THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 137 



necessary to incur a heavy expense, for large stocks of the majority 

 can be raised from s^eed costing a mere trifle. A few of those which 

 can he the most highly recommended are, campanulas, columbines, 

 delphiniums, foxgloves, Oenotheras, primroses, pyrethrums, sweet- 

 williams, wallflowers, and perennial phloxes. Seed of all can be had 

 in mixtures, and most of them may be purchased of the larger 

 houses in collections, each containing from six to twelve varieties or 

 colours. 



There are many other subjects tliat could be mentioned, but I am 

 anxious to avoid frightening the amateur with a long array of names, 

 and also to confine the attention of my readers to things which can 

 be readily raised from seed. All, it must be observed, that are here 

 mentioned, will bloom freely the year following the sowing of the 

 seed, provided it is sown at the proper time. Some difference of 

 opinion exists as to when the seed of biennials and perennials should 

 be sown, but I fail to understand why it should have arisen. The 

 books tell us that it should be sown towards the end of the summer, 

 and in the autumn, but many yearns' experience has shown me that 

 those seasons are not the most suitable for this work. To have a 

 good display of flowers, the plants must have a sufficient time 

 afforded them to acquire size and strength by the end of the pre- 

 vious autumn. Let us take the sweet-williams for example. Plants 

 raised from seed sown last year immediately after it attained ma- 

 turity, are now from two to three inches in height, and the flowers, 

 if any, that will be produced by them will of necessity be exceed- 

 ingly poor. On the other hand, those obtained from early sown 

 seed are now bouncing bushes, and will make a grand display 

 shortly. In this opinion I am supported by Mr. Hibberd, who for 

 some years past has devoted considerable time and attention to the 

 improvement of these marvellously beautiful flowers, lie assures 

 me that early sowing is of prime importance, because the finest dis- 

 play of flowers is obtained from plants raised from early-sown seed, 

 and that to sow late with a view to securing a supply of flowers the 

 following season, is little short of a waste of time. So it is with 

 wallflowers, delphiniums, and in fact all the other things mentioned 

 above. My experience has convinced me that May is the best 

 month for sowing ; the earth heat is then sufficient to promote a 

 quick germination, and the plants have all the summer before them 

 in which to make their growth. 



The most simple course for the amateur to take, is to set apart a 

 border or a bed in an open position, and then sow in shallow drills, 

 a drill being devoted to each sort. If the soil is dry at tlie time, 

 pour a moderate quantity of water in the drills, and as soon as it 

 has soaked away proceed to scatter the seed along them rather 

 thinly, and cover lightly with fine soil. We frequently hear com- 

 plaints of the seeds lying dormant for a considerable period ; but 

 this may, in the majority of instances, be attributed to the dryness 

 of the soil, and by pouring water in the drills as here recommended, 

 there will not be much danger of its lying dormant for any length of 

 time. The only attention that the seed-bed will require until the 

 plants are large enough for transplanting will be to keep it free 



May. 



