Rural School Leaflet 1007 



Nasturtium. — Too rich soil for nasturtiums results in great leaf develop- 

 ment, and often in rotting of the plants in wet weather. A thin, poor 

 soil is much better for the largest amount of bloom. 



The seed may be sown the first of May, in drills about three quarters 

 of an inch deep, with the rows twelve inches apart. When the seedlings 

 are about two inches tall, thin to twelve inches between the plants. 

 Blossoms on dwarf varieties appear about two months after sowing 

 the seed, and, if the blossoms are picked, the plants will continue to bloom 

 throughout the season. 



Pansies. — Pansies do best in a cool, rather moist, well-prepared garden 

 soil. Sow the seed early in April, in drills about one fourth to one half 

 inch deep. Have the drills, or rows, twelve inches apart. The plants 

 when about two inches tall should be thinned to six inches apart. For 

 the best results pansies require some shade during the heat of summer. 

 Systematic picking of the blooms, allowing no seeds to form, will lengthen 

 the flowering period. 



For early spring bloom the seed is sown in September in a cold-frame 

 or in rich, moist garden soil. Some covering for protection during the 

 winter is necessary. In the spring some of the plants can be transplanted 

 to other beds and all allowed to bloom early. 



Phlox. — Few annual plants are more easily grown from seed, bloom 

 more profusely, or offer such a variety of colors as do the phloxes. 



The seed should be planted one fourth of an inch deep in well-prepared 

 garden soil. The rows should be eighteen inches apart, and the plants 

 later thinned to twelve inches apart. 



Seed may also be planted in the hotbed or in a box in the house, and 

 later the seedlings transplanted according to the general directions. In 

 order to make the plants more bushy and to lengthen the blooming period, 

 remove all flowers when slightly past their most attractive period of bloom. 



Salvia. ■ — A fairly rich sandy loam will produce good growth and bloom 

 of this bright-colored, late autumn annual. Seed may be sown outdoors 

 in May, about one half inch deep in rows two feet apart, and as this is 

 a fairly large-growing plant it must be thinned to eighteen inches apart 

 in the row. It may also be raised in the hotbed and transplanted to 

 the garden. The best use for the salvia, or scarlet sage, is for a bed 

 or border plant, especially if intense color is desired. 



Snapdragon. — The peculiar form of the flowers of this plant always 

 attracts attention. From seed that is sown outdoors in May, blooms 

 will be obtained through August and September. Plant the seed rather 

 shallow in rows one foot apart, and thin the plants to stand twelve inches 

 apart. For early bloom the snapdragon may be started in the hotbed 

 and transplanted to the garden about the first of June. 



