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THE NEW HYACINTH-FLOWERED TYPE 
OF PRIMULA 
THE NEW LARGE FLOWERED TYPE OF 
PRIMULA 
Our Way of Germinating Seed 
Our method of germinating a great many 
flower ‘seéds is very simple and also very 
practical. First, we try to have germination 
tests going all the time, so that there really is 
no certain time to put in any particular flow- 
er. Right now, it would be heavy on Del- 
phiniums and Pansies, in fact this year we 
start trials on all the Pansy seed we handle. 
Each year these trials are on it seems that a 
great many friends are always in the garden 
and it is not uncommon to see their flowers 
in the snow of early spring. 
We take an ordinary seed flat and spread 
an inch layer of milled sphagnum moss in the 
bottom; then we place 2 inch pots on this 
end while doing this, draw the moss in be- 
tween the pots. Keep the pots in a-sraight 
row for this will help you to keep your re- 
cords correct. : 
Filling Seed Pots with Moss 
Next, scatted the moss over the tops of the 
pots and with the fingers push it down into 
the pots as well as in between, making a 
special effort to fill in the corners and around 
the edge of the flat; it is not necessary to 
pack them overly full. Then sprinkle water 
on them, rain water if possible and when you 
are sure it is wet to the very bottom, you are 
ready to plant your seed. 
We have a yearly record book in which 
are kept all the records for the year, so 
when a flat is planted a row across two pages 
is given for each sowing; this lists the variety 
and especially the sorce and the age of the 
seed and its method of storage. In each pot 
a 4 inch wooden stake is run into the moss 
with the name of the seed; on the back side 
the month and day planted; when germinat- 
ion is noted, it is easily put on the back of 
the stake and later on when they were 
transplanted, in fact any other information. 
that comes up as one waters and pulls weeds 
or such chores. 
Small seeds the size of common shaker sait 
are merely scattered on top of the moss 
and then pressed down with the finger after 
which the finger must be cleaned of any seed 
stickIng to it and especially under the nails; 
many a lot of good seeds have been mixed up 
by the grower thru not being careful about 
this point: 
If the moss is rather compacted in the 
pots, we sometimes loosen it just a little with 
the lead pencil one always has when planting 
his seeds. But ALWAYS press seed care- 
fully into the soil so that they come in con- 
tact with it and able to all start together. 
Seeds the size of radish we cover with some 
of the surplus moss in the corners of the box. 
Large seeds like Castor beans can be germin- 
ated the same way, except larger pots should 
be used and the seed should be covered. 
The next operations will not be exactly in 
line with special seeds but we place the flat 
after it is filled, either under a shelf in the 
dark or up in the window or at other times 
in the cold frame if it is summer, and accord- 
ing to what is best for the majority of the 
seeds in the flat. As each pot germinates 
it can be removed from the flat and to posit- 
ions more favorable to it and all that is nec- 
essary is to push a little moss into the hole 
where the pot came out; later on if there are 
pots not showing a germination when they 
should, they can be removed to another 
flat made up of similiar cases, and which can 
be left for more time. 
Do Not Neglect Transplanting 
As soon as the seedlings are big enough to 
be transplanted, it is also time that they be 
removed, too. It is a common mistake to 
leave the seedling too long in the seed bed 
and especially if they are thick. 
With the stakes in each pot, it will not be 
easy to cover them, but you can solve this 
by merely turning a similiar flat upside down 
and over the pots, stakes and all and for at 
least a week little more attention will have to 
be given them; no cats will scratch them out 
and even mice will be barred. 
In watering, if your sprinkler is not too 
course, you can sprinkle the flat if there is 
any indication of the tops starting to dry any. 
One can put soil in the bottom of the pots 
and for the top moss covering screen the 
THE OLD TYPE OF SMALL FLOWERING 
PRIMULA 
moss finer than it comes to you, but in doing 
this one is liable to neglect the transplanting 
and it should not be recommended except 
in the case of seedling that should not be 
transplanted ‘soon as in the case of some 
Of course this covers only the seeds in the 
easy class. Any that require special methods 
of handling, will have to sown in a different 
way than just explained. 
lilies, etc. 
Make Check on Yourself 
It is well when sowing seed not to plant 
all the seed in the packet at one time. Often 
something can go wrong, a flat is tipped over 
or the grandchildren take a look in the bot- 
tom of the pots or mice discover that you 
have so kindly placed some food out for 
them and so as not to offend, they clean it all 
up and dig down to get the last one; you will 
see the hole in the morning! 
Save Your Primulas 
Strong pot plants with an abundant bioom- 
ing capacity can be had if the Primulas are 
held over the second year. All that will be 
required is to cut down the withered flower- 
ing stems in the spring and shift them to a 
size larger pot. Take off the top dirt and 
what can be safely removed from the bottom 
part and repot with fresh potting soil. Set 
them in a shady place in an outside frame 
and after the new roots start to grow, water 
freely. If the pots are plunged into the 
soil, so much the better. 
In October or a little earlier in the far 
North, bring them into the greenhouse and 
give a light airy place but not too warm. 
This is also a practical operation for 
anyone having a plant or two, held over as a 
house plant. You can easily grow a larger 
plant the second year. 
These new type Primulas will be offered 
this year for the first time and we suggest 
that all florists growing Primulas, grow at 
least a $1.00 packet of them as well as the 
new Pansy-flowered Calceolaria. It would 
be best if these two seeds were ordered now 
as they come from the Eastern Zone of Ger- 
many and deliveries are uncertain. 
GET EVERY ISSUE — $2.00 PER YEAR 
