* THE DAWN OF SPRING 



of the day. In other sorts the outer growths may be March 

 more Hke "runners," being small growths, with in- I~I5 

 cipient roots, quite clear of the mother plants. These 

 will root where they are if the soil is pressed around 

 them, and when they are established they can be planted 

 out. The amateur will be wise to propagate most of 

 the following varieties : 



Single Double 



La France, metallic blue Comte de Brazza, white 



Princess of Wales, violet Marie Louise, lavender 



Seedling Begonias and other Choice Flowers. — It is in 

 the very early stages of small-seeded plants like tuberous 

 Begonias, herbaceous Calceolarias and Gloxinias that 

 the most care is required with seedlings, as they are 

 very liable to damp off. I have already said that careful 

 ventilation and watering are highly important. Attention 

 to these matters must be continued now that the little 

 plants have got beyond the most dangerous stage, as 

 they have a great bearing on the progress of the seed- 

 lings. The plants should never be allowed to stand in a 

 crowded state, never be flooded with water through a 

 spout, never be shut up in a close, warm case. They 

 should be set out three or four inches apart directly 

 they begin to thicken into a mass, watered through a 

 fine rose, have a light position close to the glass, and 

 receive as much air as can be given without subject- 

 ing them to cold draughts. When pricked-off plants 

 begin to crowd in the boxes, each should have a 3-inch 

 pot, from which they can be transferred to a 5-inch or 

 6-inch when they have filled the former with roots. 

 Three parts of loam, and the remainder of leaf mould 

 and sand in equal parts, will make a suitable potting 

 compost. 



131 



