FLOWER-GARDENING. 29 



To prevent disappointment, I would recommend that great 

 care be taken to keep the seed-beds as clear from weeds as 

 possible. It cannot be denied that young plants are apt to get 

 smothered, and sometimes pulled up with weeds. To obviate 

 this, I would suggest that the seed be sown in shallow drills, 

 each kind by itself; and that an account be kept of the con- 

 tents of each drill in a book ; also of all seeds that are sown at 

 different times ; and by being particular in the dates, you may 

 always know when to expect your plants to come up. Those 

 persons totally unacquainted with plants will, by this means, 

 be enabled to identify each particular kind, and thus become 

 familiarly acquainted with them. 



These pots may be either marked with letters or figures on 

 the outside, to answer with the book, or notches may be cut in 

 wood, or other labels afiixed to the pots, and entered accord- 

 ingly. 



If these numbers be continued to one hundred, or even one 

 thousand, there can be no mistake, provided the rows are all 

 marked according to the entry in the book; or if No. 1 be 

 noted, plain sticks will answer afterwards, if one be stuck at 

 each end of every row. In this case it would be well to leave 

 a space every ten or twenty rows, and note the number of rows. 

 By this means they can be more easily traced. 



Some species of Dwarf Annuals, such as Sweet Alyssum, 

 Candytuft, Clarkia Pulchella, Mignonette, Pimpernell, and such 

 others as grow not over a foot in height, may be cultivated in 

 small beds, either separate or two or three kinds mixed toge- 

 ther. Clarkia Pulchella suits very well with Mignonette, as it 

 will thrive in moderately poor soil, which is the best adapted 

 for that plant when fragrance is an object. 



MANAGEMENT OF VARIOUS KINDS OF FLOWERS. 



The best way to manage the mixed species is to level a 

 narrow border of rather poor soil, and sow it all over with 

 Mignonette, then with Clarkia Pulchella. When the plants 



