THE ZINNIA. 147 



If the weather happens to be cold, cover the frame over at 

 night with a mat, and give no air at all until the plants 

 begin to appear, when air should be given cautiously, so as 

 to prevent any shrivelling of the tender leaves by a dry 

 east wind, and at the same time to ensure that healthy 

 " stubbiness " that is so desirable in all young plants. As 

 the plants advance they will require water and air increas- 

 ingly, and nearly the same treatment as balsams demand 

 should be given them. One point must be impressed on the 

 mind of the amateur, and it is that, in common with the 

 aster, the balsam, and other first-class annuals, the plants 

 should never receive a check ; for that will not only result 

 in a deterioration of the bloom, but will also probably render 

 the plant an easy prey to its myriad insect enemies. 



The planting-out is an important matter. If the "bed 

 is made of old, soar, worn-out stuff, you will have no fine 

 zinnias. The soil should be rather light and decidedly rich, 

 and deeply stirred, and the position should be warm and 

 sheltered. A garden in the northern suburbs of London, 

 where the soil happens to be heavy and damp, was found 

 to be unfavourable to zinnias, for the owner of that garden 

 was resolved to have them as fine as he had often seen them 

 in Paris, but had never seen them in England. And in 

 the end this was accomplished, for a slojiing bank facing 

 the south was prepared for them, by deep digging, abundant 

 manuring, and the incorporation with the stiff stajile soil 

 of a large proportion of road-grit and leaf-mould. Then, 

 indeed, the zinnias displayed their beauties lavishly, and 

 all the extra labour was amply compensated. 



In any case, the bed should be made ready at the time 

 the seed is sown, or earlier. As to the time for planting out, 

 that must depend in part upon the weather, and in part 



