously 

 relegated to some obscure corner. But after the young plants are 

 pricked off, they will give no trouble, except to re-pot them two or 

 three times, and to take care that they do not perish for want of 

 water. 



Hollyhock. This grand border flower is now grown as an 

 annual, with fine double blossoms, superb in colour and of noble 

 proportions. Sow in well-drained pots or seed-pans, cover the seed 

 with a sprinkling of fine soil, and place in a temperature of 65 or 70 

 In about a fortnight the seedlings will be ready for pricking off round 

 the edges of 4|-inch pots. 



Petunia. About the third week of this month a sowing should 

 be made to produce plants for indoor decoration. Late in February 

 or early in March will be soon enough to prepare for bedding stuff. 

 Sow thinly in good porous soil, and give the pots or pans a tempera- 

 ture of about 60. They should have a little extra attention just 

 as the seed is germinating, for that is a critical time with Petunias. 

 Uniformity in temperature and moisture, with shade when necessary, 

 and plenty of pot room, are the secrets of success in growing these 

 plants. 



Verbena. This flower should be grown with as little artificial 

 aid as possible. In fact, the more nearly it is treated as a hardy 



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