Apr.] GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. J 051 



or similar processes. A considerable portion of them ripen 

 their seeds with us, and there are annual importations of seeds 

 from the Cape. Those seeds ripened in this country vegetate 

 most readily; whilst those imported are often too old, or 

 sometimes injured, before they reach us. As those imported 

 generally reach us in winter, they should be sown early in 

 spring ; indeed, some cultivators advise their being sown im- 

 mediately after their arrival ; but we have hitherto found, that 

 if sown too soon, that is, in February or the beginning of 

 March, that they do not vegetate so quickly, and, in conse- 

 quence, many of the seeds are rotted : for it is a maxim that 

 should never be lost sight of in the culture of this tribe, which 

 is, that artificial heat should be never employed, excepting in 

 some cases of slow growing kinds, that may require a slight 

 heat to draw the young shoots out to a sufficient length for the 

 purpose of cutting ; but even in this case, the seldomer that 

 they are so excited, the better. 



Artificial heat, therefore, is injurious to the process of ori- 

 ginating heaths from seeds ; we, therefore, in our own prac- 

 tice, as well as from observation of that of others, prefer the 

 latter end of March or beginning of April for sowing these 

 seeds ; the natural warmth of the season then is sufficient to 

 stimulate vegetation, and the young tender plants so originated 

 have not the chance of being destroyed by damp cloudy wea- 

 ther, which we often experience in spring, and which would 

 be of the utmost injury to them in their young state. Where 

 extensive collections of plants are kept up, and in all large nur- 

 series, there is generally a seed-house, that is, one expressly 

 dedicated for the rearing of plants from seeds ; such houses 

 are generally low, having a northern aspect, as is the case in 

 the Hammersmith and other nurseries. 



Cultivators, who have but few seeds requiring such a struc- 

 ture, content themselves, therefore, with a good garden frame 

 and glasses ; and as such is portable, it can be placed where 

 it is either shaded from the meridian sun, or great care taken 

 in shading it artificially. The situation of such a fi^ame should 

 be both dry and airy, for damp would be extremeh- injurious 

 to the young plants. Pots should be prepared for the seeds, 

 of ordinary sizes, but those known as seed-pots are to be 



