234 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



I am careful not to wet the soil at any time to the point of 

 saturation and also not to sprinkle on damp, dull days. 



I sow about I, GOO seeds to the square foot. It's pretty thick, but it 

 saves lots of space and handling if sown in boxes, and I transplant 

 as soon as rootlets begin to grow on the main or tap root, putting 

 them about an inch apart regularly in rows, so as to easily tell at 

 any time the number of plants on hand. 



I keep them cooler and drier after transplanting, watering 

 thoroughly when they get dry, and only when they get dry. Freez- 

 ing will not hurt pansies if there is no draft, but a freezing wind 

 will kill them or any other plant while growing inside. If they do 

 freeze let them go; as the temperature rises, they will come out all 

 right. 



When they begin to crowd, my cold frames are ready, and I 

 transplant into them, where they remain till they blossom, which is 

 about the last of April, when they are ready for market. Pansies so 

 raised are strong and vigorous and can be put out into beds where 

 one can get the good of them before the hot weather comes on to 

 spoil them. 



I have given my method in detail because on very small things 

 often depends success, and I know these are good general directions 

 for raising small plants. 



I sow pansy seed in January, verbenas I sow a little earlier than 

 pansies, but treat them about the same, except I keep them always 

 warm — ^freezing won't do to harden them. They are impatient of 

 the cold, though they will blossom in the fall till snow comes. 

 They must be potted in two-and-a-half or three-inch pots and stay in 

 the house till they blossom or are put outside in suitable weather. 



A few pots ranging in size from two to four inches are exceed- 

 ingly fine to put plants into a few weeks before they are put out, 

 especially if, like verbenas, their roots are long and straggling. One 

 can transfer them from pots to beds without disturbing the roots if 

 thoroughly watered first. 



There is a wide range in the time that the seeds of different 

 plants should be sown Not having experience with very many 

 kinds myself, I sought the advice of our worthy secretary and will 

 give the information as she gave it me. Hollyhocks, seedling 

 dahlias and marguerite carnations should be sown by the middle 

 of February. Pyretheum, gail'lardias, Shasta daisies, platycodon, 

 delphiniums, Iceland and oriental poppies, should wait till first of 

 March. Sown this early, all these may be had in bloom the first 

 season. 



