//o EUCALYPTUS. 



mold and mix with one-third to one-half sharp sand such 

 as would be used for mortar by the mason ; fill your boxes 

 level full and firm down with a board which will leave the 

 surface about one-half inch lower than the edge of the box. 

 Scatter the seed evenly and not too thick over the surface 

 and cover about one-eighth inch with finely sifted soil same 

 as used for the seed bed, press down firmly with a board 

 and water lightly. Place boxes after sowing in a cold 

 frame covered with cheese cloth, or in a lath house, and 

 water lightly, daily, and not allow the surface to become 

 dry. The seed of most varieties will germinate in ten to 

 fourteen days, and in warm weather often the first plant 

 will be out above the soil in six days. Water lightly 

 when plants begin to show ; great care will be necessary 

 not to get soil too wet, or fungus will attack them and 

 produce what is termed "damping off" by the gardener, 

 which will often carry off seventy- five per cent, of the 

 young plants before the second and third set of leaves 

 appear, after which there is not much danger from this 

 cause. I have found only one remedy of much use in 

 preventing "damping," that is, to use the finest road dust, 

 sprinkling it over the plants lightly on the first appearance 

 of the trouble, which will often check its progress. Some 

 varieties may be more subject to this trouble than others, 

 but I think that conditions of weather favorable to produc- 

 ing succulent growth, the leading cause. Varieties showing 

 least tendency one season, might suffer the greatest, under 

 different conditions of temperature and humidity, another. 

 Before transplanting, the young plants should be hardened 

 off, when about three inches high, by giving only sufficient 

 water to prevent wilting in heat of day. After they have 

 become sufficiently "ripened," or woody, apply water 



