160 REVIEW. 



The depth of soil used as covering for the seeds, should, in all 

 cases, be apportioned to their size, for instance, Lupins, Sweet 

 Peas, and similar large seeds, should be buried two or three 

 inches under the surface ; while Prince's Feather, Mimulus, Pop- 

 py, Tobacco, &c, of which the seeds are very small, should not 

 be covered by more than a small layer of earth. It should 

 further be kept in view, that seeds generally, and in particular 

 those of a small size, vegetate more freely in a light than in a 

 heavy and tenaceous soil ; therefore, in cases when the former 

 does not naturally exist, cultivators will find their additional toil 

 amply repaid by procuring and only using light soil for covering 

 the flower seeds. 



The manners of sowing vary according to the taste of the 

 operator : the practice formerly adopted, and still often followed 

 by gardeners and others, is to form with the fingers, in the pre- 

 vious^ prepared ground, a circle from one-half to three feet in 

 diameter, and of the proper depth, in which the seeds were 

 deposited, and the earth again returned ; the whole being gene- 

 rally finished by clapping the surface gently with the back of a 

 spade, or pressing the earth lightly with the foot, to assist in 

 keeping out the drought; of course the same practice of forming 

 the reservoir for the seeds may be adopted whether the figure is 

 intended to be a circle, a square, or any other form. 



Some fanciful growers form the letters of their name, outlines 

 of animals, kc. in their flower beds, generally choosing for such 

 purpose plants as possess dwarf or compact habit of growth. 



The young Annuals, as well as other plants, when coming above 

 ground, are liable to be destroyed by slugs and various insects, 

 as well as injured, particularly the Jess hardy sorts, by the night 

 frosts ; to prevent which, various methods are recommended and 

 practised. In small gardens a very excellent plan is to sow the 

 seeds in circles, not more than six inches in diameter, and in- 

 verting a flower-pot; when the young plants appear above ground, 

 the flower-pot should be gently raised on one side by means of a 

 small wedge or stone, which should always be removed in the 

 evening, the operator taking care to lift it to see that no enemies 

 are enclosed. The flower-pot answers the double purpose of 

 protecting the young plants, and of retaining the moisture about 

 them until they acquire sufficient strength to resist all such 

 injuries. Lime water, applied at any time, proves destructive to 

 slugs, but if sprinkled on the leaves during dry weather or hot 

 sun, it will injure them ; therefore, that expedient should only be 

 resorted to in the evenings or during damp weather, when they 

 have left their retreats. A sprinkling of quick-lime in the same 

 manner is productive of the same effect, but always produces a 

 disagreeable and unsightly appearance." 



(To be continued.) 



