in the Cultivation of Plants. 449 



My rather slow gardener planted one forenoon, including 

 the preparation of the ground with the moss, 480 plants in 

 the nursery, observing the order of planting above-mentioned. 

 So much for any objection as to the tediousness of the ope- 

 ration. 



II. With the Winter Stock-Gilli/lower. 



The object I had in view was to raise plants that would show 

 flower earlier than in the usual way, so that they might be 

 earlier potted off. Early planting, and consequently the proper 

 growth attained by the winter stock, are the chief considerations 

 for their keeping well through the winter. I proceeded in the 

 following manner : — 



As the weather became milder, so that I was not afraid of the 

 frost penetrating a cold-frame, I prepared one with an under- 

 stratum of about 1 ft. of leaves and weeds, as actual bottom heat 

 is injurious to the young stocks. The fine mould laid over it 

 was, as before observed, dibbled for the plants, and balls of moss 

 put in the holes. In order to economise space, they were made 

 so close together as almost to touch each other, and were but 

 the size of the fist, as they were only for transplanting the young 

 plants. When holes had been made in the moss balls, they 

 were filled with earth suitable for the stocks, and two stock seeds 

 were put into each hole. As soon as the plants had grown a 

 little, the weaker one was pulled up. Whether there was not 

 a greater probability of this being double than the stronger one, 

 I cannot venture to say. 



When they had attained the proper size for transplanting, 

 they were, as usual, planted out in the open air, but with the 

 moss balls. 



The following were the results of this method of cultiva- 

 tion: — 



1. I completely attained the object I had in view, viz. that 

 the flower showed itself early ; indeed too completely, for my 

 winter stocks bloomed, for the most part, at the same time as my 

 summer stocks, which was not intended, but which could easily 

 be avoided by sowing later. Unfortunately, I cannot state the 

 day en which I sowed the seed. 



This early appearance of the flower is readily explained. 

 1st, Because the plant was not disturbed when it was first trans- 

 planted ; therefore the blossom-buds would show themselves as 

 much earlier, as the duration of the sickly period after trans- 

 planting in the usual manner would have lasted, and retarded 

 the progress of vegetation. 2d, In the loose mass a number of 

 hair roots, instead of the usual turnip [fusiform] roots, had been 

 3d Ser.— 1842. IX. gg 



