HOTHOUSE, 97 



with silver sand, hold the box in tepid water, so that the 

 moisture rises to the surface to thoroughly moisten it, 

 sow the seeds, do not cover with soil, but place a pane 

 of glass on top, and cover this with paper to exclude light. 

 Stand the box in a temperature of 65 to 70 deg., and 

 when the seeds sprout remove the paper except when 

 the sun is shining. As soon as the first two or three 

 leaves have formed, carefully transplant the seedlings 

 an inch apart in well-drained pots, boxes, or pans, 

 and a little later transfer singly to three-inch pots, then 

 to 5in. or Gin. pots, in which size the plants may flower. 

 The compost should consist of equal parts of peat, loam, 

 leaf-mould, decayed manure, and coarse silver sand. Dur- 

 ing the growing season keep the plants shaded from sun, 

 not too far from the glass, and well watered at the roots. 

 When the first flower-buds form, -apply weak liquid 

 manure once or twice weekly. When in full flower the 

 plants may be removed to a conservatory until their 

 blooms fade; then they should be returned to the plant 

 stove, placed on a shelf, and have water gradually with- 

 held. As soon as the foliage is dead, remove the tubers 

 from the pots, and store them in silver sand in boxes in 

 the stDve till spring. The tubers should then be partly 

 embedded in leaf-mould or cocoanut-fibre refuse in shal- 

 low boxes, and kept moist till new shoots, two inches long, 

 have formed, when plant singly in 4Jin. or 6in. pots, and 

 later transfer to Sin. pots if large plants are desired. We 

 only advise the tubers of named sorts, or specially good, 

 promising seedlings, to be saved and repotted, as much 

 nicer specimens may be obtained from a good strain of 

 seed. Seedlings well grown flower within six or eight 

 months of sowing the seed. During the season of growth 

 maintain a uniform temperature of 65 to 75 deg. and a 

 moist atmosphere. When in flower a drier atmosphere is 

 preferable. Gloxinias may be increased by leaf-cuttings 

 and by division of the tubers. 



For named varieties and strains of seed see trade lists. 



