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VIII. Upon an improvement in the mode of raising Annual 

 Flower Seeds. In a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. Joseph 

 Harrison, Gardener to the Lord Wharncliffe. 



Read April 20, 1830. 



Sir, 



I have often observed that when hardy annual flowers which 

 have small seeds, are sown in open borders, and are* obliged to be 

 slightly covered with soil, the greater part is generally destroyed 

 by drought ; for after the seeds have begun to vegetate, and before 

 they have struck root into the soil, the influence of the sun, and 

 drying winds operating upon the soil and seeds, a failure of crop is 

 the result. From the above circumstances I am led to send you 

 a short account of the method I practice, by which an uniform 

 crop is secured. 



After sowing the patch of seeds and covering it with fine moist 

 soil, I place a garden-pot inversely over it ; this remains till I 

 discover that the seeds have struck root, when I raise the pot up 

 two or three inches ; keeping it thus supported for a few days, and 

 then remove it entirely. 



I find that the pot not only keeps the soil moist, But, by the sun 

 heating the pot, the seeds come up much more quickly than other- 

 wise they would do : in consequence of which I do not sow the 

 seeds so early by a fortnight or upwards as I used to do previously. 

 The young plants are therefore less exposed to injury from cold, 

 or late spring frosts. 



This practice also prevents the soil being washed off the seeds 

 by heavy rains, and thus leaving them exposed. 



The flower gardens here being surrounded by trees, a great 



