Upon raising Coniferous Plants from Seech 345 



of an inch deep ; the pots or pans in which the seeds were sown, 

 were placed in various temperatures, from the open air to the hot 

 bed ; some of them were even placed over the hot flue, some were 

 covered with a bell-glass, others were left exposed. The result 

 of my experience is, that the system hereafter detailed is the 

 only certain and sure one for Conifera? of all kinds ; I should how- 

 ever mention that there are some species which succeed tolerably 

 well under other modes of management, particularly if sown in the 

 open air, and when the seeds are fresh. These are more especially 

 species of Picea, Abies, Larix and Cedrus, as well as of Juniperus, 

 Cupressus and Thuja ; but they must be sown as early as possible 

 in the spring or summer, for if sown in the autumn or winter 

 they also are subject to damp off, particularly if any artificial heat 

 is used : a thing absolutely necessary if the seeds are sown in winter, 

 or have been long gathered, or damaged by being overheated on 

 the journey. If the rules which I am about to recommend are 

 attended to, I have no doubt that many Fir seeds, now rejected as 

 worthless, or as incapable of germinating when sown, will be found 

 to succeed, as is, I think, sufficiently proved by the following 

 example. 



In the autumn of 1838, the Society purchased from Mr. Charl- 

 wood, some seeds of Abies Cephalonica which had been heated 

 by being sent over in a close cask, perhaps also by having been 

 packed in a green state and by the cask having been stowed away 

 in the close hold of the ship. When the seeds were sent to those 

 who had ordered them, they were declared to be dead; one 

 Gardener threw behind the fire the seeds which his master had pur- 

 chased, and even some nurserymen would not sow the seeds, but 

 returned them, believing it useless to attempt to raise them. I 

 must confess, that I myself considered their appearance very 

 unpromising, but having before found other Fir seeds looking 

 equally ill, which nevertheless vegetated, I gave these a fair trial, 

 and with a little care, succeeded in raising about five hundred 



