SOJIING SEEDS. 



red currant and are much used in Si- 

 beria. Along the lake Baykal there are 

 found varieties of this plant with bright 

 red and dark red berries. 



5. Lonicera coerulea L. var edulis. 

 Turch. This grows in tall bush form, 

 and resembles Lonicera coerulea Lon., 

 but yields dark blue, oblong berries that 

 are edible notwithstanding other varieties 



of lonicera, that yield bitter inedible ber- 

 ries. Around Nerchinsk it is very widely 

 distributed on the mountains. The 

 berries are picked in large quantities 

 and sold in the local markets. They 

 are very palatable and good for drying, 

 for pies and other purposes. 



J.AROSI.AV NiEMETZ. 



/ Vinnitsa, Fodolie, Jiiissia. 



SOWING SEEDS. 



£y^ rsXHE operation of seed-sowing is 

 one of the most important 

 ._L stages in the life of garden 

 plants. We believe that it is 

 often here that the future success or 

 failure of the gardeners productions is' 

 determined. In the other stages in the 

 growth of his plants the cultivator may, 

 as a rule, do much to rectify the results 

 of improper treatment, but in the case of 

 the sowing of seeds, especially where 

 first-class specimens for the show table 

 are wanted, he cannot afford to exercise 

 the least slovenliness. If he does his 

 chance of having specimens up to 

 the showing standard and in time for 

 his show will be reduced to the mini- 

 mum at the very outset, and his subse- 

 quent care and trouble greatly increased. 

 It is extremely difficult to give definite 

 rules for sowing, circumstances vary so 

 much The sizes of seeds and their con- 

 ditions at sowing time, the state of soil, 

 the appliances in the way of heating, 

 etc., at the command of each grower, 

 and other circumstances will affect the 

 question. Yet, there are certain well- 

 defined bounds which must limit the 

 variations of method in seed sowing, in 

 order that success may be ensured. 



Seed to Sow Now. 



Mignonette, as a border plant, must 

 be sown to remain. Pulverise the 

 soil well, make it somewhat firm, do not 



sow too thickly. It is important to 

 thin early and severely, for any one plant 

 left alone will soon cover a square foot. 

 In pot culture it should be remembered 

 that mignonette does not transplant 

 well. The young plants must be thin- 

 ned down to five, or even three, in each 

 pot : if large plants are wanted later 

 leave only three, or even only one. Mig- 

 nonette is so accommodating that it may 

 be forced for early flowers. A rich, friable 

 soil is requisite, and plenty of light. But 

 the plant will bear a close atmosphere, 

 and even damp, in winter, fairly well 

 For blooming in winter or spring, sow' 

 in 5 inch pots in August, and keep the 

 plants as hardy as possible until it be- 

 comes necessary to put them under glass 

 for the winter. 



Shirlev Poppies. 



These are especially adapted for grow- 

 ing in masses, in beds, or borders, are 

 of very free growth, and profuse bloom- 

 ers. Sow where they are to remain in 

 well-prepared soil, enriched with a little 

 decayed stable manure ; thin the plants 

 out to give room for growth of those 

 that remain ; they do not transplant 

 well. If the buds are cut early in the 

 morning before they Expand, they will 

 last for some time in water indoors, and 

 have a most charming effect if arranged 

 with their own foliage. On the whole, 

 annual poppies are par exce/knce the best 



