CYCLAMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20541, 16 February 1935, Page 29 (Supplement)

CYCLAMEN.

NOW TIME TO SOW. This is a splendid opportunity for those who cannot command artificial heat to sow seeds of cyclamen, the heat of the sun being sufficient to ensure germination of the seeds and the rapid growth of the resulting seedlings. By sowing now there is a much longer time in which to come to maturity and the flowering stage, which time can best be devoted to the slow but steady building up of the plants,' which is most essential. TOBACCO PRESS. A correspondent asked last week for some details about home-cured iobacco, and amongst other things he wished to know if it wgs possible to purchase a tobacco press in the city. It probably is, but 1 do not know where. However, a Waikato correspondent sent in details of an easily-made and efficient press for home use. The size can be anything you like, but do not make it too large or it

is not possible to get a well-distributed pressure; and, in any case, large plugs of tobacco are not required. The illustration will show the idea, and the average man will be able to knock one up for himself.

FLOORS.

If you want the coolest possible house ami atmosphere during the hottest weather, try damping down the floor?, and in some eases the staging, in the morning. In the first place it will save a considerable amount of watering with the water can, and in the second place there are very few exceptions where the general run of greenhouse plants cfo not benefit, if only in a small measure, from the practice; in some instance*?, in fact, it is absolutely necessary to good growth. Such subjects as ferns and foliage plants generally, with hunieas, celosias, balsams, begonias, cucumbers, etc., make rapid and extra good growth in a moist atmosphere secured by the damping down of the floors in the early morning of a hot day.