178 GAKDEKI^G FOB YOUKG AKD OLD. 



better and quicker, and you are better able to see the 

 plants, and hoe around them, before the weeds begin to 

 be troublesome. Hoe frequently, and suffer not a weed 

 to grow, and when the plants are fairly established, take 

 out all but one in a place. Nothing more will be required, 

 except to keep the bed entirely free from weeds. 



Drummond's Phlox is so easily grown in this way that 

 I hardly like to suggest any other method of cultivation, 

 and before doing so, I should like to exact a promise from 

 all my young friends, that they will sow a large bed in 

 the way just mentioned, whether they do or do not adopt 

 the plan I am now about to describe. The truth is, no 

 one ever raised half enough of Drummond's Phlox, and 

 the following plan will give you a fine lot of early plants, 

 which you can raise to excellent purpose, while the bed 

 grown from seed sown out of doors, will give you a glori- 

 ous display of beautiful flowers, from the middle of July 

 until cut down by frost. 



This Phlox can be transplanted as easily as a cabbage, 

 and nothing is easier than to raise a fine lot of plants in 

 the house or hot-bed. 



About the middle of March sow a box of Phlox seed 

 in rows, one inch apart, dropping two or three seeds to 

 each inch of row; cover the seed about a quarter of an 

 inch deep with sifted dry moss, or less than half that depth 

 with sifted sand, or mould. Before sowing the seed, the 

 mould in the box should be thoroughly watered with 

 blood-warm water. Until the plants appear, all that will 

 be necessary to do is, to sprinkle on a little warm water 

 to keep the surface moist; when the plants appear, especi- 

 ally if the room is warm, and the weather bright and 

 sunny, they will require a little water every day. Be 

 careful not to give too much water. Before the plants 

 begin to crowd each other, transplant them into a larger 

 box, or boxes, in rows two inches apart, and the plants 

 an inch apart in the row. The soil should be thoroughly 



