INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 203 



will produce the most resplendent flowers, and instead of propagating 

 a stock to keep over winter, to plague us with mildew and cost no 

 end of care, only to become diseased at last, we sow a pinch of seed 

 in January or February, and soon have a nice stock of healthy young 

 plants with the vigour peculiar to seedlings, and these, being bedded 

 out at a proper time, flower as freely as plants from cuttings, and 

 produce trusses of flowers twice the size. 



It must be understood, however, that trifling variations occur 

 when a certain standard has been fixed on ; but there is, notwith- 

 standing, a remarkable constancy of type secured, so that the cultivator 

 may calculate to a nicety on the effects that are at his command for 

 parterre colouring and planting in masses. The Phlox Drummondii 

 may be mentioned in illustration of this. We have it now in almost 

 endless variety, and the different types are maintained with a sur- 

 prising constancy. This fine annual Phlox, which is certainly one 

 of the loveliest and most useful plants of its class we possess, 

 reminds us of the perennial Phlox, which may also be grown from 

 seed as easily as the annual Phloxes. 



There appear to be no bounds or limits to further progress. All 

 we can do is to experiment and gather knowledge, and those who 

 love flowers and would multiply them for the enjoyment of mankind, 

 may assist in extending the area of this new and cheap system of 

 growing some of the grandest garden flowers in one season from seed 

 alone. 



RAPID FLOWER CULTURE 



NOTES ON RAISING THE CHOICEST FLOWERS 

 AS ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS FROM SEEDS 



THE sowing of the seed will have to be regulated by considerations 

 of its nature. Seeds of tender plants are usually sown in pots or 

 pans and placed on a moderate hot-bed or in a propagating house 

 early in spring, and in this case the plants have greenhouse cultivation 

 until the time arrives for hardening them off preparatory to final 

 planting. But seeds of many hardy flowers may be treated in the 

 same way, when a long season of growth is necessary for their 

 development. Thus Phloxes, Verbenas, and Hollyhocks, plants that 

 differ immensely in habit and constitution, may all be sown in Feb- 

 ruary, and put side by side in the same warm pit or vinery, or even 

 in the warmest corner of any greenhouse, and the very same treat- 



