120 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



with the bottom of a flower-pot or a flat piece of wood. The soil 

 should now be watered lightly through a fine-rose can and be left 

 to stand for half-an-hour. Upon this moistened surface the 

 seed may be sown. This should be done carefully, so that the 

 seed may be distributed evenly over the surface of the soil. In 

 the case of very fine seed, such as that of nicotiana, no covering 

 of soil is necessary. All that need be done is to press the seed 

 into the soil with a flat instrument, either the bottom of a small, 

 clean flower-pot, or a square, flat piece of wood. Larger seeds 

 may be lightly sprinkled over with soil and be gently watered in. 

 A sheet of glass should next be placed over the pan or box, this 

 again be covered with brown paper, and, after careful attention 

 to labelling, the seeds are ready to be placed either on a hotbed 

 or on the warm greenhouse shelf. 



In a few days the seedlings will peep through the soil, and it is 

 then that ventilation becomes important. To begin with, place 

 two wooden labels across the edges on each side of the pot or box, 

 underneath the glass, and substitute white paper for brown. 

 A few days later the glass may be removed altogether, and all 

 that is needed until the time for pricking off arrives is to see that 

 the tiny plants are shaded from the direct rays of hot sunshine, 

 and also that they are not allowed to become dry and drawn. 

 When the seedlings have become well established, and have 

 produced four leaves, they should be pricked off into other boxes 

 in which the soil has been made a little richer by the introduction 

 of leaf mould. The seedling should be set deep in its new quarters, 

 about two inches from its neighbour, so that the leaves rest lightly 

 on the soil. The plants will require to be kept well shaded for 

 a few days, and to remain in the warmth of the greenhouse 

 for several weeks longer. Then towards the end of April they 

 may be transferred to a cold frame to harden off, and by the 

 end of May they will be ready for planting out in the open 

 border. 



The number of half-hardy annuals is legion, but there are a few 

 which ought not to be absent from any well-ordered garden. 

 Here is a list of them, with their descriptions : 



