140 
jour:^al  of  horttgulture  and  cottage  gardener. 
February  13,  1902. 
Asters 
I  am  particularly  fond  of  the  dwarf  bedding  kinds,  as 
they  can  be  obtained  in  distinct  colours,  and  come  in 
well  for  edging  large  beds  or  for  filling  up  small  ones, 
after  spring  bedding  has  been  removed.  The  white 
and  pink  g  ant  varieties  of  Comet  no  one  seems  to  be 
able  to  get  too  many  of,  as  they  are  grand  indeed  for 
cutting  during  August  and  September.  Asters  of  the 
Victoria  type  are  also  good  for  cutting,  as  well  as  for 
lifting  to  form  pot  plants,  and  the  graceful  Ostrich 
Plume  should  find  a  place  in  all  mixed  borders.  The 
beginning  of  March  and  a  month  later  are  suitable 
times  to  sow  to  obtain  a  succession  of  Asters  of  all 
kinds. 
Alonsoas  and  Asparagus. 
Alonsoa'gracilis  and  A.  Mutisi  are  charming  half-hardy 
annuals  to  so^v  in  March,  as  they  are  uncommon,  and 
showy  in  the  mixed  border,  and  are  not  to  be  despised 
as  greenhouse  plants.  The  foliage  of  Asparagus 
plumosa  and  A.  Sprengeri  is  always  in  demand.  Old 
plants  often  get  stunted,  keep  up  the  stock  therefore 
by  sowing  a  few  seeds  in  March  or  April  in  a  warm 
house,  where,  if  possible,  a  little  bottom  heat  may  be 
given.  Both  single  and  double  tuberous  Begonias,  if 
sown  at  once  in  a  house  where  a  temperature  of 
GOdeg  is  maintained,  will  produce  good  flowering 
plants  during  the  summer.  Seeds  of  the  miniature 
fibrous  rooted  kinds,  if  sown  now,  wull  make  good 
plants  by  bedding  out  time,  and  they  give  much  less 
trouble  when  raised  from  seed  than  do  the  tuberous 
rooted  kinds. 
The  Marguerite  Carnations 
varieties  raised  more  than  counterbalance  the  loss  of  a  feiv  which' 
have  to  be  discarded  for  their  want  of  colour.  Those  who  want 
a  showy  climber  for  the  greenhouse,  ha-ving  orange  scarlet 
flowers,  should  at  once  sow  a  few  seeds  of  Eccremocarpus  scaber. 
“  Sub-Tropical  ”  Plants  and  Lobelias. 
To  obtain  bold  plants  for  the  sub-tropical  garden,  or  for  large 
beds,  sow  at  once  seeds  of  the  following; — Giant  Hemp,  Ricinus 
Bronze  King,  R.  Gibsoni,  and  R.  communis  major.  I  wonder- 
why  that  grand  perennial  Lobelia  Queen  Victoria,  with  its 
brilliant  scarlet  flowers,  is  not  more  often  grown.  Seeds  sowm 
now  will  produce  good  plants  by  bedding  out  time.  Sutton’s 
hybrids  also  deserve  special  attention,  as  their  habit  of  growth* 
is  similar  to  that  of  the  Queen,  and  flowers  of  many  shades  of: 
colour  are  produced. 
Seed  Sowing:  Tlie  Garden  and  Greenhonse. 
When  February  comes  in,  the  time  of  seed  sowing  commences 
in  earnest,  for  although  the  soil  in  the  open  air  may  be  wet  and 
cold,  or  held  in  the  “  iron  grip  ”  of  frost,  vegetation  under  glass 
is  each  day  responding  more  quickly  to  the  influence  of  stronger 
light  and  increasing  warmth.  In  all  gardens,  whether  large  or 
small,  it  is  necessaiy  to  raise  hosts  of  plants  for  seed  each  year, 
because  by  so  doing  the  most  can  be  made  of  glass  structures,  and 
without  this  annual  sowing  it  would  be  quite  impossiMe  to 
create  so  many  fine  features  in  flower  beds  and  borders,  without 
a  greatly  increased  expenditure.  I  do  not  intend  to  enter  into 
a  detailed  statement  as  to  the  precise  conditions  under  which 
each  type  of  seed  should  be  sown,  because  I  think  I  can  advance 
in  a  few  words  ideas  in  regard  to  sowing  which,  if  followed,  will 
prevent  anyone  from  going  very  far  wrong.  In  all 
cases  see  that  the  pots,  boxes,  or  pans  in  which  seeds 
are  sown  are  well  drained.  A  compost  formed  of  equal 
parts  loam  and  leaf  soil,  or  peat  (half  a  part  sand), 
with  a  little  powdered  charcoal  added,  will  prove 
satisfactory  for  the  majority  of  very  small  seeds.  Ir 
cases  of  larger  ones,  a  little  more  loam  may  ivith 
advantage  be  added.  For  fine  dust-like  seeds,  such  as 
the  Begonia,  I  like  to  burn  the  soil  to  make  it  quite 
free  of  insect  life. 
After  being  pressed  firmly  into  the  receptacle  used, 
this  is  thoroughly  moistened  from  beneath  by  par¬ 
tially  immersing  it  in  water  till  the  water  rises  to  the 
surface  of  the  soil.  When  the  moisture  .has  drained 
away  sow  the  seed  thinly  on  the  surface,  do  not  cover 
with  soil,  but  cover  the  pan  with  a  square  of  glass,  to 
be  kept  dark  by  paper  or  mats  until  germination  takes 
place,  light  being  then  gradually  admitted.^  Larger 
seeds  should  be  covered  with  a  layer  of  soil  in  propor¬ 
tion  to  their  size.  In  all  cases  prick  out  the  young 
plants  before  they  become  drawn  and  weak.  Among 
do  not  seem  to  lose  one  jot  of  their  popularity.  How 
could  they  when  they  supply  such  a  profusion  of 
scented  flowers  suitable  for  cutting?  We  do  not  want 
them  to  come  into  competition  ivith  the  named  border  varieties, 
and  February  is,  therefore,  early  enough  to  sow.  Sutton’s 
Vanguard  is  a  new  type,  which  everybody  should  try.  If  sown 
now  and  grown  in  pots,  fine  plants  may  be  raised  for  autumn 
and  winter  flowering.  The  dwarf  branching  types  of  Celosia 
plumosa  make  a  fine  display  in  the  greenhouse  during  August, 
and  are  ivell  adapted  for  decorative  purposes.  February  and 
March  are  suitable  times  at  which  to  sow. 
Halesia  tetraptera. 
Petunias,  Salpiglossis,  Stocks,  &o. 
I  am  afraid  I  already  trespassed  beyond  my  allotted  space,  so' 
I  will  only  add,  do  not  forget  the  following : — Giant  Mimulus,. 
Nemesia  strumosa,  the  bedding  Petunias,  Phacelia  campanularia,. 
the  quaint  and  delightful  Salpiglossis,  the  Stocks,  Sunflowers,. 
Sweet  Sultans,  Verbenas,  and,  above  all,  the  Sweet  Peas,  for 
each,  if  well  tended,  will  help  to  make  the  garden  brilliant 
indeed. — H.  D. 
Cinerarias  and  Coleus. 
If  large  plants  of  Cinerarias  are  wanted,  sow  in  February ;  if 
sturdy  ones,  in  Gin  pots  for  decorative  purposes,  defer  sowing  till 
the  beginning  of  May.  Each  year  I  sow  a  packet  of  Coleus  seed 
in  March,  as  I  find  the  quaint  and  novel  markings  of  some 
Ripe  Grapes. 
Avoid  fire  heat  as-  much  as  possible  in  the  Grape  room,, 
admitting  air  to  prevent  an  accumulation  of  moisture,  replenish¬ 
ing  the  bottles  with  clear  rain  water  as  required.  An  equable 
temperature  of  45deg.  is  most  suitable. — G, 
