336 breck's new book of flowers. 



the shortness of the season. It requires heat to bring it 

 to perfection, unless the plants are brought forward in a 

 hot-bed. If planted in the open ground, it will not be of 

 any advantage to sow the seed before the last of May, as 

 it will not vegetate till the ground is warm. Previous to 

 sowing, the seed should have boiling water poured over it, 

 and remain until the water is cold. It is then sown in a warm 

 place, and the plants will appear above ground in a few days. 

 The young plants are difficult to transplant, therefore the 

 seeds should be sown where the plants are to remain. 

 Without scalding, or unless the hull of the seed is taken 

 off, it will remain in the ground a long time without vege- 

 tating. Plants thus raised will, in a warm season, do very 

 well, but will be much inferior to those that have been 

 forwarded in the frame. Tiie seeds should be sown in a 

 hot-bed, with a brisk heat, in March, in small pots, a num- 

 ber of seeds in each pot, so as to be sure of two or three 

 plants in each. In a month, if carefully attended, the 

 roots will have filled the pots ; it will then be necessary to 

 shift the plants into larger ones. Before the first of June, 

 the plants will begin to flower ; but do not be in haste to 

 put them into the ground ; keep them in tlie frame, where 

 they can be protected in case of cold storms, but expose 

 them during the day to the full influence of the sun and 

 air, by taking the sashes entirely off. By the 10th of 

 June, the plants may be turned into the ground very care- 

 fully, so that the roots may not be disturbed. The ground 

 should be made rich with well-rotted manure ; the plants 

 should be placed at the distance of one foot, or one foot 

 and a half, if the object is to cover a wall or trellis. I 

 have covered a trellis by the middle of August, twenty- 

 five feet long and five high, with its elegant feathery f )li- 

 age, so as to form a complete screen. The flowers, like 

 those of the Morning Glory, appear in the morning and 

 perish before noon. They are of a deep-crimson color, 



