8 
THE GREEN-HOUSE. 
those plants which are usually grown in peat- 
earth, and the seeds of which should be sown 
in fine sandy peat, the majority of the seeds of 
green-house plants will vegetate freely and 
healthily in a mixture of equal parts of sandy 
loam, peat, and silver-sand. The way of pro- 
ceeding is thus : — Procure some shallow flat- 
shaped pots of any size that may be preferred ; 
the flat form of the six-inch pots are generally 
used ; in the bottom of these put two or three 
inches of drainage, in the manner recom- 
mended under the head potting; on this lay 
some moss, and fill up with the soil pressed 
firm and quite flat, to within an inch of the 
top ; on this even surface make the form of a 
cross, by slightly pressing a straight-edge into 
the soil, this will divide the area circumscribed 
by the circumference of the pot into four 
equal parts ; as will be understood by the an- 
nexed cut : four kinds of seeds are now to be 
selected, as nearly of equal size as possible ; 
their names must be written on ordinary 
wooden garden labels, and these labels placed 
in the centre close together, one facing the 
centre of each compartment, on which the cor- 
responding seeds are to be evenly, and not too 
thickly, deposited. Usually this space will 
afford plants enough, but if more of any kind 
are likely to be required, it is only necessary 
to sow half a pot full, or a whole one, or even 
two or more, instead of a quarter of one ; in 
either case, the operation is performed in the 
same way. After the seeds are sown, they are 
to be covered with fine soil of the same kind 
as they are sown in, the thickness of the cover- 
ing depending on the size of the seed ; as a 
general rule, it is the practice to make the 
covering about equal in depth to the diameter 
of the seeds, in the case of all the larger ones ; 
and in the case of the minute seeds, the very 
slightest sprinkling that can be given is 
enough. After sowing, and covering the seeds, 
the surface of the soil is to be covered with 
a thin layer of moss, to prevent the evapora- 
tion of moisture from the soil, which would 
render the application of water necessary, and 
this is by no means to be desired until after 
the seeds have germinated ; the moisture of 
the soil, which should be in a medium state, 
will be enough for the purposes of germina- 
tion, and the application of a fresh supply is 
rather injurious than otherwise. This cover- 
ing must, of course, be removed as soon as 
any sign of vegetation is perceived. The pots 
may be placed, either on the shelves of a 
green-house, or hot-house, or in a hot-bed 
frame, where the bottom heat is very mild ; in 
the latter position they grow more quickly 
than in the others, and on that account it is 
to be preferred, where the convenience can be 
commanded. Some of the larger kinds of a 
hard texture, and enveloped in a bony cover- 
ing or shell, have their germination accelerated 
by placing them in a vessel and pouring boil- 
ing water over them, allowing them to stand 
till it gets cold ; this probably softens the hard 
and indurated envelope, and thus facilitates 
the liberation of the embryo plant. 
We must now give some general directions, 
which will be applicable alike to all the preced- 
ing divisions. 
Potting. — Towards the end of the month 
this operation will become necessary with 
many of the free-growing plants; not, however, 
on account of that particular season having 
arrived, but because the plants which it will 
be proper to repot have commenced growing, 
and, therefore, require the assistance of art to 
render that growth as perfect as it can be 
made. In most cases, it will be proper to 
transfer the plants to pots two sizes larger 
than the ones they have been growing in : 
the particular kind of soil used must depend 
on the kind of plant. The annexed section 
of a flower-pot will shoAv the 
manner of performing the ope- 
ration. In all cases, good 
drainage is essential ; first, a 
large piece of potsherd must be 
laid over the hole in the bottom 
of the pot ; on this a layer, 
(depending in thickness upon 
the size of the pot) of broken 
potsherds, bricks, charcoal, free- 
stone, or any porous substance, 
reduced to lumps, about the size of nuts for all 
the smaller sizes of pots, and as big as walnuts 
for larger ones ; on this spread a thin layer of 
moss, to keep the soil from washing among the 
crocks ; then put in a handful of the roughest 
part of the soil, and then a little finer, just 
enough to raise the top of the ball of earth, 
when placed in the pot, to within a little of 
the level of the top of the pot, varying from 
half an inch to an inch, according to its size. 
Take the plant to be potted in the left hand, 
and invert it, letting the stem pass through 
between the fingers ; give the pot a gentle tap 
on some solid base, and the mass of earth and 
roots will be disengaged, and will remain in- 
serted in the left hand ; while in that posi- 
tion, remove carefully the potsherds at the 
bottom, and gently extricate the points of the 
growing roots ; then set this mass in the centre 
of the prepared pot, and fill up with the 
proper soil, keeping it pressed in evenly and 
