THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



181 



July or August following, and hardened in frames 

 before the season arrives of setting them in the green- 

 house. 



Seeds are sown in the same sorts of soil wdiich the 

 parent plants thrive best in : hence, where there is a 

 variety of seeds to be so^vn, a variety of soils must be 

 prepared. Loam, peat, and sand, however, are the 

 simples which will supply all requisite composts. 

 The size of the pots may be from four to eight inches 

 across, as it is not desirable to sow seeds in very small 

 pots on account of the rapid drying of the soil. These 

 pots should be well drained by first placing a crock or 

 sherd, or oyster-shell with the concave side under- 

 most, on the hole, then covering it with an inch or 

 more of gravel or of broken sherds, and over that 

 laying some peat siftings or fibrous vegetable matter 

 obtained in sifting soils, to prevent the soil from 

 Avashing down and mixing with the drainage, and so 

 rendering the latter inefficient. On this bottoming, 

 as it is technically called, place the mould proper for 

 the seeds to be sown : press it down gently, so as it 

 may stand at half an inch under the rim of the pot. 

 Then lay on a quarter of an inch of the same mould 

 sifted extra fine on purpose, and spread it quite level. 

 On this sow the seeds as evenly as possible, and cover 

 with an eighth or a quarter of an inch according to 

 the size of the seeds. Then press this covering 

 gently and evenly down on the seeds with the hand, 

 leaving the surface quite smooth and level, and the 

 operation is finished. 



