MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 61 



not be crowded together ; three in a group are quite sufficient, and they should 

 be six inches apart. The same may be said of the stock varieties. 



I have ever found the hardy annuals grow finest by allowing them to become 

 self-sown. They flower some weeks earlier, and invariably produce larger and 

 brighter flowers. 



When gathering my flower seeds in August and September, I allow one-half 

 to remain sprinkled over the borders ; and the young plants never fail appearing 

 healthy and strong above ground in March and April, the months appropriated 

 to sowing the seed. Thus, my Lavateras, Larkspurs. &c. are in beautiful blow, 

 while the second crop, or seeds sown in spring, are but showing their green heads 

 above the surface. I weed away the superfluous self-sown plants to my taste; 

 but the birds take care that no one shall be encumbered with superfluity. I have 

 by this means a first and second crop of the same annuals, but the crop of self- 

 sown are far superior. They are up before the heats come on, to dry the earth, 

 and dwindle the flower. 



Dig the ground well with your trowel, and rake it very fine, before you put in 

 the seeds in spring. Annuals love a light, friable soil. All the hardy kinds 

 may be sown in March, each sort in little separate patches, as follows : — 



Draw a little earth off' the top to one side, then sprinkle in the seed, not too 

 plentifully, and cover it again with the drawn-ofFearth. Half an inch is suffi- 

 cient depth for small seed. The larger kind, such as sweet peas, lupins, &c. 

 must be sown an inch in depth. When the plants have been up some time, thin 

 them well. The more space you have, the finer the plants will rise. 



The hardy annuals will not bear transplanting: they must be left to flourish 

 where they are sown. The large kinds, such as the lavatera or mallow, should 

 only be sown in groups of three plants together. The lupin tribe should not 

 exceed five plants in a group. The Convolvulus, also, requires four or five plants 

 only in a group. Water the patches in dry weather moderately, and be careful 

 never to use pump water. If you have no soft water, a tub should be placed in 

 the garden to receive rain water ; and if, as in towns, pump water must be chiefly 

 used, let it remain a day or two in the tub, to soften in the air and sunshine. 



The first week in April is the safest period for sowing annuals, as the cutting 

 winds have ceased by that time, and frost is not so much to be apprehended. 

 The soft rains, also, fall in warm showers, to give life and germ to seeds and 

 plants, and they appear in a shorter space of time. 



Those ladies who live in the vicinity of nursery gardens have a great advan- 

 tage over the more remote flower-fanciers. They can be supplied, at a trifling 

 expense, with all the tender annuals from hot-beds, either in pots, or drawnready 

 for immediate transplanting. 



If you do not raise your own seed, be careful how you purchase your stock, 

 and of whom you receive if. Many seedsmen sell the refuse of many years', 

 stock to their youthful customers, and produce great disappointment. There is 

 one way of ascertaining the goodness of the seed, which will not deceive. Pre- 

 vious to sowing, plunge your lupin, sunflower, &c. seeds into a tumbler of water : 

 the good seed will sink, while the light and useless part remains floating on 

 the surface. 



If you grow your own seed, exchange it every two years with your neighbours. 

 Seeds love change of soil ; they degenerate, if repeatedly grown and sown upon 

 the same spot, particularly sweet-peas. 



Sweet-peas should be put into the ground early in March, for they will hear 

 the wind and weather. Make a circle round a pole, or some object to which 

 they may cling as they rise ; and put the peas an inch deep, having soaked 

 them in water well saturated with arsenic, to guard them from the depredation 

 of birds and mice. Add an outer circle of peas every month, so that a con- 

 tinual bloom may appear. The circle first sown will ripen and pod for seed in 

 the centre, while the outer vines will continue flowering till late in the autumn. 

 When you have gathered a sufficient number of ripe pods, cut away all the pods 

 which may afterwards form with your knife. This strengthens the vines, and 

 throws all their vigour into repeateil blooms. 



Be very careful to throw away the arsenic water upon your heap of compost, 

 and do not put that powerful poison into any thing which may be used after- 



