64 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
sow the seeds, cover according to size with fine soil, again 
hold in the water till the latter reaches the soil, then cover 
with a sheet of glass and a piece of paper. Treated thus 
the soil should need no more moisture till the seeds sprout, 
when moisten again in the same way, remove the paper 
except when the sun is shining, and when the seedlings 
are well through the soil, the sheet of glass also. 
Whether sown outdoors or indoors, as soon as the seed- 
lings have developed the first true leaf, that is, the first 
leaf beyond the pair of seed leaves (Cotyledons), trans- 
plant them carefully. Hardy biennials and perennials 
should be transplanted 4 to 6in. apart in a nursery bed 
during showery weather. This will ensure the plants 
making plenty of fibrous roots, and a sturdy habit of 
growth. In the autumn, or earlier, such plants can then 
be transplanted to their permanent positions to flower the 
following year. Seedlings that are left in the seed bed 
till required to plant out permanently become starved and 
attenuated in growth, and rarely do well afterwards. In 
a similar way tender kinds sown under glass or on hot- 
beds, should be transplanted in boxes or pots, shaded for 
a diay or iso, then placed on a shelf near the glass till the 
end of April, and afterwards hardened off in cold frames 
prior to planting out in the garden. Special treatment 
for each genus will be found in the cultural details sup- 
plied further on. 
By Cuttings. — These are usually prepared from soft 
or hard wooded shoots. Viola, Pentstemon, and Pelargo- 
nium shoots are examples of the former, and Lilacs, 
Privets, etc., of the latter. Soft- wooded cuttings are pre- 
pared from the ends of young shoots, and vary from 2 
to 6in. in length, according to the plant they are taken 
from. The base of the shoot has to be cut off close to a 
joint and the lower pair of leaves (and the next pair above 
in some instances) removed. The object of cutting off 
close to a joint is, because there is a reserve stock of 
material in the joint to assist the wound to callus or heal 
over quickly, and thus facilitate the rooting process. In 
the case of Violas and many other plants, young shoots 
may be readily obtained already furnished with roots, 
