126 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



within about an inch of the top with this soil, and made level and 

 smooth, proceed to sow the seeds evenly all over the surface. 

 Cover them lightly a little more than their own depth ; press gently 

 with a smooth board ; then water with a fine spray-rose and put a 

 pane of glass over the top of each pan to check evaporation. 



Consign the pans to a frame, to prevent draughts more than, 

 anything. The seeds will soon germinate in such a place ; 

 therefore be watchful, and as soon as they make their appearance 

 well above the soil, remove the glass from the pans in order that 

 they may not become drawn. 



Should the pans in which they germinated be at some distance 

 from the glass, they can now be taken out and put on a shelf near 

 the light, but not in a place where the sun will strike them, for 

 cinerarias will not stand bright sunshine ; it would mean instant 

 destruction for them at this early stage of their existence. As 

 soon as the seedlings are strong enough to handle, prick them out 

 an inch or more apart, in other boxes, diminishing a trifle the 

 proportion of sand in the soil and increasing the loam. They can 

 now be transferred to cold frames outside, but must be guarded 

 against violent draughts and changes of the weather. 



The best position for the frames in which the plants are to be 

 grown during the summer season is in a northern exposure ; that is, 

 the higher side of the frame should face south and the lower side 

 north. Should circumstances furnish a high board fence, or still 

 better a high wall, as an additional shade, so that the sun could 

 not at any time shine on the plants, that would be the ideal position 

 for the frames, not only for cinerarias but for a large number of 

 other plants ; all other shading over the glass could then be 

 dispensed with. But such a position is seldom offered even on 

 large estates, therefore we must solve the problem the next best 

 way, and that is by painting the glass of the frame with a thin 

 coat of white lead mixed with turpentine or kerosene ; oil makes 

 the lead stick to the glass too hard, thereby giving considerable 

 trouble in washing it off again. 



In addition to this thin coat of paint, have lath shades made, of 

 the same size as the sashes, for they are ranch easier to handle. 

 The frame work of these shades should be of one inch square 

 stock, with end pieces to connect the sides, and a further piece of 

 the same stock to run diagonally between opposite corners ; this 

 will make a strong and durable frame on which to nail the laths. 



