JUNE, 



105 



prevents the plant from damping off, which they 

 are very subject to do in winter if any stagnation 

 occurs. Having drained my pots well, I fill with 

 the above compost,, making a smooth surface on 

 which to sow the seed ; I do not cover it, but give 

 a gentle watering, and place the pots in a frame, 

 which I keep rather close until the seed vegetates, 

 or, if in the greenhouse, I lay a piece of glass on 

 the top of the pot ; I sprinkle the surface as I see it 

 dry until the plants appear, which are only like 

 small grass ; they must be thinned out to five or 

 six in a pot. By degrees I harden them to the 

 open air, where they remain until the appearance of 

 frost ; they then are removed to a shelf in the green- 

 house near to the glass, the pots being set a short 

 distance from each other ; great care is necessary 

 not to over water them. As early in the spring as 

 practicable, inure them to the open air, placing the 

 pots on the south side of a wall, where they will be 

 sheltered from the wind and receive the full benefit 

 of the sun. They will make but little progress for 

 some time, but when they commence growing they 

 advance very rapidly, and will require to be shifted 

 as they fill their pots with roots, using the same 

 soil with less sand. They should be occasionally 

 watered with dung water. In this situation they 

 remain exposed to all weathers, care being taken to 

 tie them to stakes, until they are in bloom. It will 



