62 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



amount of leaf mould and sand, and plunge in the hot- 

 bed. The seeds germinate quickly and should always 

 be kept well up to the light, this being especially 

 necessary with the Cockscombs, which are never con- 

 sidered to be well grown unless they are dwarf. Pot 

 the seedlings off as soon as ready into three-inch pots. If 

 large plants are desired they must be frequently repotted, 

 and this is very essential with the Cockscombs ; but plants 

 of the pyramidalis section may be kept in small pots 

 until they show their colour, when the rubbishy forms, 

 of which there are sure to be some, may be thrown away 

 and the rest potted on in time to make useful plants in 

 six-inch pots. At the final potting, the soil should 

 be somewhat coarse and must contain a considerable 

 amount of decayed animal manure. Celosias do not 

 care for a lot of water at the root but like consider- 

 able humidity in the atmosphere, and should be freely 

 syringed in fine weather as they are rather subject 

 to red spider. I prefer to keep them in frames and 

 on a moist bottom during summer. If they can re- 

 main on the hot-bed so much the better. Ventilate 

 freely during the day, but shut up early after syringing 

 well. 



Cyclamen. — The Persian Cyclamen is better grown 

 now than ever it was, and especially so by growers 

 for market, who get wonderful results under an 

 express system of culture which is not possible to 

 those who cannot devote whole houses to them. 

 One thing, however, we have learned of late years 

 from these examples, is that young plants well grown 

 are better than the old ones which used to be 

 kept year after year at the cost of much trouble 

 and many failures. The Cyclamen cannot be called a 

 cool greenhouse plant, for it likes a fair amount of heat 

 when actively growing. Seeds should be sown in 

 August, using new seeds always, in pans of loam, 



