284 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



exception of a few particular sorts, all will derive great benefit 

 from being transplanted. It will check the natural exuberance 

 of their growth, and promote the production of flowers." * "I 

 am convinced," says Mr. M'Meekin, head-gardener formerly to 

 the Agri-Horticultural Society, " that annuals in this country 

 are improved by transplanting." 



It must be observed, however, that the season here is of so 

 much shorter duration for Annuals to mature their growth in 

 than it is in Europe, as well as the length of the day so much 

 shorter, that many cannot allow of the check to their growth 

 which a transplanting always more or less causes. As a general 

 rule for guidance in this matter, I have observed, with regard 

 to all herbaceous plants, as well as Annuals, that those which 

 love a rich, damp soil, such as Mimulus, Nemophila, German 

 Aster, Cineraria, Balsams, &c., in no way suffer, but are rather 

 benefited by transplantation ; while those plants the natural 

 locality of which is a dry, arid soil, such as Lupins, Portulaca, 

 Poppy, Eschscholtzia, Mignonette, &c., suffer severely and often 

 irrecoverably from the process. 



Seeds of Annuals, such as it has been stated suffer too great a 

 check from being transplanted, may, especially when seed is 

 plentiful, be very advantageously sown at once in the border on 

 the spot where they are to remain. The following excellent 

 directions, given by Sir J. Paxton on the subject, apply equally 

 well in this country as in Europe^ 



" Make the soil fine with the hand. With the finger draw a 

 circular drill of about six inches in diameter, and one inch or less 

 deep. Cover the seeds lightly with moist soil. Place an inverted 

 flower-pot over them, and allow it to remain till the seeds begin to 

 grow. Then prop it on one side two or three inches high, until the 

 plants are able to bear the weather. Afterwards remove it alto- 

 gether." | 



The seed must not be cast merely on the hard, dry soil of the 

 border, but a little mellow leaf-mould or old well-decayed cow- 

 manure be mixed up with the soil on the spots where the 

 sowings are to be made. 



Annuals in the border require daily watering. The plan of 

 flooding the border in the Upper Provinces is very prejudicial 



* ' Magazine of Botany,' vol. vi. p. 96. 

 t ' Botanical Magazine,' vol. i. p. 19. 



