6 BULLETIN 962, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PLANTING THE SEED. 



The time of planting seed will depend upon how the florist is going 

 to handle his stocks, and possibly upon when his seed becomes avail- 

 able. Sowing can be done at any season if suitable moisture condi- 

 tions for germination are maintained. If seed is planted out of 

 doors, it should be sown in late autumn for spring germination. 



For germination in flats, the usual compost of loam, sand, and leaf 

 mold with a very little well-rotted manure is preferred. Good suc- 

 cess has been obtained with a variety of potting soils, even with quite 

 lieavy clays ameliorated with a little sand and rubbish. 



The best practice in sowing the seed is to fill the flat to the proper 

 depth and strike the surface to a level. The seed is then scattered 

 over this surface and pressed down rather firmly with a piece of 

 board. The whole is then covered with one-eighth to one- fourth of 

 an inch of fine soil sprinkled over the top. In out-of-door plantings 

 it is better to put the seed three-fourths to 1 inch deep. 



HANDLING THE SEED FLATS. 



To the experienced plantsman the best direction that can be given 

 on the subject of handling is "keep the flats in proper condition for 

 germination." This condition does not differ for most seeds. Mois- 

 ture should be kept at the surface constantly, but good provision for 

 drainage should be made, so that the soil will never become water- 

 logged. 



If it is not possible to keep the surface properly moist without it, 

 a pane of glass can be laid over each flat, but if the moisture condi- 

 tions of the greenhouse are as they should be this is not necessary. 

 It will be all the better not to have had the glass on when the plants 

 begin to come through, for at this time, especially if the plantings 

 are thick, moisture and aeration must be carefully watched lest damp- 

 ing-off occur. 



The flats after germination are preferably kept rather dry. Water- 

 ing should be copious, with provision for rapid drainage, but at com- 

 paratively infrequent intervals, so that the seedlings and the surface 

 of the soil be not too wet. Clay seed pans can be used, in which case 

 it will not be necessary to wet the young foliage at all for a time. 



The time it takes for the seed to come up will vary greatly with 

 conditions. The first lot of seed produced in these experiments 

 ripened in June. It required six or seven Aveeks to germinate when 

 sown immediately after being gathered. The same seed planted the 

 following January came up in three weeks. 



POTTING. 



The exact stage of growth at which Easter lily seedlings should 

 be potted may vary considerably. Usually it has been the practice 



