52 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Lobelia, Mignonette, Moon Flower, Nasturtium, Phlox Drummondi, Stocks, 

 Vincas, Zinnia, Candytuft, seed sown the first of March. 



Now, in sowing seed it takes patience and care. A good rule to go 

 by is to cover the seeds their own thickness. First thoroughly water 

 the soil before sowing. Shade during the day until they begin to show 

 up, then be careful not to let get dry or wilted. 



Pansies for early plants can be sown in the latter part of August, 

 and transplanted to the frames when the character leaves show, cover 

 with sashs atid later on a cover with ashes and later on a covering 

 of coarse manure over all. It is also a good idea to make a sowing in 

 flats about the first of February, which will give you another batch to 

 fill up the frames after the earlier ones are gone. 



Althomanthora, in different varieties, are indispensable as a carpet- 

 bedding plant. I have had the best success with them by taking cuttings 

 the latter part of August, putting them in a flat, and half soil and sand, 

 water thoroughly and placed along the edge of a trench on the ground, 

 shaded until root action begins. By spring you have all the wood for 

 cuttings you want, or if your supply is adequate, prick them off in 

 two-inch pots about the middle of April and plunge in a hot bed. This 

 treatment doesn't take up any bench room. 



I believe I have named about all the most important bedding plants 

 in the soft-wooded line. 



The Hybrid Tea Roses are very satisfactory as a summer bloomer. 

 Take the plants from the trench the first of June, cut them back a little, 

 give them a thorough soaking, and they will bloom profusely. I have 

 carried them over with good success by putting four or five inches 

 of soil around the base, and later on, as the weather gets more severe, 

 the same quantity of coarse manure. In the spring, as the weather gets 

 milder, remove your top covering. Later on remove this second cover- 

 ing. Cut off all dead wood and you v,nll find that in a short time new 

 shoots will show up and give you good roses throughout the summer. 



In the hardy line of bedders that give good satisfaction as to bloom- 

 ing qualities, I find that the following varieties do well with us here: 

 Hardy Phlox, Paeonies, Achielea, the Pearl, Campanula, Dielytra, the 

 Bleeding Heart, Delphiniums, the Larkspur, Helianthus, Funkia, the Day 

 Lily, Rynethrum, Rudbeckia, Golden Glow, and Anemone. To increase 

 the stock of these either by cuttings or division, take cuttings off of 

 the soft growth in the spring and division about the first of September. 



Now a few words on the planting and care of these plants. The most 

 essential part is to get the .ground in proper shape. What I mean by 

 proper shape is this: Whether for fall planting or spring give the beds 

 a liberal coating of well-rotted cow manure. If the ground is dry, water 

 first, and let stand until it can be spaded without the soil sticking to the 

 spade. Then you are ready to do your planting. This applies either to 

 rain, hose watering or sprinkling can. Half the success with bedding 

 plants depends upon the planting out. Plants purchased from a florist. 



