SOILS AND POTTING. 115 



time to germiuate ; some will germinate in a temperature scarcely 

 above freezing. A light sandy loam with some leaf soil, charcoal, 

 and brick dust sifted together will suit all seeds. Boxes or pans 

 may be used with crocks over the holes and coarse siftings laid 

 above this and the boxes filled with the prepared soil to within 

 half an inch of the top and pressed firmly, then mark out drills 

 with the edge of a label or bit of wood and scatter the seeds 

 along ; vary the depth of the drill according to the size of the 

 seeds. Very fine seeds need no drill and ma}' be scattered upon 

 the surface. A shaking will generally cover the seeds enough, 

 and the surface should again be pressed firmly with a brick or 

 something which Avill leave a smooth surface. With the excep- 

 tion of very coarse seed, 1 do not practise overhead Avatering, 

 preferring the sub-irrigation plan of immersing the boxes or pans 

 to the edge, letting the water in from below. Less frequent 

 wetting will be required and most seedlings will be up before a 

 second application is necessary. There are several ways of dis- 

 posing of the seed pans until germination takes place. I usually 

 put over them a piece of glass and a light shading of paper ; but 

 where space is limited I have set them away in tiers, so that the 

 bottoms do not actually rest upon the tops of those below them, 

 and find they do almost as well as when spread over more space. 

 As fast as germination proceeds I expose the young plants to 

 light and air. At this stage they require very careful watering, 

 or the whole lot will damp off in a single night. Seedlings should 

 be transplanted as soon as large enough to be handled con- 

 veniently. 



In what I have said it has not been my intention to lay down 

 any strict rules in regard to the use of soils and potting. I 

 should be travelling on altogether too dangerous ground. I have 

 preferred rather to deal with some general principles on which 

 these operations are based. 



Discussion. 



The lecture was illustrated by examples in potting plants, 

 rapid potting being shown by three Ageratums, while careful 

 potting was illustrated by the Begonia. 



The lecturer said that seedsmen should always state in their 

 catalogues, especially with regard to new plants, whether they 

 are from tropical, temperate, or cold regions. 



