254 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



hours before sowing them. I prefer sowing the seeds 

 in moderately drained 4 -inch pots, in a compost of 

 two parts light friable loam and one part leaf-mould. 

 With this fill the pots half full, sow two seeds in each, 

 covering them to the depth of half an inch ; and do 

 not give any water for the present. Plunge the pots 

 only one-half their depth in the bed, for the bottom- 

 heat will be strong at first. If watered and plunged 

 deeply in the strong heat, germination is forced on too 

 quickly, and the result is a pale and weakly seedling. 

 In placing the pots, let them incline towards the south, 

 so that when the sun does shine it may reach the 

 young plants as soon as they are through the soil; and 

 to the same end see that the glass is kept clean, for light 

 at this season is of first-rate importance. When the 

 weather is mild, uncover the glass the first thing in 

 the morning, but cover up in the evening before the 

 temperature recedes too much. Give more or less air 

 night and day, according to the state of the weather, 

 ranging the heat about 70. When the air is frosty, 

 hang a piece of canvas or woollen netting over the back 

 of the frame when air is on, so as to prevent currents 

 of cold air. 



I have always found that the genial heat of the 

 frame and the absence of sunshine at this season render 

 watering unnecessary, and in fact injurious, until the 

 plants have expanded their first rough leaves. When 

 the young plants have expanded their seed-lobes and 

 grown to the level of the mouth of the pots, earth 

 them up an inch or so with the same compost in 

 which they were sown, warmed to the temperature of 

 the frame ; and when the rough leaves are formed, 

 fill up the pot. Into this the stems throw out greedy 

 roots, and they are thus dwarfed and strengthened 



