WHEN TO SOW 13 



powder, for if too fine it is very apt to become " pasty " under 

 frequent waterings, in which state it becomes sour and detri- 

 mental to life. Soil, when too fine, becomes a bad medium 

 it does not function aright, in that it lacks that perfect 

 aeration so valuable to healthy growth. 



The best of soils are not in a condition for use when they 

 are either too wet or too dry, the ideal state being, that, 

 squeezed in the hand it falls apart, not too rapidly, when the 

 pressure is relaxed. A wet soil would cling together, a dry 

 soil would not take the pressure but run rapidly apart, and this 

 action is reflected when the compost is placed in the pot or 

 the pan. If wet it is impossible to press it into the required 

 density, and if too dry it refuses to be pressed and also becomes 

 partly impervious to water. This may be considered by some 

 to be a trivial matter, but it is really very important indeed, 

 and it will be found that it is such small matters that are the 

 more important. 



WHEN TO Sow 



There is scarcely a month in which seeds, of one kind or 

 another, may not be sown to advantage, so we have thought 

 it advisable to present, in calendar form, some table of 

 sowings which may be helpful. 



The list of plants we give must not be considered complete, 

 but as fairly representative of marketable varieties. It will 

 be easy, even to those whose knowledge is limited or elementary, 

 to add other plants according to their classification. It must 

 further be borne in mind that all the sowings we refer to are 

 calculated as being made under glass. 



MONTH. 



VARIETIES OF SEEDS. 



J anuary . 

 February 



March 



Begonias, Cucumbers, Melons, Tomatoes, Sweet Peas. 



Antirrhinums, Cannas, Coleus, Cyclamen, Gloxinias, lobelias, 

 Petunias, Salvias, Celery. 



Half-hardy Annuals, Aralias, Asparagus Plumosus, Carna- 

 tions, Cucumbers, Melons, Tomatoes, Marrows, Mimulus, 

 Schizanthus. 



