20 FLOWER-GARDENING. 



dominating characteristics in the management of a flower- 

 garden. 



In the summer season, all kinds of insects must be timely 

 destroyed, and in the evenings of warm days the flowers will 

 require frequent watering. 



SELECTING SOIL ADAPTED TO FLOWERS. 



Some seeds germinate in two or three days after having been 

 deposited in the earth ; others will exhibit no signs of vegeta- 

 tion in as many weeks. These and other distinguishing fea- 

 tures arise, in a great measure, from their having originated in 

 various soils and climates. Natives of cool or temperate 

 climates and moist soils are generally tardy in germinating 

 when cultivated in a warm climate and dry soil, for want of a 

 due share of their most essential aliment, MOISTURE ; and 

 natives of warm climates and light soils require artificial cul- 

 ture in cool seasons and unpropitious climates, in order to 

 their being accommodated with their natural and most import- 

 ant aliment, HEAT. AIR also is a more necessary aliment to 

 some species than to others, but these three elements collec- 

 tively constitute the food of plants in general. It may also be 

 observed that the adaptation of plants to a soil congenial to 

 them is of the utmost importance ; as plants will not thrive 

 well when their roots are surrounded by improper food. 



Under favorable circumstances, annuals, in general, will pro- 

 duce their flower-buds within two months from the period of 

 sowing the seed. Some species, soon after exhibiting their 

 brilliant blossoms and ripening their seed, disappear, while 

 others embellish the borders with a succession of flowers for 

 two or three months. An assortment of seed judiciously 

 selected, and sown in due season, will afford amusement to the 

 cultivator the greater part of a summer, and yield seed for 

 the propagation of the species in succeeding years, if gathered 

 when ripe, and carefully preserved. 



Annual plants will grow from one to four feet in height, in 



