PROPAGATION BY MEANS OF SEEDS AND SPORES 45 



leaving a fibrous remainder. But all things considered, well- 

 prepared soil Is the most satisfactory medium for most seeds. 



Seeds of aquatic plants, to be sown in a pond, may be placed 

 in a ball of clay and dropped into the water (page 15). Water-lily 

 seeds may be sown in the greenhouse in submerged pots or pans. 



Shallow boxes or "flats" and earthen seed-pans and lily-pans 

 are usually preferable to pots in which to sow seeds. They 

 give more surface in proportion to their contents, and require 

 less attention to drainage (Fig. 

 24). If pots are used, the 4- to 

 6-inch sizes are best. All del- 

 icate seeds, as tuberous be- 

 gonias, primulas, gloxinias, and 

 also spores, are usually sown 

 in pots or pans, which are 

 covered with a pane of glass. ,., *^ 



^. FIG. 24. A pan of seedlings, now 



(See rig. 4.) ready to be "pricked out" or trans- 



If delicate seeds are sown i jlanted - 



outdoors, they should be given protection, if possible. An 

 ordinary hotbed frame gives the best results. In warm 

 weather or a sunny exposure it will be desirable to substitute 

 a cloth screen for the sash. A thin or medium water- 

 proof plant-cloth, either commercial or home-made, is excellent 

 for this purpose. It may be tacked on a simple and light 

 rectangular frame strengthened by iron "carriage-corners." 

 These cloth-covered frames are handy for many purposes, 

 particularly for protecting and supplying a little warmth to 

 seed-pans and young seedlings. 



It is essential that good drainage be given all indoor seed-pots 

 or seed-beds. A layer of broken pots or other coarse material is 

 placed on the bottom. Many growers place a thin layer of fine 

 dead sphagnum moss or of peat over this drainage material, 

 and it is useful in preventing too rapid drying of the bottom of 

 the pots. It is particularly useful in isolated pots or small boxes. 



