THE SUMMER FLOWER-GARDEN. 



second thinning will be of great benefit to those that remain. If the growth is not strong, from the 

 nature of the soil, apply occasionally a very small amount of guano or bone-dust. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



Presuming that many cultivators will sow their seeds in prepared beds, whence the plants are 

 to be removed to the borders to bloom, it is necessary that the work should be carefully per- 

 formed to insure success. Transplanting should, if possible, always be done in cloudy weather, and 

 towards evening. If the soil is dry, the plants will require a light watering to settle the earth around 

 the roots ; and, if warm sunny days succeed the operation, they will root all the better to have a little 

 shade for a day or two, which may be done by spreading an old newspaper over them, or covering 

 with a mat, removing either at night. All large-growing plants should be transplanted singly ; but 

 many of the smaller may be removed in patches, without any trouble, if the soil is previously well 

 watered. VVe have found very little difficulty in moving Zinnias, Asters, and smaller plants, after 

 they have begun to bloom. After the plants are established, they will need no oth;r care than to 

 tie up the taller-growing sorts to stakes to prevent the wind and rains from beating them down to 

 the grovmd, and injuring their blossoms. 



HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. 



We have already remarked that half hardy annuals are those that require the aid of artificial heat 

 to assist germination ; but it should be remarked that this is not absolutely necessary if the sowing 

 is deferred until the grouud is wann, — say the last of May. This is e.xemplified in the Portulaca, 

 which sows itself : but the plants never appear above ground till June; and those who do not wish 

 the trouble of sowing seed early should plant in open groiind in iSIay. But to gain time, and insure 

 an early and abundant bloom, it is best to plant early, and assist the growth by a gentle artificial 

 heat. Some of the most magnificent annuals are embraced in this class, of which the Aster, Zinnia, 

 and Balsam are examples. The cheapest, most convenient, and simplest mode of doing this is the 

 ordinary hotbed of stable manure, which gives a gentle bottom-heat quite sufficient for any of this class. 

 Its construction is simple, and generally understood by most owners of a garden ; but, as there 

 may be some of our readers who do not know how to make a good hotbed, we add the details at the 

 close of our remarks, observing, however, that it is so valuable an aid in the forwarding of flowers 

 as well as vegetables, that no one having a garden can well dispense with it. 



Presuming that the bed is made and all ready for use, the seeds may be sown on the prepared 

 soil, just the same as in the open ground, ar>d afterwards transplanted to the borders ; but, as this 

 is often attended with many failures in inexperienced hands, it is the safest to sow the seeds in 

 pots or pans ; if in neither of these, in shallow boxes. The pots should be about four or five inches 

 m diameter, and should be perfectly clean. The soil should consist of a uniform compost of 

 light, sandy loam, enriched with some fine leaf-mould, avoiding any raw or crude manures, which 

 are certain to injure the young plants. Put in a few crocks at the boftom of each pot for drainage, 

 and fill to the brim with the compost, giving the pot one or two gentle knocks on the bottom to 

 settle the earth, which should be within half an -inch of the rim. Level the surface bv gently 

 pressing it with the bottom of a pot, or a circular piece of wood made for the purpose, as this will 

 not only be beneficial to the seeds, but assist in distributing them more evenly and regularly 

 over the soil. Observe the same rules in regard to covering that we have already named. Some 

 kinds will need nothing more than a thin sprinkling of earth just to fairly cover the seeds ; and 

 each pot should have the surface again gently pressed down : a slight watering with a very fine 

 rose will complete the operation of sowing. 



When all the pots are filled and planted, and marked as they should be with the name of each, 

 and date of sowing, upon a neat label, remove them at once to the hotbed or frame, and place them 

 perfectly level, so that each pot may receive its proper proportion of water evenly over the surface. 

 If there are but a few pots, and a greenhouse is at hand, they may have a place on a sunny shelf 

 near the glass, shading them during the middle of the day. Shading will also be necessary in the 

 hotbed The temperature should not exceed 75° or 80", or the seeds will germinate too quick, and 

 be drawn up weakly. As the seedlings appear above ground, give air by tilting the sashes at the 

 back. Give water as the pots require it (which is usually once a day), and always of the same tem- 

 perature of the bed, and be careful in the operation not to wash away or destroy the young and 

 slender seedlings. During cold nights, a mat may be thrown over the frame, which will prevent 

 the loss of heat, and maintain a more even temperature. As some of the seeds will make their 

 appearance before others, those that appear above ground should be placed together towards the 

 back of the frame, where they can have a greater abundance of air and be more freely watered than 

 the others. As the plants acquire a proper size, they should be thinned out so as not to injure 

 those that remain ; and then, when farther advanced, should be transplanted into four-inch pots, 

 — one, three, or five plants in each, according to the variety, — using a compost similar to that in 

 which they were sown, replacing the pots in the bed, and shading slightly till they are well estab- 

 lished, and able to bear the full sun. Those that are later in vegetating should be treated in the 

 same manner, until all are transplanted, unless it is such kinds as will not bear removal safely ; and 

 must be allowed to remain in the pot in which they were sown, thinning them out, so that not more 

 than three or five plants are ?eft. The Cypress-vine, Thunbergia, &c., are of this character. 



By the middle of May, the seedlings will be ready for transferring to the beds or borders where 

 they are to bloom ; but, before this is done, the plants should be " hardened off," as it is termed, 

 in order to prepare them for the change. This is effected by gradually giving the plants more air, 

 and when the weather is favorable, both day and night, removing the sashes wholly during the day ; 

 or, if more convenient, removing them to a cold fi-ame, where they can be fully exposed in the day- 

 time, and protected at night, if cold, with a covering of mats. Much must be left to the judgment 

 of the cultivator and the amount of available space, the object being to prevent the plants from 

 being injured by a too sudden exposure to the open air. Proceed in transplanting as we have 

 already recommended under that head for hardy annuals. 



