46 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



the glass sheet about a quarter of an inch on the one side 

 to admit air, and discontinue the covering. The larger seeds, 

 as Hollyhocks and Lupins, may all be sown in the open 

 garden. 



Raising seedlings of hardy flowers is one of the most 

 interesting of all operations in a small garden. Even a 

 cold frame will suffice for them, simply putting on a " light " 

 when the seed is sown, watching for slugs and woodlice when 

 the seedlings show themselves, and when sufficiently large 

 transferring to a prepared piece of ground in the open. We 

 have known delightful groups of Primroses, Polyanthuses, 

 and Auriculas raised in this way. The beginner in gardening 

 who is keen upon raising new flowers with the simple contri- 

 vances at his disposal should choose the three charming 

 flowers named, and many beautiful strains, as the florists call 

 a race of unnamed seedlings, may result. There must be 

 system in the work. In the first place purchase the finest 

 seed in the market. Think nothing of the price. The most 

 expensive seed brings the greatest treasures in the shape of 

 finer flowers for colour and form, and also plants of good 

 habit of growth. When there are no prizes the flowers, with 

 few exceptions, are sufficiently distinct and true in colour 

 to use freely in beds and borders. When seed raising is 

 seriously undertaken with a view to improving an existing 

 race, the seedlings, when large enough to remove, must be 

 planted in a bed by themselves, the individual tufts being 

 far enough apart to develop. The object of this is to remove 

 poor kinds so as to preserve the beauty of the whole race. 

 A muddled, speckled Primrose in the midst of others of clear, 

 telling colours has no right there ; its presence will probably, 

 through the agency of birds, bees, or insects, spoil the others 

 by its pollen mixing with that of the other flowers. With a 

 bed of seedlings in front of one, destroy all tints which fail 

 to please, and remember that it is important to know that 

 the attributes of a good garden Primrose, bunch-flowered or 

 otherwise, Polyanthus, or Auricula, is a pure self-coloured 

 flower of good shape, held on a strong stem, and free in 

 every way both in bloom and growth. In this way the 

 glorious Munstead Primroses were created by Miss Jekyll, 

 and rich orange, pure white, yellow, and other shades secured, 

 and not only so, but in large heads supported upon strong 

 stems, to produce an effect of colour when massed in the 

 garden. 



Hardy Perennials from Seeds. Judged by the frequent 

 inquiries which come to hand, there would appear to be 



