Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06


GLOxINIAs FROM SEEDS. Gloxinias,
to my mind, approach - nearly TO the
perfect flower % can reasonably be ex-
pected. For years Was not successful
with the full-krown bulbs, and even now,
after many experiments, failures Will
come; but they may be invariably traced
to some neglect Of their needs. | have
grown them from seeds, and found
many fine colors In . packet Of mixed
seeds, but l have never succeeded In get
ting them to bloom the first year; L
patiently waited. like many another
flower "crank," until they got ready to
unfold their beauty, and have always
felt the sight Of the blossoms was well
worth waiting for. Just now I can re-
call no lowering plant which 80 fully
realizes my idea Of perfection--not even
the rose (the queen), or the lily In all its
stateliness. l wonder II It IL partly be-
cause the labor and care expended upon
the gloxinia IL grcaters You know, =
mother has greater love for her afflicted
child-one che Graded and watched over
night after night-and her heart yearns
over this one more than over the rugged,
healthy ones. Perhaps this theory Is
correct. only know the gloxinia Is my
pet. The tubers are little difficult TO
keep over winter, but have good sue
cess II they are kept warm. | have q
shelf In my sitting room, and upon this,
In jar of sand, covered to keep out the
light, put the dry bulbs, and rs early
as February they win begin to show life,
when they may be potted and brought to
sunny window.
How TO Sow SMALL OR DrsT-LIKE
SEEDS Now for the way TO plant seeds
Of this and any other plant with fine
seeds, to insure growth. usually pro-
cure fat cigar-hoxes, bore several gimlet-
holes 10 the bottom, cover them with
broken bits Of charcoal, and over this q
little sphsgnum moss. For the soil use
woods earth and little coarse sand. You
must have a porous soil, one that will not
bake. Fill the box or fat to within an inch
Of the top, and then set Il into pan OF
boiling water, the soil having been first
sifted. When the moisture reaches the
top set out to cool aud drain, then SOW
the tiny seeds In rows or broadcast, a.
you choose. Sift over all the finest bit
Of dry sphagnum, and set the box on 4
warm brick on shelf near the stove.
You will not have TO water again until
the seedlings are up, which will be In
eleven or twelve days, sometimes sooner.
Keep pane Of glass over Il, and when
they begin to peep out, remove to light
window, though not sunny one for
the gloxiniss. Now IL critical time for
the little seedlings, for there Il great
danger OF their damping of. Raise the
glass often aud wipe of the moisture
collected there, or II they arc In need OF
water. set the box into pan OF tepid
water as before. As soon rs they are
out Of the seed-leaf transplant to another
shallow box OF earth, Of the same kind.
one inch spsrt, and treat much In the
same way until you have transplsnted
into the pots In which they are to bloom;
by this time they will be stocky plants,
snd will soon begin TO show buds. am
speaking OF plants In general. such as
,uberous begoniss. The gioxiniss, how
ever, do not bloom for me until the
second year; keep them growing all
the time until they do bloom.
There Is so much enjoyment In trial
Of seed that Ii fully repsys one for the
trouble.