212 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



charcoal refuse. The surface of the soil should be covered by a 

 thin stratum of silver sand, and after this slightly more than up to 

 the rim should be covered by the same material in which they are 

 plunged. The beds must be slightly shaded, kept clean, and be 

 left alone. When the time of possible germination draws near, 

 the beds must be carefully looked over every day, and when 

 movement is perceptible the pans must be taken out, and 

 the covering material shaken off, which is very easy to do, as 

 the stratum of silver sand separates it well from the soil. 



Frost in many cases acts even more powerfully than rain. 

 I am used to having many seeds frozen, so much so that the 

 pan and its contents become one solid block, and even seeds 

 ■of plants from warmer countries do well with such treatment. 

 Seeds of Kniphofia, of Tropczolum tricolor and azureum, 

 of Tecophylaa cyanocrocus, &c, germinate more freely if 

 frosted than if not ; pulpy or soft-shelled seeds must not be 

 thus treated. 



It does not matter what kind of soil is used for sowing seeds of 

 hardy herbaceous plants or bulbs in, provided it be porous, light, 

 and free from fermenting matter. However, the whole family 

 of Ericaceae is an exception to this rule, preferring a peaty 

 soil. 



Bulbous plants may remain in the seed-pans to complete 

 their first season of growth. Some of the stronger growers like 

 Iris, Lilium, Colchicum, &c, can, with advantage, be pricked out 

 in full vegetation. 



Some herbaceous annuals or perennials will do well and grow 

 in any situation or soil, but many are particular in this respect, 

 and when pricking them out care must be taken to afford soil 

 and situation according to their wants. 



All herbaceous plants having hairy or spiny leaves want a 

 .sunny dry situation, especially those with glaucous or grey 

 foliage. If we can get some information as to the soil and situa- 

 tion in their native habitats we have a safe guide for their 

 cultivation ; if we cannot get it we must empirically find out 

 what to do. 



"We cannot cultivate well the Cypripedium or Trillium of the 

 North American forest if we give them a sunny open situation. 

 Pceonia Wittmaniana, a native of Caucasian woods, refuses to 

 produce seeds if grown in an open dry place. A number of 



