THE SUMMER FLOWER-GARDEN. 



suitable soil. If the situation of the garden is low or damp, first of all, it should be well drained ; for, 

 in addition to the injury from excessive moisture, such soils are cold, and the young plants are in- 

 jured by early frosts, when they would escape damage in one of the opposite character : neither 

 should the situation be too dry, as, in this case, the plants would suffer in summer, and present a 

 meagre in place of a vigorous bloom. Where the soil is too light, a thin layer of clay, if to be had, 

 spread ov;r the surface in the autumn, and dug in, after being pulverized by the winter frosts, in the 



He must understand that the soil of a good garden should be deep, well pulverized, friable, and 

 rich ; and if the opposite, to make it as near that as possible. 



When the flower-garden is to be a speciality, apiece of ground set apart for that object, and laid 

 out in geometrical order, and all the beds edged with box or thrift, then more pains ought to be 

 taken ; and those who are about to do this, if they have not the requisite information, will consult 

 something more than a catalogue. Our hints are intended for the mass of the people who love flow- 

 ers, who have but little leisure, and do not wish to incur great expense in the gratification of 

 their taste. 



PERIOD FOR SOWING. 



This must depend much upon the season, as well as the locality. Our Northern springs are so 

 variable, that no definite period can be named. As a general rule, the proper time to commence 

 sowing is about the middle of April, though a few soits may be planted as soon as the ground can be 

 got ready ; and, for a succession, the sowing should be continued until June. In the Southern States, 

 of course, January, February, or March will be the time to sow, as they correspond with April, May, 

 and June of the North. The Californian annuals, now so numerous and so ornamental, are very 

 hardy, and should be sown early, as they get well established before the heat of summer. To avoid 

 all danger of injury, the sowing may be deferred till the last of April ; but, when a little labor is of no 

 consideration, the sowing may be made earlier, and in case of failure to grow, or subsequent 

 injury from frost or wet, another sowing may be made when the weather is more favorable. Because 

 we recommend April, it is not to be understood the sowing must be made at that time. The only 

 object is to obtain a vigorous growth and early bloom. If sown in any part of May, they will flower 

 later but abundantly throughout the latter part of summer. 



MODE OF SOWING. 



This must be varied according to the style of the garden and the variety to be sown. Many 

 of the most showy and beautiful annuals are very impatient of removal ; and these must be sown 

 where they are to remain and flower. Such are the 1 upins, Sweet Pea, Eschscholtzia, Poppies, &c. 

 Indeed, most of the tap-rooted annuals will not bear transplanting. Other annuals which may be 

 transplanted, and some of which flower stronger for removal, may either be sown in the places where 

 they are to bloom, or in prepared beds, from whence they are to be transplanted to the flower-garden. 

 In small gardens, undoubtedly the best way is to sow where they are to remain, thinning out the 

 superfluous plants ; this gives the least trouble : but in larger gardens, or where there are beds of 

 early spring bulbs to be filled, the safest and best plan is to sow in well-prepared beds, and, when 

 the young plants are of proper size, to transplant to the flower-garden. 



Never sow seeds when the ground is very wet, particularly early in the spring. Select a time 

 when the soil is neither wet nor dry. The sowing must be left to the taste of the cultivator, and the 

 extent of surface. If there are vacant beds, the seeds may be sown in rows across the bed ; 

 but if in the border, where there are only limited spaces among the perennials or bulbs, they may 

 be planted in masses or groups, in which mode we think annuals produce the greatest effect. Our 

 plan has always been to mark out a circle a foot or more in diameter, and level the ground evenly and 

 nicely with the rake ; then, with the back of a trowel, press the surface firmly down ; around the circle 

 make a slight drill of the proper depth, in which the seeds are thinly sown, covering them lightly, 

 and again pressing the earth upon the seeds with the back of the trowel. If the soil should happen 

 to be too wet, or stiff and adhesive, fill the drill with some light, sandy loam, and make firm, as 

 before ordered. 



And here we should remark that great care should be exercised in covering the seeds. It is the 

 great error to cover too deep ; and the cause of more than half of the complaints against seedmen of 

 selling old and worthless seeds comes from inexperience or want of judgment in sowing. No 

 rule can be given in this respect ; but, as a general guide, all large seeds, such as Sweet Peas, Lu- 

 pins, &c., may be sown half an inch deep, smaller, less; and for the smallest, such as Clarkia, 

 Pinks, Sec., a covering of one-sixteenth of an inch suffices. If sown too deep, they are longer in 

 germinating, and are liable to decay. Avoid the general error of sowing the seeds too thick, as it 

 causes an elongated and feeble growth, which no subsequent thinning will entirely remedy. 



If the weather should be warm, or the soil very dry, it will be advisable to give a slight watering 

 with a watering-pot with a fine rose. It is not often that seeds planted in April need watering ; but 

 later in the season they frequently require it. Use water of the same temperature of the soil ; or, ii 

 warmer, it will do no harm. The waterings should be given early in the afternoon, and repeated every 

 few days, as, when the seeds begin to swell, they are more susceptible of injury from drought, and the 

 young plants often perish when it is neglected. A good plan with very small seeds is to cover them 

 with an inverted flower-pot, being careful to remove it before the young seedlings appear above the 

 surface, otherwise they will be drawn up weakly, and are likely to be injured by the hot sun or a 

 cool night. Seeds vary in their period of germination. Some will be above ground in a week, while 

 others require two or three weeks. 



As soon as the seedlings have made three or four leaves, and are an inch high, they should be 

 thinned out. If they are kinds which will bear removal, they may be replanted in vacant spaces in 

 the border. No rule can be given for thinning. Tall-growing plants with spreading branches will 

 require more room than slender-growing dwarf kinds ; and in this the cultivator must be guided by 

 the Catalogue. Stir the soil around the plants from time to time ; and, if they appear crowded, a 



