Wet Soil Conditions Important 59 



while quite fresh. Bog' or moisture-loving kinds 

 should, however, be strewn thinly on the surface of 

 consistently wet soil, the wetness being an essential to 

 quick germination and a cent, per cent, crop of seed- 

 lings. In their case soil covering for the seeds is un- 

 necessary. Other alpine Primulas may be treated in the 

 usual way. Biennial alpines quickly lose vitality, and 

 their seeds should not be kept for any length of time. 

 The Meconopsids are a case in point, and their seeds 

 should be sown preferably in shght warmth within a 

 month from their being harvested. A temperature of 

 40° or 45° as a maximum would be ample, the seed 

 pans to be set in a light position near the glass. 



Subsequent Care of Seedlings. — In the raising of 

 choice alpines from seeds, damp is a great enemy, 

 most to be dreaded where thick sowing of the seeds 

 has been indulged in or where the frame or greenhouse 

 is ill-ventilated. If to such conditions an inordinate 

 use of the watering pot or syringe is added, the danger 

 is still more grave. Raise all seed pots or pans near 

 the glass with well-ventilated conditions. Avoid 

 damping them overhead towards evening. Fraught 

 with risk at any time, it would be highly dangerous 

 during dull weather. Seedlings raised in slight 

 warmth are often weakened thereby and more sus- 

 ceptible to damping off. Avoid watering in driblets. 

 Water thoroughly when necessary, and always in the 

 early forenoon, so that the seedlings may dry up before 

 evening. Damping off may be arrested to some extent 

 by dusting a mixture of powdered Hme and sulphur 

 among the seedlings, while a dryish soil condition will 

 avert it altogether. Remember that thin sowing pro- 

 motes sturdy growth, with comparative immunity 

 from damping. Conversely thick sowing and the con- 

 sequent crowding of the seedlings causes weakness, 

 and in that condition damp may easily overtake them. 

 Finally, attend early to the transplanting of seedlings, 

 and in doing this bury the young plant right up to the 

 seed leaves (cotyledons) and make it quite firm. 



