208 THE FLORIST AND 



to keep up a Succession of flowers for four or five months, seed 

 should be put in at intervals of five or six weeks, from June to Sep- 

 tember, soil of a sandy nature should be prepared, and the seeds 

 very slightly covered. The front shelf in the greenhouse will be a 

 suitable place for them while growing, they should be encouraged 

 by transplanting into a shallow box as soon as the first true leaf 

 makes its appearance, If thinly planted (not closer than F three 

 inches) they can remain until sufficiently strong to be placed at 

 once into flowering pots. These must be well drained by placing 

 a handful of broken material in each pot. If attention is paid to 

 this, there will be little fear of damp, if ordinary care is given in 

 watering. Two small stakes should be inserted one each side of 

 the plant, crossing other at top, no tying will be necessary, this will 

 prevent them from toppling over and breaking off at the neck 

 where they are very weak. A few of the latest sowing should be 

 set apart for seedling. A little care and attention should be 

 given to their selection, choosing those with large, well colored 

 fringed flowers. Sometimes they incline to be semi-double; these 

 should have the preference. About the middle of May they should 

 be set out in the sun, watered regularly, and if they receive an oc- 

 casional application of manure water the value of the seed will be 

 enhanced. Under these conditions an abundance of seed will be 

 secured; It is not worth trouble to preserve old plants; young 

 Ones flowering with much more vigour; any particularly fine va- 

 riety, however, may be turned out of the pot after it has done 

 blooming, some of the old soil removed and replaced in fresh com- 

 post. The double varieties are much superior to the single ones. 

 They are increased by dividing the plant into cuttings. To propa- 

 gate them requires a cool dry situation, partially shaded, paying 

 great attention in watering, they must be kept rather dry until 

 they begin to show symptoms of growth; otherwise they are cer- 

 tain to decay. It is probably on this account that they are not so 

 extensively cultivated as they deserve to be. Delta. 



