Horticulture. 



310 



Very small seeds such as Petunias, Gloxinias, Begonias, &c, need only 

 to be just covered, and are often mixed with finely-sifted sand or soil so that 

 they may be more easily and evenly distributed over the soil, overcrowding 

 being most injurious to the young seedlings. Others stick to each other, and, 

 with the same object in view, should be rubbed between the hands along with 

 dry sand before sowing. Those of the tender plants are usually sown in 

 pots or pans, sometimes placed on a hot bed, or in boxes and pricked out 

 when large enough to be handled without injury, into sheds or beds until 

 sufficiently strong to go into their permanent situations. The strong kinds are 

 sown in the open ground in beds which must be protected in the early stages 

 from strong sun and heavy rains. In all cases light and air are essential for 

 their growth or the seedlings become "drawn" and moisture must be carefully 

 regulated, taking care when watering not to dislodge the small seeds for which 

 a very fine-rosed watering pot is needed. The pots containing the smallest seed's 

 may be immersed almost to their tops in water for a short time to allow 

 sufficient moisture to be absorbed by the soil. 



Thinning-out is necessary where the sowing has been too thick, or the 

 plants get weakened and spindly. Sowing may be done in drills or by broad- 

 casting the seed. When practicable the former method is to be recommended, 

 as it allows of weeding and stirring of the soil. If broadcasted they must be 

 scattered about as thinly as possible. 



TIME OF SOWING. 



Methods of drying and packing seeds for export have reached such a 

 pitch of excellence, in England at any rate, that we are now able to regulate 

 our orders for the different kinds to arrive at seasons most suitable to their 

 growth, or for them to commence their career when the climatic conditions 

 most resemble those of their native homes. Most of the local seed merchants 

 now realise this fact and import their seeds accordingly, For indigenous species 

 nature teaches us that the best time is when they naturally drop from the 

 plants. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



A cutting is a detached portion of a plant usually provided with buds, 

 or buds and leaves, and capable of emitting roots and becoming a plant similar 

 to its parent in habits and requirements. Selection at the proper time, a suitable 

 temperature and degree of moisture are the requisites to effect this. The age 

 at which the cutting should be taken varies greatly in the different species of 

 plants, the soft wooded kinds generally succeed from very young shoots, others 

 from half or well-ripened wood, but the subject is too large to be thoroughly 

 gone into here. A remarkable instance of cuttings striking from thick stems 

 several years old is to be seen in the low-country fences of Thespesia populnea 

 " Tulip Tree," and also with Dadaps. The stakes of all sizes are driven carelessly 

 into the ground but shoot readily. If the operator is uncertain concerning the plant 

 he is dealing with, shoots of all ages should be inserted to ascertain the degree of 

 firmness necessary to obtain the greatest success. For the majority, well-ripened 

 wood of about a year's growth will be found the best. They should be taken only 

 from healthy plants that are in active growth with the leaves in a state of forming 

 woody tissue. For deciduous trees they must be taken after the fall of leaf and 

 before the sap commences to flow again. The weather must be propitious for those 

 to be inserted in the open, and as there are usually refreshing showers of rain 

 during October, November, and December, these be regarded as the most suitable 

 months. For those to be placed elsewhere they may be taken at periods when 



