232 PLANT CULTURE 



Propagation. Seeds of these should be sown in September 

 and plants wintered in a frame. The following Summer they will 

 make much better subjects than from Spring-sown seed. 



NIGELLA (Love-in-a-Mist). The Nigella bears a most at- 

 tractive blue flower surrounded by lacy leaves. N. damascena is 

 the species most cultivated. 



Propagation. As soon as the weather permits seeds may be 

 sown rather thinly where the plants are intended to bloom in the 

 open border. 



PANSIES (Viola tricolor). For Tufted Pansies see Viola, 

 page 219.) To have Pansy plants ready to put out in the Fall the 

 seed should be sown about the middle of August, and even earlier, 

 where the weather will permit. In the very warm weather the 

 principal danger is in the damping of the seedHng plants shortly 

 after they have germinated. Sow thinly and cover lightly with 

 screened moss, or old manure, giving only enough water to keep the 

 surface slightly moist. In the warmer parts of the country it will re- 

 quire good judgment in selecting a suitable place for the seed boxes 

 during germination. One can be secured by raising some shaded 

 sash above them, in a place where the air is not apt to get stagnant. 

 As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, they should be 

 pricked out in boxes of moderately moist soil, and for some time only 

 given gentle sprinklings through a fine rose to prevent wilting. They 

 are put in their Winter quarters by the beginning of October and 

 given a mulching of rotted manure shortly afterward. In this way 

 they can be grown in the same beds with low growing bulbous plants, 

 such as Crocus, Galanthus or Scillas, these bulbs going out of flower 

 just as the Pansies are coming in, securing a season of bloom from 

 the time when the snow disappears until very warm weather, or, in 

 Northern latitudes, all Summer long. 



In some parts the plants make sufficient progress before the ad- 

 vent of cool weather, not only to bloom, but to send up numerous 

 shoots from the base of the plant. This is a good opportunity to 

 select cuttings of the finest forms to raise seed from. Take those cut- 

 tings having a small piece of soKd stem; put in sand, treating them 

 as cool as possible. As soon as rooted place in boxes of Hght soil and 

 Winter in frames, planting out as soon as weather will permit. It 

 should be borne in mind that plants put out in the Fall always 

 give the best results in Spring. 



Pansies to Flower in Frames. If sown early enough and 

 potted off the seedlings will show the colors before planting and thus 



