24 ANNUAL FLOWER SEED. 



or sow the seed in the earth in shallow drills, not more than 

 a quarter of an inch deep. It may be necessary to state, 

 that although, in favourable seasons, flower seed in general 

 will come up in from one to three weeks after it is sown, 

 the seed of the Cypress vine will not grow until settled warm 

 weather, unless in a hot-bed ; it should be soaked for about 

 half an hour in moderately warm water, previous to being 

 sown. 



If some of the hardy annuals be sown in September, they 

 will grow large enough to survive the winter, if slightly 

 covered with straw or litter ; and if plants thus raised be 

 transplanted early in the spring, they will produce very early 

 flowers. The following are some of the hardiest : 



Alyssum, Sweet. Evening Primrose. 



Coreopsis, or Calliopsis. Larkspur, in varieties. 



China Aster, in varieties. Pansy, or Heart's Ease. 



Catch Fly. Poppy, in varieties. 



Chrysanthemum, in varieties. Rocket Larkspur. 



To prevent disappointment, I would recommend that great 

 care be taken to keep the seed beds as clear from weeds as 

 possible. It cannot be denied that young plants are apt to 

 get smothered, and sometimes pulled up with weeds. To 

 obviate this, I would suggest that the seed be sown in shallow 

 drills, each kind by itself, and that an account be kept of the 

 contents of each drill in a book ; also of all seed that are 

 sown at different times ; and by being particular in the dates, 

 you may always know when to expect your plants to come 

 up. Those persons totally unacquainted with plants, will, 

 by this means, be enabled to identify each particular kind, 

 and thus become familiarly acquainted with them.* In order 



* Lest the reader should think that the author is here shifting his own 

 duty and responsibility on the cultivator, it may be necessary to observe 

 that a definition of all the peculiar qualities, forms, attitudes, and habits 

 of growth, of the numerous species and varieties of plants embraced in an 

 extensive catalogue, with minute directions for the most appropriate culture 

 of each, would alone occupy more space than is allotted to this treatise j 

 and that to expatiate on all the various features of the floral kingdom is a 



