256 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 



lift every alternate plant, fill the vacant spots with soil, and those left 

 will have room to develop. Pot the plants that are taken out, give 

 them a start in a frame, and shade from direct sunshine. Phloxes 

 should not be coddled, for the best results are always obtained from 

 plants which are most sturdy, and have been hardened as far as 

 possible by free access of air from their earliest stage of growth. 

 This does not imply that they are to be rudely transferred from pro- 

 tection to the open air. The change can easily be managed gradually 

 until some genial evening makes it perfectly safe to expose them 

 fully. A space of about two feet each way is required for each plant 

 of the grandiflora class, but a more modest allowance of nine or 

 twelve inches will suffice for the dwarf compact varieties. Before 

 they are put out, the plants must be free from aphis ; if not, 

 fumigation should be resorted to once or twice until there is a 

 clearance of the pest. 



PHLOX, PERENNIAL 



Hardy perennial 



To flower the Perennial Phlox during the first year is easy enough. 

 Sow in the first week of March in shallow boxes, and put into a 

 moderate heat. In due time prick out into boxes filled with light 

 rich soil, and having hardened them in the usual way, plant out a 

 foot apart in a good bed, and help if needful with an occasional 

 watering. They will frequently begin to flower in August, and con- 

 tinue until the frosts of November make an end of them. Those 

 plants which do not flower in the first season will bloom freely in 

 the following summer. 



PICOTEE 



Dianthus Caryophyllusfl.pl. Hardy perennial 

 THE remarks under Carnation are equally applicable to the Picotee. 



PINK 



Dianthus plumarius. Hardy perennial 



THIS flower can be raised from seed in the manner advised for 

 Carnations. The foliage maintains its colour during the severest 



