J. M. Thorburn & Co. 's Catalogue of Seeds. 



73 



SWEET PEAS. 



the box where it will get the morning sun, but be free from drip; water moderately and carefully. The 

 treatment of the seedlings should be similar to that 

 given to the Chinese Primrose. As soon as the plants 

 are out of the seed-leaf, transplant singly into small pots* 

 in a rich soil with some vegetable mold in it. Repot as 

 often as the pots become moderately filled with roots, or 

 sufficiently often to prevent the roots from becoming 

 pot-bound, and so avoid checking the growth. If speci- 

 men plants are wanted, the repotting should be continued 

 till the plants are in pots from eight to ten inches in di- 

 ameter. The last two pottings should be liberal ones, 

 and drainage well provided for, as the plants will need 

 copious waterings. When the flower stalks appear, ma- 

 nure water may be used once or twice a week. Aphis 

 and red spider are the chief enemies to be guarded 

 against; and this is best done by frequent syringings or 

 sprinklings overhead. The plants will do best during 

 the summer out of doors, in some place where they will 

 not get too much sun, and be free from the drip of trees. 

 In the fall the plants should be placed in a cool green- 

 house, where the temperature can be kept low and the 

 air moist. The plants should be placed on a table by 

 themselves, and the pots always kept far enough apart to 

 prevent the leaves in one pot from touching those in the 

 aext. In the winter it may be necessary to smoke the 

 plants with tobacco occasionally, to keep down the " green fly, ' ? or aphis; this may easily be done. 



Calceolaria. — The herbaceous varieties of the Calceolaria are very beautiful and popular plants. They 

 should be flowered in a cool greenhouse. The seeds are very small, and should be sown on the surface. Sow 

 ki shallow boxes, filled with a light, sandy soil that has been sifted. Sow moderately thick in rows on the 

 surface, and cover very lightly with sifted sphagnum moss, cocoanut waste or very light soil. Press the soil 

 firmly om the seed. The watering should be done carefully ; an atomizer or brush may be used to advantage. 

 To retain the moisture, the box may be covered with panes of glass, which must be removed, however, as soon 

 as the plants make their appearance. The box should have plenty of light, but not much sun. As soon as the 

 plants can be handled, transplant singly into pots two to two-and-a-half inches in diameter. The soil should 

 be light aad rich, and vegetable mold is an excellent addition. Repot as often as the pots are fairly filled 

 with roots, and continue the repotting, if fine flowers are wanted, till the plants are in pots eight inches in 

 diameter. If the pots become root-bound the plants are apt to run prematurely into flower. "Water regularly 

 and abundantly to prevent drooping. As the pots increase in size, drainage must be supplied to carry off the 

 surplus water. Place in a cool greenhouse in the winter, as directed for Cinerarias, and keep the pots apart 

 to prevent the leaves from touching. An occasional smoking with tobacco will keep down the green fly. 



Pansy.— For spring blooming, the seed should be sown in August, September and October, inacoldframe 



with a southern aspect. Plenty of air and light are es- 

 sential. During mild weather the sashes should be re- 

 removed ; when it is frosty, coverings are pi'eferable to ar- 

 tificial heat. If wanted for winter bloom, sow in July, and 

 as soon as large enough plant on beds or benches near the 

 glass in the greenhouse, in a low and even temperature. 



Geraniums.— The Scarlet or Horseshoe Geranium (or, 

 more properly, Pelargonium), now so extensively used for 

 bedding, may be easily grown from seed at any season of 

 the year. If during the summer, better out of doors than 

 anywhere else; but in a greenhouse or sitting-room during 

 the winter. Sow the seed in pots or shallow boxes, in any 

 common soil; cover about an eighth of an inch, and press 

 the soil on the seed. Transplant as soon as out of the seed- 

 leaf, in small pots, in a soil only moderately rich; or, if the 

 seed were started out of doors, the plants may be put in the 

 border. Seed sown in doors in the fall or early winter, and 

 the plants grown in the greenhouse, will show flowers in 

 June or July, while plants from those sown in March or 

 later will not come in to flower till August and Sep- 

 cineraria. tember, and some even later. Much, however, depends 



upon the treatment, those receiving special care in pots 

 blooming much sooner than those turned into a border or bed. The character of the flower will depend upon 

 the quality of the seed, and while many will produce bright and pretty flowers, it is only occasionally that 

 one will be found sufficiently good to save for a name. 



