Rural Schuol Leaflet 1005 



Watering. — When transplanting, and in case of drought during the 

 summer, it will greatly benefit the garden if a liberal amount of water 

 can be supplied either with hose or watering-pot. After the watering is 

 done, find out. by means of a stick or with your finger, how deep into 

 the soil the moisture has gone. If there is a dry place in the soil 

 between the topmost layer and the lower moist soil, apply more water. 



Thinning. — If the seed is sown in the garden, much care must be taken 

 to thin the plants according to the distances given in the table on page 

 263. Each plant should have room for its best development. 



Cultivating. — A fine, light layer of soil should be kept on the surface 

 of the garden. This checks loss of water from the soil by evaporation, 

 and should also result in destroying weeds. Such a surface, called a 

 mulch, can be secured with a hoe, followed by dragging a rake lightly 

 over the land. Good cultivation is necessary for success in gardening. 



CULTURAL METHODS FOR THE DIFFERENT FLOWERS 



Ageratum. — Ageratum grows well on a wide range of soils, although 

 a sandy loam will give better results than a clay loam. 



For early bloom the seed should be sown in hotbeds or in boxes in the 

 house in March, and transplanted later to the garden. For summer and 

 fall bloom the seed may be sown one quarter to one half inch deep in 

 well-prepared beds outdoors, in rows twelve inches apart, thinning the 

 plants later to six inches apart in the row. 



Ageratum is an attractive blue flower and is much used in bedding 

 and for borders. 



Alyssum. — ■ A well-prepared, rich soil is best suited to this annual. 

 Plant the seed one fourth to one half inch deep in rows twelve inches 

 apart. Later thin the plants to six inches apart in the row. 



Alyssum is easily grown indoors and out. It is well suited for beds 

 and for borders of beds in summer, or for pots or boxes in fall and winter. 



Cutting back the dying flower stalks after the first bloom will result 

 in further production of blossoms. 



Aster. — For its best development this very popular annual requires 

 a soil in excellent condition. A considerable quantity of well-rotted 

 manure should be thoroughly mixed with the soil. Plant the seed out- 

 doors in May about one half inch deep in rows twelve inches apart. 

 Later thin the plants to nine inches or a foot apart, according to size. 

 The plants should bloom during September and October. For early 

 bloom sow the seed in hotbeds in April and transplant to the open 

 ground after all danger from frost is past. 



Small quantities of air-slaked lime or wood ashes, stirred into the sur- 

 face of the soil, will greatly benefit aster plants. 



