THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Jan. Standard Varieties of the Principal Flowers 

 RAISED from Seed 



Although the greater number of the most important 

 vegetables are raised from seed, this is not the case with 

 flowers. Roses are generally propagated by budding, 

 Carnations by layering. Dahlias by cuttings, and her- 

 baceous plants by division — all in the several manners to 

 be described in later pages. But a good many useful 

 and popular plants are raised from seed, and these can 

 be ordered at the same time as the vegetables. 



I shall have occasion to refer to all of the following 

 in the subsequent pages, and I therefore recommend 

 that seed of them be ordered in January. 



Except in the case of large gardens, packets will 

 suffice in nearly every case. A packet of hardy flower 

 seeds always contains enough seed to sow a good row or 

 several clumps. More may be wanted of a few special 

 things, such as mixed Sweet Peas, Mignonette, and 

 Nasturtiums ; in these cases ounces or half-ounces may 

 be ordered. 



As with vegetables, the price of the packet varies 

 with the standing of the seedsman. Dealers of the 

 highest class do not, as a rule, offer seed of even the 

 cheapest hardy annuals at less than threepence per 

 packet, but the same quantities can be bought from 

 others for a penny. 



There are not wanting bold and enterprising seeds- 

 men who will sell you any kind of flower seed for a 

 penny, even such things as Primulas, Begonias, and 

 Cyclamens, which are generally sold at eighteenpence 

 and half-a-crown a packet. The number of seeds in 

 these very cheap packets is, of course, small, but it is 

 sound enough, as a rule. 



JP 



