SECT. XVIII. OF FLOWERS. 281 



middle to the end of March, as the beft average feafon, 

 fome may generally, with fuccefs, be fown at Mid- Fe- 

 bruary, as candy tufts, cornbottles, lark/purs, bawhvecd, 

 lavatcra, label's catchfty-, lupines, diva rf lychnis, nigella, 

 Jweet peas, poppies, mulberry Might, oriental mallow^ 

 perficaria, fun-flower, annual f nap dragon, Venus' 's look- 

 ing-glafs, and navel-wort, virginian, or annual flock > 

 and winged peas, with fume others. 



But nature feoms evidently to direct an autumn fow- 

 ing, for many forts which are then flied (fome always, 

 and others often) £ome up at fpring, and thefe make 

 the fined blow, and produce the beiifeed for propaga- 

 tion. A number, (all the above forts) therefore, might 

 be fcattered on the furface of the ground at random, 

 not immediately as foon as ripe, but kept a little while 

 to harden : This however is not a common practice, as 

 gardeners like to have their borders at liberty to fpring 

 chefs before they fow their annuals. 



For the j'pring lowing, (about Mid-Manh) the 

 ground being deep dug, and well broke, make hollow* 

 (by drawing the mould afide) of from fix to twelve 

 inches diameter, or more, according to the fizeof the 

 garden, as large ones mould have the biggeft patches. 

 Sow thin, and cover according to the fize of the feed, 

 from a quarter to an inch deep. Take out mould 

 enough to leave the patches fomewhat hollow, wiuca 

 will ferve to fhow where they are fown, and to receive 

 the rain, or occafional watering. It may be proper alfo 

 to put a bit of flick in the center of each, as a mark, that 

 the feed may not be difturbed. If the plants come up 

 crowding, be hire to thin them foon, and leave only a 

 number fuitable to their ufual fize of growth ; as one 

 of the behidere, cornbottle, perficaria, and J un -flower ; 

 two of the lavatera, oriental mallow, mulberry-blight,' 

 &c. three larkfpurs ; and four of lefs plants. Annuals 

 are very often fown too thick, and fuffcred to fhtnd tot 

 clofe for flowering, and that altogether not by negw 

 kc% but choice ; yet a few lho:V fliong plants with 



fine 



