The Culture of Flowers from Seeds 



beds. It is of the utmost importance to remember that the Verbena 

 requires very little of the artificial heat to which it is commonly 

 subjected, and which fully accounts for the frequency of disease. 

 The seeds may be sown in boxes in January, February, and March, 

 the earlier sowings naturally requiring more heat than the later ones. 

 As the seedlings become large enough, they should be potted on and 

 planted out in May, when they will flower throughout the summer, 

 and far into the autumn. 



Verbenas may also be raised from seed sown on a well-prepared 

 bed in March, and the plants will appear towards the end of April, 

 and should be planted out as they become fit. If this rough-and- 

 ready method is thought too hazardous, the seed may be sown in 

 March in boxes, and put into a frame, and if kept moist a lot of 

 plants will appear in about a month, and when large enough these 

 must be carefully lifted and potted. A rich, mellow, and very sweet 

 soil is needed by the Verbena. Many of the failures that occur in its 

 cultivation are not only traceable to the coddling of the plant under 

 glass, but also to the careless way in which it is often planted on poor 

 worn-out soil that has been cropped for years, and never refreshed 

 with manure, or the sweetening effects of a good digging. Raising 

 Verbenas from seed will restore this plant to the list of hardy, easily 

 grown, thoroughly useful subjects, and will also produce one of the 

 most effective flowers for the parterre. 



V. venosa and V. pulcherrima also come perfectly true and uni- 

 form from seed. 



VIOLA 



Hardy perennial 



THIS plant well merits its popularity for use in beds and borders. 

 It is perfectly hardy, the habit is good, and it continues in bloom 

 for several months in the year. The treatment prescribed for Pansy 

 is also suitable for Viola. 



WALLFLOWER 



Cheiranthus Cheiri. Hardy biennial 



WALLFLOWERS are often sown too late. As a result the growth is 

 not thoroughly matured, and the plants present but a feeble show 

 of bloom. They should in their season be little mounds of fire ancj 



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