620 HOME AND HOUSEHOLD. 



an inch deep ; those the size of a pin head, half an inch ; those 

 as large as a pea, one inch. After making the soil as fine as 

 possible with a rake, press it firmly over the seed. For the 

 smaller seed, make the soil still finer, by crushing the lumps 

 with the hands. Obtain a piece of planed lath, about two feet 

 long ; press the edge down into the soil evenly, so as to make a 

 groove as deep as the seed is to be planted. Scatter the seed 

 along this, allowing four or five of the larger, or fifteen or 

 twenty of the smaller, seed to the space which one plant is to 

 occupy when grown. Take care not to spill any of the seed 

 between the rows. Cover the seed by filling the earth over 

 it ; then turn the lath flatwise and press the soil down firmly 

 and evenly. Put a little stick at the end of the row to 

 mark it, and do not pull plants out of the row unless sure 

 that they are weeds. Cultivate flowers that are hardy ; such as 

 peonies, petunias, phlox, asters, zinnias, etc., putting one kind in 

 each of the small oval beds cut out here and there on the lawn ; 

 or else use some high-growing plant in the centre, and low ones 

 around the borders of the beds, which should be raised a few 

 inches toward the centre. 



Select such colors as blend nicely, and give them good care. 

 Where possible, flower gardens should be located so as to be 

 shaded from the afternoon sun. Large beds should be avoided, 

 unless abundant time and care can be bestowed upon them. For 

 borders, use bricks set edgewise, large, smooth pebbles, or narrow 

 plank. Strips of turf, if well clipped, make a pretty border. 

 Spade the beds very deep and mix manure, sand, and rotted 

 leaves with the soil, raising the dressing a little above the sur- 

 face. 



All flowers raised from seed are classified as annuals, bien- 

 nials, and perennials. Annuals are those plants that last but 

 one season. After blossoming they perish, their kind being 

 reproduced from seed. This class of plants is again divided 

 into the hardy and half-hardy, or tender, kinds. Hardy annuals 

 require no artificial heat, every stage of their development being 

 passed in the open ground. They are easily cultivated. There 

 are many varieties, and their flowers are attractive and beau- 

 tiful. The seeds may be sown from the first of April to the 

 middle of June. Care should be taken to arrange the different 



