22 ANNUAL FLOWER SEEDS. 



plants only, as are most congenial to bis peculiar soil and 

 situation. 



Previous to digging flower beds or borders, care must be 

 taken that they be so arranged as to lay rather highest in 

 the middle ; this is essential to the draining off a redun- 

 dancy of water, as well as to the exhibition of plants to the 

 greatest possible advantage. 



All kinds of annual flower seeds may be sown in the 

 month of April and May, on borders or beds of pulverized 

 earth ; the beds should be levelled, and the seeds sown 

 either in small patches, each kind by itself, or in drills from 

 an eighth to half an inch deep, according to the size or 

 nature of the seed. Lupins, Peas, &c, should be planted 

 about half an inch deep. Those who would have their plants 

 to flower early, should sow the hardy kinds the last week in 

 March, or early in April. Those varieties marked thus j" 

 and thus § may be sown in boxes, or pots of light earth, at 

 the same time. These, if exposed to the sun every day, and 

 sheltered in cold nights, will be forwarded in growth and be 

 fit to transplant early in June, Those marked # , may be 

 also sown in small pots, and as these plants do not bear 

 transplanting, they should be turned out of the pots with the 

 balls of eartli entire, and placed in the ground where they 

 are intended to flower ; or, if the seed be sown in a bed with 

 other kinds, they should be carefully transplanted with a 

 trowel, without disturbing their roots. 



The most eligible way to obtain early flowers is to prepare 

 a slight hot- bed for the tender kinds, (see calendar for Janu- 

 ary) and either to plunge the pots therein up to their brims, 

 or to sow the seed in the earth in shallow drills, not more 

 than a quarter of an inch deep. It may be necessary to state 

 that although in favourable seasons, flower seed in general 

 will come up in from one to three weeks after it is sown, 

 the seed of Cypress vine will not grow until settled warm 

 weather, unless in a hot bed ; it should then be partially 

 scalded in water, previous to sowing it. 



