254 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 



In February the sun has not sufficient power to do mischief, so 

 that shading is generally unnecessary. An even temperature and 

 freedom from draughts should insure seedlings strong enough to 

 prick off by the end of that month. Put the plants into seed-pans 

 about an inch apart, so that the first leaves just touch the soil, still 

 using a light compost. 



In April they should be ready for transferring to small 6o-pots. 

 Subsequently they must be potted on as growth demands, until they 

 reach the 48- or even the 32-size. After re-potting place the plants 

 in a sheltered part of the house or frame, where shade can, if neces- 

 sary, be given until the roots are established. Frequent sprinklings 

 of water, and a temperature of 60 or 65, will soon give them a 

 vigorous start. The lights ought to be put down in good time in the 

 evening, but this must be done with judgment, or the plants will lose 

 their healthy colour and assume a yellowish tinge. Insufficient 

 drainage has a precisely similar effect. In about ten days air may 

 be given more freely, and then no suitable opportunity of exposing 

 them should be lost. 



In raising Petunias for bedding, the same conditions are applica- 

 ble; but as it is useless to put them into the open ground until the 

 weather is warm and settled, the sowing need not be made until the 

 end of February or the beginning of March. And for bedding there 

 is no occasion to put the plants into larger pots than the 6o-size. It 

 will be necessary to give these seedlings shade in their young state 

 after they have been pricked off or potted. 



The beds or borders intended for Petunias will be better without 

 recent manure, for this tends to the excessive production of foliage, 

 and defers the flowering until late in the season. Do not be tempted 

 by the first sunny day to put them out, but wait for settled weather. 

 A cutting east wind, such as we sometimes have in May, will ruin 

 them irretrievably. Each plant of the tall class will occupy a space 

 of two feet, and the dwarfs may be one foot apart. 



For the double varieties two modifications in practice are ad- 

 visable. In potting off the single seedlings those that are weakly may 

 be discarded as worthless, but with the doubles it will be almost safe 

 to reverse that proceeding. In proportion as the plants are robust are 

 they likely to prove single, and the comparatively feeble seedlings 

 will probably produce the double flowers. More space must be given 

 the doubles in beds, and larger pots indoors. All Petunias are im- 

 patient of being pot-bound, and this applies especially to the double 

 varieties, They will, if treated generously, do ample justice to the 



