DEC.] FLOWER GARDEN. 611 



it is by means of a hard clothes-brush dipped into soft water which 

 has had its chill taken off by standing for some time in the sun or in 

 the frame ; the hair side being quickly turned upwards, and the 

 hand rubbed briskly over it, will cause the water to fly off in particles 

 almost as fine as dew ; a sufficient watering may in this manner be 

 given in a few minutes. If it is found impossible to preserve a due 

 heat in the first bed till the seed has all vegetated, it will be proper 

 to prepare a second into which to remove the box ; but if there are 

 cucumber frames, &c., at work, the box may be removed into any of 

 them that supports a good temperate heat. 



At the expiration of four or five weeks, if well managed, the young 

 plants will have all made their appearance ; it then becomes neces- 

 sary to give them, very gradually, more air, in order to harden and 

 render them fit, in due time, for an entire exposure to it. In the 

 month of March the plants, if forward, should be fully exposed to 

 the open air for a few hours in the middle of mild days, when the 

 sun is not too powerful, but particularly to light warm rains. As to 

 their subsequent treatment, see the Flower Garden for April and the 

 months following. 



If you are apprehensive of the young seedlings being attacked by 

 snails, &c., which they are very subject to, place a hair band round 

 the box when you sow the seed, as directed on page 167. 



Polyanthus seed and seedlings are to be treated exactly in the same 

 manner as those of Auricula. 



Cyclamen seeds of every kind may be sown in boxes during any 

 of the autumn or winter months, even to the middle of February ; 

 but when kept out of ground much later, most of them will not 

 vegetate till the spring following : they may be treated generally as 

 directed on page 444, observing always to protect them from frost. 

 The Cyclamen indicum being a hot-house plant, its seed must be 

 treated accordingly : this species differs from the others in not having 

 the divisions of the corolla or flower reflexed or turned back, but 

 hanging down, and in the whole corolla being much larger than 

 either of the Persian or European kinds. The former kinds will 

 require no bottom heat, but should be carefully protected by a good 

 frame and glasses, well covered at night and in severe weather, so as 

 to prevent the earth in the inside from becoming frozen, but more par- 

 ticularly after the plants appear; the latter kind must be sown in 

 a box, which is to be placed in a good hot-bed, as directed for ane- 

 mone seed, and constantly treated as a hot-house plant ; or, it may be 

 plunged in the bark-bed of any forcing department and there taken 

 proper care of. 



DOUBLE DAISIES. 



Continue to protect and treat your double daisies as directed on 

 page 591. You may now place a few of the best plants which you 

 have in pots, in some of the forcing apartments, to promote an early 

 bloom. 



