TUE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
43 
They are weak, puny things, giving but a scanty display of flower; 
while their near neighbours a month younger are stout and healthy 
in appearance, and will outlive the others some considerable time. 
But perhaps it is not in those instances which I have referred to 
where the greatest failures have been ; however, this n»uch we know, 
that seeds sown out of doors are less dependent on our attention 
than tender subjects which require the lieat and protection of a 
house to vegetate in, and it is here that extra care and vigilance are 
required ; and from what I have learnt from observation, I can pretty 
well define an amateur's position when using such appliances for the 
purpose, and with a view to assist them I will give a few useful 
hints which ought to be acted upon when sowing choice and tender 
seeds. 
Seed-pans are generally in use for this purpose, which must be 
securely drained with crocks, upon these a layer of rough soil, and 
then some fine sifted earth, with a fourth part of sand mixed with it. 
The proper depth of soil being put in the pan, it should be well 
watered before sowing, so that when the seed is sown and covered in 
with a very light sprinkling of fine earth, a gentle dew from the 
syringe will make it sufficiently damp. In whatever position it is 
placed, it should be shaded from bright sunshine till the seedlings 
show themselves. We have known individuals put up a slight hot- 
bed for the purpose, and immediately the pans are in the bed they 
cover the whole with a mat over the glass. But this is an erroneous 
practice, for by so doing they shut out the heat of the sun, which if 
allowed to shine upon the glass, the internal heat is much greater, 
and a quicker growth must necessarily follow. The better plan by 
far is to push down the lights, and put over the whole batch of pans 
a covering of old newspaper. This will be an effectual shading, and 
at the same time greatly arrest evaporation, so the less watering will 
be required, and no impediment will be thrown in the way of the 
solar heat penetrating and heating the internal air of the frame. 
The plan of earthing all young seedling plants at intervals pre- 
vious to their removal from the pan or bed is unquestionably a good 
one, and no doubt it is a point too often neglected by many of us, 
but its utility is nevertheless the same. It is well known that very 
many of our productions, when raised from seed, in the first stage of 
their growth incline to be weak and long-legged, especially those 
which are raised in heat. Now there is no better way of strength- 
ening the plants, and at the same time preventing this tendency to 
long-leggedness, than to give them a gentle earthing. For very 
small and tender plants, there is nothing equal to clean dry silver- 
sand shaken lightly over them when the plants are dry; this should 
be repeated every fifth or sixth day till the whole are pricked off. 
For all out-door subjects, such as all the Brassica tribe, a much coarser 
material will do. I generally use charred earth ; but in this earthing 
system there is an important point to bear in mind, and that is, never 
begin to do it unless you can keep up the supply — at least till the 
third time, for as soon as you commence earthing fresh root action 
begins, and the young rootlets will come to the top for this extra 
nourishment, and if these are not frequently and repeatedly covered 
February. 
