Gardening for Amateurs 



411. 



drainage or for spreading on top of the 

 soil in pots ; it will be found growing in 

 wet bogs, and should be watered occasion- 

 ally in storage to preserve it or else thoroughly 

 dried and kept in that condition. Manure 

 used in potting or for composts for the 

 frame or greenhouse must always be old, 

 well rotted, and not too moist ; guano or 

 bone meal is a good artificial to use. Lime 

 should be added as old mortar, plaster, well- 

 weathered slaked lime, or ground shells. 



Mixed Composts. Directions are always 

 given for the potting composts necessary 

 for each plant. A small jug or tin should be 

 kept, and the exact parts measured out 



from seed sown in the open ; half-hardy 

 subjects are raised in the cold frame and 

 planted out ; while the more tender plants 

 are raised in the hothouse, over a hotbed or 

 in a propagator. 



Hardy Plants. The seeds of hardy 

 plants, like the common annual flowers, 

 vegetables, and the like, are generally sown 

 in patches or in rows ; Suitable drills are 

 made, the seed sown thinly, and then the 

 drills are covered with fine soil. In wet, 

 clayey soils a little sand may usefully be 

 spread in the drill first and a nice sandy 

 compost from the shed used to cover the 

 seed. For fine seeds very shallow drills are 



How seedlings are transplanted or "pricked out." 



when making up mixtures according to 

 direction. If no directions are given, make 

 up what is required with discretion and 

 forethought, remembering that sphagnum 

 prevents soil passing into and clogging the 

 drainage. Peat is retentive of moisture, 

 yet light and porous ; sand consolidates the 

 compost, yet keeps it open enough for water 

 to percolate through ; charcoal sweetens 

 and conserves ; while loam and manure 

 encourage root formation and provide 

 humus. Equal parts of fibrous loam and 

 leaf-mould, with some sand, charcoal or 

 old mortar added, form a good general 

 potting compost to use. 



RAISING PLANTS FROM SEED 

 Many plants are, in general practice, 

 raised from seed. Hardy plants, like many 

 annuals, perennials, and trees, are grown 



required, but for larger ones like peas the 

 trench made should be about 2 inches deep ; 

 sometimes seed is simply scattered in more 

 or less regular patches and raked into the 

 soil. Needless to say, the surface of the 

 seed bed should be raked and tilled until in 

 the finest possible condition. If the soil is 

 dry and dusty sow the seeds, but afterwards 

 water the soil very carefully with soft water 

 from a can having the finest rose. If loose 

 in texture, the bed should be trumped and 

 then raked loose on the surface before 

 drawing out the seed drills. 



Seeds in the Frame. In the frame two 

 plans may be adopted. The frame may be 

 filled with a rich compost, and the seeds 

 sown in ro\\s, or else tin- coinjx)st can IKJ 

 placed in boxes and these arranged in the 

 frame. Tin- latter is the better course where 

 many different kinds are grown, or where 



