214 HOME FLORICULTURE 



order to keep the weeds down, you will be obliged 

 to work at them late and early, for they grow so 

 rapidly that they soon overcome the flowers if left 

 to themselves. Neglect your beds for two weeks and 

 you will be surprised to see what a start the weeds 

 have got in them. They will tower above the flowering 

 plants, and assert themselves everywhere with a see- 

 what-I-can-do-if-you-give-me-a-chance air that chal- 

 lenges your admiration for their pluck and aggressive- 

 ness, notwithstanding your dislike for them. 



Thin out your plants wherever they stand too 

 thick, but do not throw any away until you know 

 that no one would care for what you have no use for. 

 It is a good plan to have a corner of the garden in 

 which to set surplus plants, for cutting from. * 



Some persons like to start their seeds early in 

 the season, in the house. In doing this care must be 

 taken to give plenty of air, and to prevent the plants 

 from becoming weak and spindling by reason of too 

 much heat and moisture. Give just enough water to 

 keep the soil moist, and as little artificial heat as 

 possible. On sunny days put the boxes on the veranda, 

 but bring in before the sun goes down and the air 

 gets chilly. If you give plenty of air, sun, and not 

 too much water, you can raise good, strong plants 

 in this way, but if they are not strong and healthy 

 at the time of transplanting to the garden beds, they 

 will lag along and come out behind those raised from 

 seed sown directly in the beds. I prefer to sow most 

 annuals in the beds, because the labor is less, the results 

 are more likely to be satisfactory, and as a general thing 

 the plants grown in this way are quite as early in 

 flowering as those which have been started in boxes 

 or pots, even if they have had the proper 'kind of 

 treatment. This being the case, I cannot see that 

 one gains by starting plants in the house. 



