Dfx.] FLOWER GARDEN. 5Q7 



observing to have the bottoms of the boxes, previous to their being 

 tilled, bored with several augur holes, which are to be covered with 

 shells or the like, to suffer any extra moisture to pass away freely. 

 But the former method is much more preferable. 



Sowing Auricula, Polyanthus, and Cyclamen seeds. 



The surest and best method to obtain fine auriculas from seed, 

 is as follows. In the first place the seed should be saved from 

 young, healthy, strong plants, of capital high-coloured sorts, pos- 

 sessing the first rate properties: these on the approach of bloom, 

 should be detached from the rest, to some distant part of the gar- 

 den, for fear of the farina of indifferent sorts contaminating them, 

 and there exposed to the full air, the sun (except when too violent) 

 and moderate rains; from an excess of which, the plants are to be 

 protected by mats laid on hoops, or by small hand-glasses. In dry 

 weather these plants must be regularly watered, as often as they 

 appear to require it: much depends on a due attention to this par- 

 ticular point. 



The seed will commonly ripen in June; it is advisable frequently 

 to visit the plants at that season, and carefully to gather such pods 

 or heads of seed as appear perfectly dry, brown, and begin to open: 

 if all the pods on the same stem are ripe together they maybe cut 

 oft' with part of the stem to which they are connected; but if some 

 of the pods are not sufficiently ripe, such as are, should be carefully 

 picked from the rest as they become so. The seed thus collected, 

 should remain in the pericarpiums or seed vessels, in a dry room, 

 till the season of sowing. 



In the last week of December, any time in January, or in the 

 early part of February, the seed may be sown with every prospect 

 of success, provided you have the necessary conveniences. The 

 early sown seeds, if well managed, will vegetate better, and the 

 plants raise more numerously than the late: besides, it will be of 

 serious importance to give the plants the advantage of a long spring- 

 vegetation, that they may be as strong as possible before the sum- 

 mer heat sets in, which to seedling auriculas and polyanthuses is 

 very destructive, and even to the full grown plants; but if there is 

 not a suitable convenience, and an opportunity of paying the ne- 

 cessary attention, it will be better to defer the sowing till February. 



A hot-bed must be prepared, as for early seedling cucumbers, 

 and a good frame and glass-light set thereon, with five or six inches 

 of fine earth laid all over the bed, to keep down the steam. Pro- 

 vide a box or boxes about five or six inches deep, with several holes 

 on the bottom; fill it with compost, and gently shake and strike it 

 against the ground, till the earth settles a little; make the surface 

 perfectly smooth and even, and sow the seed with the utmost regu- 

 larity; then sift through a fine wired sieve a little compost or wil- 

 low mould upon it, sufficient only to just cover the seed, and place 

 the box in the frame on the surface of the bed; the glass must be 

 set on immediately and the bed so managed as to preserve a mode- 



