50 



order to harden and render them fit for an entire ex- 

 posure to it, which they will be able to bear in a fort- 

 night or three week afterwards ; at which time the 

 box should be taken out of the frame, and placed in 

 rather a warm situation, though not too much ex- 

 posed to the sun, till towards the end of April, when it 

 may again be removed to a cooler aspect, where it 

 can only receive the sun till nine o'clock in the 

 morning ; and in May, if the weather is hot, it 

 should be placed in the most cool and airy part of 

 the garden, not neglecting at any time to keep the 

 earth moderately moist ; but at the same time pre- 

 serving it from violent rains, whenever they occur. 

 As soon as the plants appear with six leaves, such 

 should be taken out from the rest, and transplanted 

 into other boxes, filled with the compest, about an 

 inch and a half, or two inches asunder; and when 

 they they are again grown, so as nearly to touch 

 each other, they may be again transplanted into 

 larger boxes, or round small pots, at the distance of 

 three or four inches, where they should remain till 

 they blow, which will generally happen the following 

 spring, perhaps before they have acquired any consi- 

 derable size ; and then such as appear to be pos- 

 sessed of merit should be marked, and the inferior 

 ones destroyed. As soon as the bloom is over, such 

 as have been marked should be taken up, and 

 planted separately in small pots, and be taken the 



