August 29,1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
737 
Gloxinias from Seed. 
There are indeed few flowering plants which give so- bril- 
rnt a display of colour as a group of well-grown and freely 
pweired Gloxinias. Their varied shades, ranging from the 
irest white to colours which are intensely vivid, contrast well 
ith the massive green foliage, and produce an attractive and 
riking picture. The group illustrated will give a good idea 
, to the habit and general characteristics of the genus. It 
a well-known fact that by sowing seed early in the year and 
.'erasing a. considerable amount- of care and attention plants 
ay be had in 4-|-in. to 5-in. pots- flowering in July. Still, 
hen once a- good stock of tubers has been secured, unless for 
particular purpose or under some exceptional circumstances, 
io not- consider the method necessary or advisable, but prefer 
< sow a pinch -of seeds early in April, with the object- of obt-ain- 
g good flowering bulbs for the following year. 
Briefly, we proceed in the following manner: A well- 
•a-ined pan or box is procured and filled not- quit-e- to the 
shift will be necessary before the growing season is ended. The 
object this season is not so much flowering plants as good, 
stiong tubers for another year. I would advise that rather 
shallow boxes be again used, which, as before, must be well 
drained, though a greater depth of soil will be necessary than 
previously has been required. Boxes will be found more con¬ 
venient to move than a quantity of small pots. Moreover, the 
soil will not dry up so quickly, being thus kept at a more 
uniform degree of moisture. The compost may now consist 
of equal parts loam, leaf-soil, and peat, with a good sprinkling 
of sand and a little charcoal. 
A few flowers will develop, which, will give some idea- as to 
the colours, though certainly not of the quality and size that 
may be- expected the following year. Keep- the plants still 
growing on in a warm and moist temperature, affording a 
slight shade during bright sunshine. As the foliage shows 
signs of maturity, less atmospheric moisture will be necessary, 
gradually withholding water from the roots as the leaves decay. 
When thoroughly dried off. for the sake of convenience, the 
Gloxinias at Moor H \ll, Stourport, as grown by Mr. W. H. Wilson. 
p with a- sandy or light compost-, the surface is made smooth, 
id on this is sown the seed evenly, and not- too thickly. We 
S> not cover the seed with soil of any sort, the pan being 
Qiply covered with a, piece of slate which conserve's moisture, 
! .■? seeds also germinating better in darkness, the pan being 
; aced in a warm house and kept nicely moistened. As the 
>ung seedlings appear gradually, expose to light, taking care 
shade from direct sunlight. 
At- this stage a considerable amount of care will be neces- 
W in affording the requisite degree of moisture without 
’.mping off, ensuring, as soon as the s-eedlings are large 
lough to handle, they must be pricked off into boxes or pans, 
fiich must be well drained ; this will be a- delicate and tedious 
lera-tiom. The- boxes or pans may be filled with a compost 
nrilar to that used for seed sowing, the greater part of it 
dng leaf-soil and sand; a great- depth of soil will not now 
? n ®cessa-ry. Great care will still be required in shading and 
?epmg the young plants growing on in a- warm and moist 
'mperature. When the leaves begin to touch one another a 
tubers- may be shaken out and stored through the winter in 
dry sand in a smaller box, taking care to- place them beyond 
the reach of frost or damp. 
At the return of spring the tubers wall show signs of activity, 
when they may be placed not- too close together in a shallow 
box filled with cocoa-nut fibre, the top of the tuber being 
slightly covered. Place the box in. a warm, moist house, afford¬ 
ing it an occasional dewing with the syringe to induce activity, 
using w r arm rain-water. As the leaves expand, and before they 
touch each other, preparation should be made for their potting, 
using 4-in., 5-in., and 6-in. pots, according to' the size and 
strength of the tuber. The pots must be clean and well 
drained. We fill ours one-third with drainage, and use a- com¬ 
post consisting of equal parts fibrous loam sifted through the 
h-and, and rather coarse flakey leaf-soil, with a small proportion 
of peat, a little charcoal, and sufficient sand to render the whole 
porous, the Gloxinia being very sensitive to stagnant moisture. 
In potting keep the tubers deep enough, not covering the 
crown or potting too 1 hard. Keep close to the glass to prevent 
