xii INTRODUCTION 



than most people think, and it is because it is not 

 thoroughly dug over that Annuals are so often a failure. 

 It is a common belief that any kind of scratching with 

 a rake is good enough for such plants. But do not be 

 led into this error. Dig the ground well and add a 

 little manure at the bottom of the " spit." Two feet is 

 none too deep for some — Sweet Peas for instance. 

 Light soil may be dug in February or March, but for 

 heavy soils the Autumn is the best time. This allows 

 the frosts of Winter to disintegrate the lumps, and so 

 bring it into better condition for breaking up before 

 sowing. 



Sowing the Seed. — Before putting the seeds in, 

 rake the surface fine and level, incorporating with it a 

 dusting of fine lime. This helps to sweeten the soil, 

 and has a beneficial effect in conjunction with the 

 manure. It is seldom, however, necessary to put any 

 rich manure in the soil where Nasturtiums are to be 

 grown, as it makes them produce too much foliage and 

 very little flower. 



Directions are given below the description of each 

 family of plants throughout the book as to the time 

 to sow, the depth to put the seeds, when to trans- 

 plant (where necessary), the positions to place them, 

 and other information of like character, so it is only 

 necessary to say here that a good rule in sowing is to 

 remember that large seeds like Nasturtiums and Sun- 

 flowers may be planted 2 ins. below the surface, while 

 J- an inch is enough for most of them ; but some are so 

 exceedingly small — for instance, Portulaca — that enough 

 can be put on a sixpenny piece to produce hundreds of 



