24 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



at other times one or two may start, but sometimes the surfaces 

 will be covered with tiny seedlings; these not infrequently start 

 from the sides of the pots. Sometimes seedlings will appear within 

 a month, at other times not for six or more months ; great care is 

 necessary in spraying, ventilating and shading the cases, and insect 

 pests and fungoid growths must be fought. Under the most favor- 

 able conditions seedlings may flower in three to five years, but many 

 of the best crosses require double that length of time. The orchid 

 seedling raiser must be a pure specialist; he needs lots of patience 

 and must never be of a nervous temperament. 



Aquatic plants such as Nymphaeas and Nelumbiums germinate 

 well if seeds are sown in small pots singly and submerged in tanks 

 or trays of warm water in a warm house ; if started in earl}' spring 

 the majority will attain sufficient size to flower the first season. 



Ferns are raised from spores which when ripe should be cut off, 

 placed in small bags, kept for a few days and then sown in square 

 pans of a compost consisting of equal parts loam and peat with a 

 good dash of sand mixed with it, and sterilized in advance; pans 

 must be watered before spores are sown and pans must be kept in a 

 close moist case to ensure good germination. 



The propagation of trees and shrubs from seeds would use up an 

 entire afternoon in itself if gone into at all thoroughly; I can only 

 refer to a few of each. The propagation of both trees and shrubs is 

 left almost entirely' in the hands of nurserymen, with the exception 

 of a limited number of private estates and such institutions as the 

 Arnold Arboretum. There is no good reason why many more small 

 growers should not do a little of this propagating as many varieties 

 come very easily from seed; in many cases starting almost as 

 quickly as our common annuals. 



The various pines, spruces, firs, and thujas can be sown in early 

 May in open frames in well pulverized soil which should be levelled 

 and then well watered; sow the seed broadcast rather than in 

 drills as the plants must remain at least one year in the seed beds ; 

 after seeding, sift a light covering of fine loam over the beds, cover 

 this with a mulch of leaves slightly decayed. A safe plan is to 

 enclose the ground or grounds with fine mesh wire netting to prevent 

 birds or animals entering and scratching, and later cover the top 

 with burlap. In about 30 days seedlings (under normal conditions) 



