FROM THE SEED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 17

FROM THE SEED

RAISING ALPINES

The, interesting notes on. the above subject by Mr. T. "W. Attwood in last week's notes may be profitably added to .by the advice of> a 'prominent;grower in England. It is necessary, of course, to make allowance for the difference in climatic conditions here.

"If all who grow alpines from seed will adopt the following method, even a novice will* succeed with the choicest seeds. -Seeds love, moisture and darkness till they have germinated, and hate to be disturbed, as is often done by i\ atering. ■To ensure success, prepare well-drained pans, "well crocked with finely, btoken pots. Above this place loam, leaf,-niould and silver sand in equal parts, run through a very fine sieve. Thoroughly soak the pans before sowing. Scarcely cover small seeds, but well coyer the larger ones.

"Over.each pan place a thin sheet of asbestos cut Tound to -the size- of the pan. Small pieces of,asbestos are constantly thrown away by buildersi The asbestos will keep the seeds dark and damp..,. Sgldotn., water the seeds direct till they have germinated, trailer* the asbestos they will never be disturbed, and will always be moist. The asbestos is porous, so it is only necessary to water,this. Examine each pan every three days, and when seeds have started to germinate, ■ cover with glass for a few days to bring up all the- seeds, then place in a ventilated frame.

WILL SAVE WOKK.

■""When many seeds are raised this system will be found to be a great labour saving device. Treated in this way practically every fertile seed will germinate.

"When a large number of seeds are Taised, the pans can be,placed on top of 'each other, to almost any height. . .

"Up-to the present, the almost universal method of' raising alpine seeds, is to constantly water the pans with the finest spray,' and then cover 'them with brown paper. This is a good way, and has proved more or less successful. But however fine a spray may be used, it must disturb, the finest seeds. Another great disadvantage of this system is that when seeds .are long in germinating, moss grows on the surface, and. chokes the tiny seedlings. This is entirely obviated by covering with asbestos. Another great advantage of my method is that far more seeds germinate, for it is impossible for the seeds beneath to become dry if the asbestos is well watered. In winter when condition allow, this jplan may be varied by removing the asbestos and the frame lights, for snow to cover the seeds. This is the most natural method, and works like magic with many seeds.

GERMINATE SLOWLY,

"It is most important to realise that alpine seeds germinate much more slowly than annuals. Most will appear after three months sowing or less, but some take one or two years to germinate. I myself have seen a pan of very small primula seedlings nicely up where seeds wore sown two years before. This is an exceptional case but well illustrates my point. A good motto is ' Never throw away a primula pan;' many who have done so have found them growing in hundreds on the refuse heap. Patience is a, necessity would we successfully raise the more difficult alpino seeds. Practically all fertile and well-ripened seeds are really easy to raise for Nature ordains that they must come if treatment is correct. Usually it is the fault of the gardener (or the gardener's enemies, slugs, woodlice, etc.) and not the seeds, where failure occurs.

It is an excellent plan with some very hard, large seeds to soak them in hot water for twenty-four hours before sowing. All celmisias and several similar seeds must be sown upright."