The Freesia is one of the few bulbous plants that is not only easily raised from seed but comes into blossom well within a year after the seeds are sown. Seedling varieties are now becoming popular. It must, however, be remembered, that one cannot guarantee any particular variety coming " true " from seed, and many inferior forms may also be anticipated. Where any special variety is required it can only be kept true by propagating it from offsets from the older bulbs.

"To raise Freesias from seed, a rich sandy compost should be prepared by passing some fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand in about equal proportions through a sieve. This compost should be placed in well-drained 5-in. or 6-in. pots, up to within about 1½ in. of the rim. From five to six seeds should be placed on the surface in each pot, and afterwards covered with about 1 in. of gritty mould; or several seeds may be sown in the same way, afterwards thinning the seedlings out, to leave only five or six plants in each pot according to size.

"The best times for sowing Freesia seed is from January to March and April and again in August; but it may be sown at other seasons if more convenient. It is safer to place the seed pots in a greenhouse, and in a temperature of 60° to 65° or even 70° F. germination takes place in five or six weeks. Watering is attended to carefully, and plenty of air and light are given, although the tender seedlings must be shaded from strong sunshine. If it becomes necessary to repot Freesia seedlings, care should be taken to handle the roots gently, as they are extremely brittle and easily injured. During the summer months the seedlings may be stood out-of-doors in an open, partially shaded and sheltered spot. On the approach of frost, however, they must be transferred to the greenhouse with a temperature of 55° to 65° F. and placed on a shelf near the glass".