116 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



much better adapted for blooming through the entire 

 summer months than those sown in autumn. When 

 sown in August or September, we find it a good plan to 

 shade the seed-bed by shutters made of laths or protect- 

 ing cloth, or some such partial shading, for four or five 

 hours during the day, while the sun is hot, but they 

 should never be sown in, or kept in, exclusive shade. 

 This is true of nearly all kinds of seeds. 



Petunias, being of rapid growth, will flower the first 

 season, even if sown in the open ground, but usually not 

 before July or August. If sown in the hot-bed or green- 

 house in January, February or March, they will bloom 

 in April, May or June, and make larger and finer plants. 

 If wanted for summer blooming, and not to sell when in 

 flower, the seed should not be sown before the middle of 

 April. 



Dianthus. The Pinks are numerous and varied, many 

 of them having a rich, clove-like fragrance. They present 

 an endless variety in color and style of flower. 



Sul via splendens, or Scarlet Sage. Seeds of this sown 

 in April will flower by July or August, and continue 

 throughout the season. This, perhaps, is the most gor- 

 geous plant of our gardens; single plants often attain a 

 height of six feet, and nearly as much in diameter, hav- 

 ing a hundred scarlet, plume-like, flower-spikes. The 

 color is so intense when seen against a green background, 

 that it is often visible at a distance of half a mile. 



Verbena. This is yet one of the most popular plants 

 of the day ; it is easily raised from seed, and no other 

 plant that we know of will so well reward the trouble. The 

 number of varieties now attained is something wonderful, 

 even to us in the trade. Every year develops some new 

 strain. Every color seemingly is obtained but yellow or 

 orange ; these we never expect to have, as there seems to be 

 a natural law of the floral kingdom that blue, yellow and 



