There are four principal causes which we have 
observed, as tending to the destruction of very young 
seedling stocks, by occasioning them to decay at the 
surface of the soil; — too much moisture; too much 
heat; the plants being crowded; and incautious 
watering. The first occurs when seeds are sown 
in pots, and meets a remedy by regular, but mode- 
rate watering; and also an assistant remedy, by 
half filling the pot with stones or gravel, before the 
mould be put into it. Too much heat is often given 
to seedlings, when raised in a hotbed or greenhouse ; 
and the plants become spiring and weakly, in lieu 
of being short stemmed and strong. The remedy 
is evident: as soon as the young plants appear, 
they should have plenty of air, and the pots should 
be raised as near to the glass as possible. If plants 
are crowded, they should not be suffered to continue 
so, after they are from half an inch to an inch high ; 
but be pricked out into pots, or a bed. If this be done 
earlier than the middle of April they will then require 
a little night protection. As regards watering, they 
are frequently beaten down, and bruised at the surface 
of the soil, by a heavy flow of water from the water- 
ing pan. A little attention to these rules will, we 
hope, prevent all disappointment. 
If, to produce early flowers, seeds be sown before 
April, it should have the assistance of a hotbed, or 
other protection ; afterwards, this is unnecessary. 
Entire beds of stocks, of various tints, yield a mass 
of gaiety and beauty that is very pleasing, in proper 
situations; but, in general, in clusters of four or five 
plants each, of one colour, distributed over the flower 
compartment they will be most gratifying. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 4, 119, 
