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Gardening for Amateurs 



Flower Seeds to Sow in Autumn 



THERE are several points in favour 

 of sowing numerous kinds of annuals 

 in autumn. The most important is 

 that the plants flower earlier, and having 

 had a longer growing season than those 

 sown in spring, they have better roots, 

 and invariably become larger and more 

 robust plants. The subject of sowing 

 of annuals towards the end of August, 

 during September, and early October is 

 most conveniently referred to under three 

 divisions, based upon consideration of the 

 situation, soil, and kinds selected for sowing. 

 In Light, Sandy Soil. Seeds of annuals 

 should be sown in autumn where they are 

 to flower only when the soil is light and well- 

 drained. The ground should be deeply dug 

 and manured. Tread fairly firmly, rake 

 the surface level, and break up all lumps 

 fine. The usual method when sowing seeds 

 where they are to flower is to scatter them 

 broadcast over the ground, that is, thinly 

 and evenly all on the surface, not in lines, 

 raking over the surface afterwards to cover 

 the seeds. Should the ground be occupied 

 with other plants when the seed sowing time 

 arrives, a vacant piece of ground in some 

 other part of the garden must be utilised 

 for raising the seedlings ; these are trans- 

 ferred to the flowering place during favour- 

 able weather in March or early April. 



In Heavy Soil. Annuals usually grow 

 and flower well on heavy soil which is well 

 cultivated. If, however, seeds are sown 

 there in autumn the losses among seedlings 

 will be heavy during winter. The difficulty 

 may be readily overcome by raising the plants 

 on a warm, sheltered border, and moving 

 them to the flowering positions in spring. 

 For convenience in lifting sow the seeds in 

 drills (straight lines), 1| inches deep, made 

 with a hoe about 1 foot apart. Cover the 

 seeds by raking the surface level after 

 sowing. 



In a Gold Frame. The cold frame is 

 frequently used for the protection of 

 hardy annuals in winter. The garden is, 

 perhaps, much exposed, slugs, snails, and 

 cats may be troublesome, or the atmospheric 



conditions bad, as, for example, near a large 

 town, or, as in the case of new sorts of Sweet 

 Peas, the seeds are too precious to risk out- 

 side. Use shallow boxes or pans, place 

 ample drainage in the bottom, and fill with 

 sandy soil. Sow thinly so that the seedlings 

 do not crowd and spoil one another when 

 growing, A layer of ashes 6 inches deep 

 in the bottom of the frame on which to stand 

 the boxes is one of the best precautions to 

 take against slugs. Small pots are preferable 

 for Sweet Pea seeds. It should not be 

 forgotten that the annuals are hardy, and 

 after they have germinated admit air freely 

 on every favourable opportunity ; finally, 

 in spring the lights should be removed 

 altogether, and the plants put out during 

 April where they are to flower. 



Too much stress cannot be laid on sowing 

 seeds thinly. In the first instance, it is 

 absolute waste to sow seeds thickly, while 

 when crowded together the seedlings soon 

 become " drawn " and sickly. Small seeds 

 are more readily distributed evenly over 

 the surface if mixed with sand. Another 

 important matter is the thinning of the 

 seedlings, especially when seeds are sown 

 out of doors. Some people leave at least 

 double the number that the space can really 

 accommodate, thinking thereby to obtain 

 a brighter display of flowers. Never was a 

 greater mistake made. To develop fully the 

 plants must have ample space. The thinning 

 is done by degrees : some of the seedlings are 

 pulled up in autumn, others in March, and a 

 final thinning is generally necessary during 

 April. 



Seeds to Sow. The following annuals 

 do not transplant readily, and should be 

 sown where they are to flower : Poppies, 

 Larkspur, Eschscholtzia, and Nigella (Love- 

 in-a-Mist). A selection of delightful annuals 

 which may be autumn SOWTI where they are 

 to flower, or on a reserve border to be trans- 

 planted later, include Clarkia, Godetia, Col- 

 linsia, Candytuft, Annual Chrysanthemum, 

 Coreopsis tinctoria, CornfloAver, Scabious, 

 Sweet Sultan, the Pot Marigold, and Sweet 

 Alyssum. 



