80 RECORD OF HOKTICULTUEE. 



has become Perennial. Again, many kinds wliieh we class 

 as Annuals in our severe climate are Perennials in their 

 native ones. 



Our florists" generally divide the Annuals into three 

 classes : 1st, Hardy Annuals, such as will withstand great 

 extremes of weather, even to a light frost. 2d, Half hardy, 

 which are liable to injury by sudden changes, besides re- 

 quiring extra care in regard to soil and culture. 3d, Ten- 

 der Annuals ; these thrive very poorly in the open air, con- 

 sequently require protection, either by being planted in a 

 sheltered situation or grown in the house. 



These divisions are somewhat imaginary, because the 

 difference between the climate of different States is often 

 greater than is the constitution of the plants of the three 

 classes. A plant may be a tender Annual in Maine, but 

 quite hardy in Georgia, therefore purchaser of seeds, in 

 making selections from florists' catalogues, should take into 

 consideration the fact that the signs H. A., H. H. A., and 

 T. A. may have been affixed to these plants in a far dif- 

 ferent climate than their own. 



The chief points to be observed in cultivating Annuals 

 is to have a properly prepared soil, because a large propor- 

 tion of the seeds are very small, and will not admit of 

 being buried deeply ; especially in a soil that will become 

 hard and compact after every shower. The soil should be 

 thoroughly pulverized and the surface raked evenly, and 

 all lumps and stones carefully removed. A liberal top- 

 dressing of sand, saw-dust, leaf^mold, or fibrous muck will 

 assist very materially in making the soil suitable for the 

 reception of small and delicate seeds. In situations where 



