37 



Move the breeders early from any winter shelter 

 they may have had, and let them be placed in an 

 open situation, yet shaded from all but the morning 

 sun. 



They should be preserved from excessive rain by 

 mats on hoops, or small hand-glasses may be placed 

 over them. In dry weather, let them be regularly 

 watered, either by sprinkling from a brush, or other- 

 wise with a fine rose, as often as they appear to re- 

 quire it. Much depends on a due attention to this 

 particular point. {MaddocFs Florist's Directory, 

 127.) 



The best time for setting apart the breeding plants 

 is during the two middle weeks of March. Place the 

 breeders in an east aspect (by no means a north as 

 yet), and there leave them to grow and bloom in their 

 natural way. At all events, never suffer flowers in- 

 tended for seed to remain longer in their winter quar- 

 ters than when they begin to expand their master 

 pips, and never allow them to remain in the frame 

 till they have completely blown. Flowers that are 

 permitted to bloom, and remain under glass any 

 length of time, or that are placed on a stage, will* 

 seldom produce bold strong seed. Large strong 

 plants, that are bloomed very fine under glass, and 

 afterwards are placed on a stage, seldom or never 

 have a perfect, sound seed ; the pods will apparently 

 thrive, and swell to a large size, but when you open 



