THE GENESEE FARMER. 



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Xaklm' Dfpiirtmcnt. 



We Lave the pleasure of informing the lovers of flowers that our collection of seeds 

 arrived a few days since, and we are having them carefully put up in packages suitable 

 for distribution, and all applicants will receive them by mail before the 1st of April. 

 Mr. ViLMORiN informs us that although the last season was unfavorable fo'- --, '• 'f^ 

 flower seeds, and consequently he was able only to send us small cm^'^'i ' '^' " ™^ {l*; 

 we ordered, yet he forwarded the finest collection ever h-^ r^^ ,? ^^"^ country. VV e 



-^n gratified at this, as one object we 



had in view was to distribute much better seed 

 than are usually kept at our seed stores. We 

 want no better evidence than the three thou- 

 sand applications already received aftbrd us, 

 that a love of flowers — a love of the beautiful 

 creations of nature — is rapidly increasing. 

 While the farmer increases his crops of grain, 

 of roots and grass, by a wise system of culture, 

 that enlarges the product without injuring the 

 soil, and the farmer's wife improves the quality 

 of butter and cheese, a few hours by either will 

 not be idly spent in caring for the beautiful 

 flowers of the field, created by infinite wisdom 

 to refine the taste and gladden the heart. Du- 

 ring the spring we shall give descriptions of 

 the best annuals, and also directions for culti- 

 vation. The present month we give a figure 

 of the Ten Weeks Stock. The plant grows 

 fi'om one to two feet high, with an erect 

 branching stem, hoary leaves, and long spikes 

 of flowers ; the size and richness of these flow- 

 ers vary greatly in the difierent varieties, and 

 some of them are very splendid. The species 

 is a native of the South of Europe by the sea- 

 shore, whence it was introduced in 1731 ; but 

 the principal varieties have been originated in 

 England and Germany. The German varie- 

 ties are particularly beautiful. 



For very early flowers, a few plants may be 

 raised in a hot-bed, or in a pot in the house, to 

 be transplanted into the open ground as soon 

 as the weather is suflSciently warm. For sow- 

 ing in the open ground, the soil should be dug 

 deep and very finely pulverized with the rake. 

 The seed may then be sown in drills, and 

 slightly covered with fine earth. As soon as 

 the plants show the third pair of leaves, if too 

 thick in the bed, they may be carefully transplanted, leaving the plants in the bed about 

 ten inches apart. Transplanting should be done on a damp day. If the plants are 

 large, they should be removed without disturbing the roots. If much exposed to the 

 wind, it may be necessary to tie them to a stake. 



"^■rsr 



GERMAN TEN WEEKS STOCK. 



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