Gardening for Amateurs 



413 



Seeds on a Hotbed. If a hotbed is 

 made use of (see paragraph on its making, 

 page 403) a good thick covering of soil, 

 composed of a layer of fibrous lumpy earth 

 and a layer of fine sifted soil, should be 

 spread on top of the manure. The seed- 

 lings are raised much in the same way as in 

 an ordinary frame, but in watering the 

 plants lukewarm water has to be used, and 

 more attention must be paid to airing, 

 since all obnoxious gases have to be re- 

 moved without lowering the temperature 



too much. If the bed heats violently admit 

 air freely, and see that mats or bags are 

 made good use of in cold weather ; shade 

 from strong sunshine until the seedlings 

 are a good size ; after the seedlings have 

 all appeared, air more and more to toughen 

 the tissues of the plant and harden them. 

 Boxes may be used as before ; in this case 

 a very thin layer of soil should be placed 

 on the hot-bed. 



Seeds Inside a Greenhouse. In the 

 hothouse seeds are generally sown in boxes 



A blunt stick should If a pointed stick is 



be used for put- used the base of 



ting in cuttings. the cutting may 



not reach the soil. 



Suitable growth from which 

 to form a cutting. 



Seeds and cuttings make quicker progress if the 

 pots or boxes are placed on staging above 

 the hot water pipes. 



The finished cutting : the lowest 

 leaves are removed and the stem 

 cut through beneath a joint. 



