S THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



is wanted late in the autumn or much before Christmas, seeds should be sown in April 

 or May; for prolonging the season sow in June or July. Prepare shallow pans by 

 draining and filling with fine sandy soil, pressing this down evenly and forming a 

 perfectly level surface. Give a gentle, yet thorough watering, and three or four hours 

 later sow the seeds thinly, scarcely covering them with sifted soil. Place in a cold 

 frame, rather than in dry heat, standing the seed pans on inverted flower pots, cover 

 with squares of glass, over which spread brown paper, and close the frame. The soil 

 must never be allowed to become dry ; moisten as often as necessary with a fine-rosed 



watering-can or by partial immer- 

 sion of the pans in a pail of water. 



Directly the seedlings appear 

 remove the paper, but carefully 

 shade from strong sunshine. Tilt 

 the glass at first, wholly removing 

 it before its retention causes the 

 plants to become drawn or to damp 

 off. When still quite small, trans- 

 plant the more forward of the 

 seedlings into other pans or boxes 

 of soil, treating the rest similarly 

 directly they are large enough to 

 handle. Eeturn them to cold 

 frames, and shade from bright 

 sunshine. They must not be left 

 long enough in these pans to press 

 against and spoil each other, but 

 all should be placed singly in 3-inch pots or a size that will comfortably hold the 

 roots. Before the hottest part of the summer is reached, cool quarters must be assigned 

 to all cinerarias. Unduly exposing them to strong sunshine is responsible for the loss 

 of many plants from a so-called disease. If space on the north side of a wall is not 

 available, arrange the frames with a slope to the north, disposing the plants thinly on 

 a bed of damp ashes and not far from the glass. 



Before the pots become crowded with roots, transfer the plants from the small sizes 

 into 6-inch pots, in which they may be flowered ; but if larger plants are desired, another 



Fig. 1. Cineraria. 



