CULTIVATION OF ANNUALS 7 



This is an age of cheapness, and most people en- 

 deavour to obtain as much as possible for the money they 

 spend. This is all very well if quality rather than 

 bulk or number is considered. But low-priced seeds are 

 often the dearest. Just as much time and labour are neces- 

 sary for cultivating plants of a poor, weedy strain of Annuals 

 as those of a fine one that are the result of years of skilful 

 selection or breeding ; consequently, a strain will give the 

 best possible return for the care we bestow upon the seed- 

 lings. Happily, nowadays it is possible to purchase a small 

 packet of a good strain of seeds for the same price as a 

 large packet of inferior strain. 



Avoid thick sowing. How many times, I wonder, has the 

 advice " Do not sow too thickly," been given ? Beyond all 

 computation. Such advice is excellent, but " too thickly," 

 like "too wet" and "too dry," are terms that convey little 

 to the novice, although they are fairly well understood when 

 used by experienced cultivators. Mustard and Cress, for 

 salad purposes, are usually sown as thickly as the seeds can be 

 placed in one layer, but the end in view is not to obtain sturdy 

 plants to branch freely, flower profusely, and last in beauty 

 the Summer through. Even the cleverest growers find it 

 difficult to sow seeds of Annuals as thinly as they should 

 be sown. The germinating power of purchased seeds is 

 higher now than ever it was, therefore there is no need 

 to allow any considerable margin for failure. The allowance 

 should be larger for outdoor than for indoor sowings, because 

 unpropitious weather and such enemies as slugs have to 

 be taken into account. If, when sowing seeds, we always 

 remembered that every seedling should have room to fully 

 open out its seed-leaves without let or hindrance from its 

 neighbours, there would be far fewer mistakes made. Even 

 more space than this should be allowed unless time and 

 conveniences can be provided for promptly pricking off the 



