February Dawning Spring 



covering of glass and brown paper will help to keep the 

 soil moist, and this is of the greatest importance in 

 ensuring germination. When the seedlings are 1 inch 

 or so high they are transferred to other pots or boxes ; 

 subsequently they are hardened off and planted out as 

 becomes necessary. 



Rock Plants from Seed. The possession of quite a 

 number of alpine plants raised from seed sown in Febru 

 ary of last year reminds one how easily many of them are 

 grown in this way. Some will blossom during the coming 

 summer, though most will not flower until next year. 

 That charming rose-coloured Primrose (Primula frondosa) 

 is certainly one to begin with; a packet of seeds will 

 provide at least a score of plants, and a 3J-inch wide 

 flower-pot is big enough to accommodate each one until 

 flowering time. Mine have been in pots of this size 

 throughout the winter, plunged to the rim in a bed of 

 ashes, and now in the cold greenhouse their beautiful 

 white leaves are pushing forth, and soon the lovely rosy 

 blossoms will show. Primula capitata, a late summer 

 Primrose from the Himalayas, should also be sown, more 

 especially as, in most gardens, it is a biennial only, and 

 dies after having flowered. The pursuit of gardening 

 involves a good deal of timely anticipation, but once one 

 has made a start there is no lapse in the display providing, 

 as each season comes round, its tasks are carried out. 

 Lots of other Primulas may be grown from seed sown now, 

 such, for instance, as japonica, pulverulenta, rosea, sikkim- 

 ensis and cortusoides. The dainty little Primula Forbesi 

 is an annual, and by sowing seeds at intervals one 

 may have plants in bloom for weeks together. The Pinks 

 are easy from seed, notably, Dianthus caesius, graniticus, 

 deltoides, arenarius and plumarius; so, too, are many 

 Campanulas. That lovely evening Primrose, Oenothera 

 missouriensis, will bloom next summer from seeds sown 

 in the greenhouse or frame, and one may say the same of 

 Dianthus arenarius, Antirrhinum glutinosum, Aethion- 



