also useless to try to grow good flowers on a poor, or a hard, unbroken soil, or in a bed choked with 

 weeds. In either case the plants become dwarfed, arrive at maturity too early, and flower and 

 ripen their seeds before they have attained half their natural size, and about the time a good 

 robust plant would be forming its buds. Such a soil can be much unproved by a little sand, or 

 ashes and manure, and by pretty constant working. It must not, however, be handled when too 

 wet. Always drain the flower garden so that no water will be on or near the surface. 



SOWING SEED. 



This is a very important matter, and one in which the young florist is the most likely to 

 fail. Some old and professional florists make sad work in starting seeds, for knowledge is not 



only necessary, but care and attention. 

 One "forgot" may ruin a whole sowing 

 of the choicest seeds. Of course, there 

 are some kinds of seeds that are robust 

 and will grow, no matter how they are 

 treated, just as our weeds grow and thrive 



BOX HAND-GLASS. SQUARE HAND-GLASS. under ill treatment; but others require 



kind and proper treatment, just as almost everything desirable does in the animal as well as in the 

 vegetable kingdom. Many seem to think that seeds will grow anywhere and under any circum- 

 stances. They have seen the farmer make a hole and throw in the com, and in a little while it 

 was up and growing vigorously ; they have learned that the seeds of our native trees and weeds 

 grow without planting and care ; and from these (acts they get the idea that it is of little conse- 

 quence how or where seeds are sown, so that they are in the ground. But these should 

 consider that the seeds used by the farmer are usually larger and produce stronger and more 

 robust plants than those of the florist, and thus are enabled to bear more hardships and to live 

 under more unfavorable circumstances. 

 Still, farmers are fast learning that the 

 better they prepare the ground, the more 

 carefully they sow their seed, and the 

 more they study the nature and wants 

 of the plants they cultivate, the better 

 the crops. Another fact should be 

 remembered that not one Seed in a 

 thousand matured by our forest trees 

 and shrubs, produces a living plant. 

 We cannot afford to purchase costly SEEDS PROTECTED BY GLASS BELLS. 



seeds and lose such a large proportion, which would be the result if we should plant in the 

 same manner. Our weeds are prolific, very tenacious of life, and able to propagate themselves 

 under the most unfavorable circumstances; otherwise they would not be generally known as 

 weeds. Most of our troublesome weeds are of foreign origin, the seeds being brought here by 

 accident. The larger part thus introduced have lived for a season and perished unnoticed, while 

 the hardiest became naturalized. If the florist would be satisfied with only the most hardy and 

 prolific flowers, such as would take care of themselves, then he might pursue a careless system 

 of planting and cultivation, and fill his grounds with Dandelions and Poppies ; but he craves 



flowers that are not natural to our climate those that 

 flourish in warmer climes and under more genial skies 

 their dazzling beauty, their delicious fragrance, must be 

 _ secured at almost any cost of tune and labor. This is well ; 

 ; but having made up our minds to possess the treasures, we 

 must pay the price we must study their habits and treat 

 them accordingly. None need feel alarmed at these 

 remarks, or think themselves incompetent to the charge of such choice plants without hot-beds, 

 green-houses and professional gardeners. We have known ladies, who, with but little preten- 

 sions, equaled the most distinguished florists. There seemed to be magic in their fingers, and 

 everything they touched flourished. It is true that a hot-bed, if properly managed, is of great 

 aid in effecting the germination of seeds, and it is well all should know why this is so. 



7 



PROTECTED BV POTS. 



