sowing 59 



carefully preserved at the time of planting, must necessarily 

 get broken if there are too many seedlings together. An- 

 other point of importance is not to confine the seedlings too 

 long in the pots, else the roots get intertwined and are 

 then difficult to separate. 



The soil should consist of fibrous loam, or at least 

 light soil of a good nature, with finely powdered old manure 

 (that from a spent Mushroom bed, whenever it may be 

 obtainable, is the ideal sort) and a fourth part of sharp 

 sand. After sowing the seeds i in. deep, place the pots 

 in a house with a temperature of 55 to 60 deg. Fahr., and 

 when they have germinated in six to ten days, gradually 

 lower the temperature to 50 deg., or remove the pots to 

 another house, but avoid a sudden check. Place them on the 

 shelves of a cool, airy house, or upon the ground, or in 

 frames on a soil or ash bottom. The soil being moist to 

 start with, avoid unnecessary watering afterward, and be 

 sure not to get into the habit of merely dewing the surface 

 over, especially when the seedlings are breaking through, 

 as this may lead to damping off! As soon as the little 

 plants are 2 in. to 3 in. high and have well filled the pots 

 with healthy roots, they should be set out in their permanent 

 quarters. Such treatment, of course, is only called for in 

 the case of the more expensive vigorous growing novelties. 



SOWING IN BENCHES 



Where ordinary flowers are wanted for one's own retail 

 trade, or where the highest ideal blooms are less the de- 

 sideratum than a quantity of the smaller kinds on medium 

 stalks, that is, with stems 6 in. to 8 in. long, the older 

 grandifforas are excellent. These produce a rapid succes- 

 sion of very useful flowers for make-up purposes, and look 

 as well when packed into a floral cushion or pillow as the 



