20 A GUIPJ2 TO FLORICTTtTURE. 



frost than if near the surface. After a plant is out of the 

 seed leaf it will withstand a heavy frost ; this is one impor- 

 tant fact and to be observed until plants are safe. Plants 

 are frequently raised in hot-beds ; this is generally done 

 when the amateur has gained experience, and then is adopt- 

 ed only to bring forward choice seeds or scarce plants. 

 When your seedlings are ready for transplanting the soil 

 will be in a fit state to dig one spade deep, which should be 

 done to enable the root-fibres to find their way into the 

 ground. 



To force seed a solution of iodine, chlorine, $c., is gene- 

 rally considered good for that purpose when difficult to veg- 

 etate. To make a solution of one sixtieth part of water to 

 chlorine of lime to steep the seed in, will certainly accele- 

 rate their growth. Half an ounce of muriate of ammonia to 

 one gallon of water, and applied to seed sown every sixth 

 time of watering, will make them germinate very quick ; 

 by such chemical stimuli many valuable seeds are made to 

 grow, and some of the finest plants may be obtained by this 

 means, as the best seeds are so difficult to germinate, par- 

 ticularly as the seed pods producing double flowers are 

 generally supposed to be diseased. 



Light is another agency necessary in the germination 

 and health of seeds and plants, though not in the earliest 

 stage ; if seedlings drawn up are sickly can it be expected 

 that they will produce good flowers ? certainly not ! It is 

 only advisable to force such seeds as are difficult, and the 

 forcing agencies to be used should be applied with caution. 

 Then again it will be found that covering seeds with glass 

 has a tendency to force them; the color of the glass is 

 also another powerful agency in stimulating them ; purple 



