206 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



7. By Seeds. This, of course, is the most natural means of 

 reproduction. All seed cannot always be relied upon to re- 

 produce its kind, in which case recourse is generally had to 

 one or other of the methods referred to. Artificial heat in the 

 raising of seedlings is in many cases necessary, particularly in 

 the case of plants with rather tender constitution, and there- 

 fore the question of a propagating house, heating apparatus, 

 soil, drainage, and so forth must be considered. 



In nurseries where trees and shrubs are made a specialty 

 of, houses devoted entirely to the production of plants are 

 common enough, and the one that finds most favour is a 

 low, span-roofed house, placed beyond the influence of cold 

 winds. A walk down the centre, with cases and movable 

 lights along one side, answers admirably, the other side being 

 left free for plants. Hot-water arrangements should be 

 ample, and the ventilation so arranged that little damage will 

 ensue even in bad weather. The door should face south or 

 south-west, as cold currents of air rushing into the house are 

 injurious to tender growth. It will be found convenient to 

 divide the frame into two, three, four, or more partitions, as 

 the heat can be kept more uniform and easily confined than 

 would be the case were fewer or no partitions introduced. 

 Hot-water pipes should rest in a tank of water beneath the 

 bed, and the tank should never be allowed to get dry. 



It is important that seeds should not be harvested too 

 early, but allowed to hang upon the trees and bushes until 

 they are quite mature. Badly ripened seeds cannot be ex- 

 pected to produce good results. All seeds should be 

 thoroughly cleaned before sowing, some being surrounded 

 by fleshy matter, and others encased in shells varying in 

 thickness and hardness according to the kind. Some seeds, 

 like that of single-flowered Roses, should be sown immedi- 

 ately they are ripe. 



When and How to Sow. Broadly speaking, the best time to 

 sow the bulk of tree and shrub seeds under glass is towards 

 the end of February and beginning of March, as the seed will, 

 in the majority of cases, germinate quickly, and with proper 

 care good plants will result before winter. Clean pans, boxes, 

 or shallow pots are best adapted for sowing seeds in, and 

 the soil used should be light, sweet, and moist, but not wet. 

 Drainage is of the utmost importance, because if this becomes 

 clogged and the water cannot pass away freely, the soil gets 

 sour, and consequently the seeds fail to vegetate. Over the 

 drainage place a layer of coarse turf, covering this with rough 

 soil, and filling up with finer compost, which should have been 



