Water thoroughly before sowing. Cover seed about its own thickness with light, fine soil. Press gently with a block. Elevate the flats above the level of the bench , allowing for air circulation, to prevent damping-off. Subsequent watering will be necessary only when the flat becomes dry below.
Seeds germinate in one or two weeks.
If damping-off starts, remove infested plants, water less, and sift dry sand over the flats. Pinch at least once, allowing from six to ten breaks to continue . Some shoots will tend to throw early blooms, in which case they should be pinched out as shown in illustration. Sometimes the entire planting must be gone over in this manner. It is well to remember that the number of daylight hours will be decreasing, and that during November and later buds will require from six to eight weeks to open fully, depending, of course, upon the weather conditions.