186 GARDENING FOR YOUNG AND OLD. 



appear, place them in a sunny window; they grow 

 slowly at first, and will require very little water the 

 warmer the room, and the brighter the sun, the more wa- 

 ter will they need. When the plants are well out of the 

 seed leaf, or at any rate before they begin to crowd, or to 

 run up too tall, transplant them into a larger box, placing 

 them at least an inch apart. The plants should not be 

 set out in the garden until the weather is quite warm, 

 and all danger of frost is past. If they should get too 

 large in the boxes, it is a good plan to set them out in 

 two-inch flower pots. Plunge the pots in a box of moist 

 earth, or of moss, and after they have got over the check 

 from transplanting, place them in a sunny window. 

 Water moderately, and always with warm water, say 

 aboufc as warm as new milk. For a week before setting 

 out in the open ground, the plants should be gradually 

 hardened by placing the boxes on the south side of a 

 building for an hour or two, during the middle of the day, 

 and gradually extending the time until they can be left 

 out all night with safety. 



The bed for Verbenas should be a light, dry, warm soil, 

 thoroughly enriched, and quite mellow; water the plants 

 thoroughly with warm water before removing them from 

 the boxes, or pots; disturb the roots as little as possible, 

 and set them about fifteen inches apart, and just deep 

 enough to bring the lower leaves level with the surface. 

 Press the soil firmly around the roots, and if need be, 

 shade the plants for a few hours during the heat of the 

 day, until the plants recover from the effects of trans- 

 planting. Keep the bed well hoed, and free from weeds, 

 and it will be a source of great interest and pleasure. 

 You never know just what you will get, and it is inter- 

 esting to watch the plants as they come into flower. You 

 will be sure to have a great variety of all shades of color, 

 and if the seeds are good, you will be certain of an ample 

 reward for all your labor. 



