THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
73 
the fermentiug materials must be thoroughly sweetened by being 
turned over several times after they are put together, before the bed 
is made up. The surface of the bed must be covered with finely- 
sifted clean coal-ashes to a depth of six or nine inches, to keep down 
the steam, and also to partly plunge the pots in. Where a pit is 
available for this work, a bed of either leaves or tan may be made 
up, filling the pit to within about a foot of the glass with the 
fermenting materials, and in the case of the leaves tread them firm 
to prevent them sinking after the pots are placed in the pit. Where 
it is not practicable to have a hotbed, as here suggested, one of 
the propagating frames manufactured by Messrs. Barr and Sugden 
will be found of the greatest value. They are heated with a lamp, 
and are so simple that there is no difficulty whatever in managing 
them. 
The general management of the cuttings consists in keeping the 
cuttings moderately supplied with moisture by sprinkling them with 
tepid water about once a day, and air-giving. Just sufficient air 
must be admitted to allow the steam from the fermenting materials 
and the superfluous moisture to escape readily, for if this is not 
done, many of the cuttings will damp off. If, on the other hand, the 
frame is ventilated too freely, the foliage will flag, and the cuttings 
will suffer sevei'ely in cousecpieuce. When the cuttings are kept in 
the cucumber house, where, it may be said, they do exceedingly 
well, they should be protected with hand or bell glasses. It is also 
important to shade the cuttings in bright -weather. As the cuttings 
become nicely rooted, gradually expose them to the air of the house, 
or when they are on a hotbed remove them to an intermediate house, 
or a warm corner of the greenhouse, and, in the case of the last- 
mentioned structure, keep the ventilators rather close for a few 
days. When nicely hardened off, pot separately, and use small 
sixties and a moderately rich compost. In about a fortnight after- 
wards they will be sufficiently established to admit of their being 
placed in a spot where they can be protected from frost ; or they 
can be kept in a cool end of the greenhouse, as may be most con- 
venient. 
Bedding Lobelias may now be raised from seed to any extent. 
Plants from cuttings are undoubtedly the most uniform in growth 
and colour, but by care in selecting the seed, they will be uniform 
enough for all ordinary bedding. To secure a stock of seedlings 
with the least trouble, sow rather thinly in shallow pans, and place 
in a genial temperature, preference being given to the propagating 
bed with the cuttings. The seed will soon germinate, and when of a 
nice size to handle prick them off into other pans or boxes, at a 
distance of about an inch apart. Here they will become well 
furnished with roots aud side-shoots, and when they are large 
enough to just touch each other, prepare a sufficient number of 
boxes, by filling them with a compost prepared as for the other bed- 
ding plants, or make up a bed of the same compost in a cold frame. 
In either case, plant them three inches apart each way, and if they 
are stopped once or twice a fine stock of plants will be the result 
when the time arrives for planting them in their summer quarters. 
March. 
