THE GREEN-IIOUSE. 211 



arrives at a flowering state, and is of a handsome 

 form, is all that is requisite. Rambling, irregular 

 growths become extremely inconvenient in such 

 collections, and can only be kept in order by the 

 knife, or turned out altogether. 



Seeds of the generality of green-house plants, 

 whether saved at home, or received from abroad, 

 should be sown in fine, light, sandy loam, about 

 the beginning of February. They thus have the 

 advantage of the approaching spring and summer 

 to arrive at such a size as will allow of them being 

 potted separately before the autumn. Free grow- 

 ing sorts may be sown later. The pots should 

 be thoroughly watered soon as the seeds are 

 sown, and ever after kept in a moderately damp 

 state, and placed in a hot-bed, or in a dry, airy 

 part of the house, where they will not be too 

 much exposed to heat, either of fire or sun, but 

 enjoy an equal temperature. 



Diminutive or wiry growing plants, such as 

 heaths, are best sowed in autumn ; because, their 

 progress being at first very slow, they require to 

 remain in the seed-pots nearly twelve months 



p 2 



