256 PLANTING THE ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS 



and mix it. After making the surface fine and smooth, 

 the soil should be pressed down with a board. The seed 

 may now be sprinkled on the soil in lines or concentric 

 circles, according to the method desired. After covering 

 the seed, the soil should be pressed down with a board. 

 This promotes capillarity, by which the surface of the 

 soil is better supplied with moisture than would be possi- 

 ble otherwise. Always mark the kind and position of 

 all seed sown with a label. 



While many kinds of annuals may be sown directly in 

 the open ground, some of the sorts, especially the tender 

 ones, will flower sooner in the season and give much 

 more satisfaction if sown early under cover. The majority 

 of these may be sown about the middle of March, but 

 some must be sown in February. Where but a few 

 are to be grown, a sunny window answers, especially 

 for March sowings ; but it is more satisfactory to have 

 a hotbed, or greenhouse, at command. The danger with 

 early sown seedlings is "drawing up," and weakness 

 from crowding and want of light. This is most liable 

 to occur with window -grown plants. Vigorous June -sown 

 plants are better than such weaklings. 



Poppies, bartonia, Venus' looking-glass, the dwarf 

 convolvulus, lupinus, and malope do not bear trans- 

 planting well. It is best, therefore, to sow them where 

 they are to grow. Some annuals do not bloom all sum- 

 mer, especially if allowed to produce seed. Of such 

 kinds a second or third sowing at intervals will provide 

 a succession. Preventing the formation of seeds, if possi- 

 ble, is like manure to annuals, in prolonging their life 

 and flowering. 



Below is given an annotated list of some of the best 

 continuous flowering kinds, which may be raised from 

 seed. The terms hardy, half-hardy and tender are ab- 

 breviated H., Hh., and T. respectively. Perennials are 

 indicated by P. ; all others are annuals. 



