276 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 



The sowing of biennial and perennial plants fora display of spring 

 flowers must be carefully done. The ground should be moderately 

 rich and quite mellow through being well broken up ; in other 

 words, a good seed-bed must be prepared. If the weather is dry, 

 the drills should be watered before the seed is sown ; and in the 

 event of a drought, the young plants must have the aid of water to 

 keep them growing through the summer. The seed should be sown 

 thinly, and, as soon as the plants are large enough, they should be 

 thinned out if at all crowded, and the thinnings should be planted in 

 rows and shaded for a while to make extra fine plants. As a rule the 

 whole of the work will be comprised in sowing, thinning, and weeding, 

 for in an average season they will not require watering, and in this 

 matter alone will be seen the advantage of raising from seeds instead 

 of cuttings. 



The roughest mode of procedure will, with such plants as we have 

 named, insure a splendid display of spring flowers; but they will 

 make an ample return for careful culture, and we recommend the 

 bestowal upon them of every needful care to insure complete and 

 early development. It may happen that plants from early sowings 

 will show a few flowers in autumn if neglected. This is easily pre- 

 vented, to the great advantage of the plants, by the simple process 

 of ' stopping ' or nipping out the points of the leading shoots to cause 

 the production of side shoots. If a sturdy growth is thus promoted, 

 and the plants are transferred to the flower beds in October, the 

 result will justify the labour. 



Practical gardeners will not need to be informed that the system 

 we now propose is capable of many applications and expansions ; but 

 it may be proper to suggest to amateurs who lament the dreary 

 aspect of their beds and borders in the month of May and early part 

 of June, that the plants we recommend for the formation of masses 

 in the geometric garden are equally well adapted to form beautiful 

 clumps and sheets on borders, banks, and rockeries, as well as in 

 many instances to serve as a groundwork to Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 Crown Imperials, Narcissi, and other of the most famous because 

 the most splendid of our many hardy spring flowers. 



