1871. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



235 



acting as chairman of the committee appointed by 

 the New Yoi-k State Agriciiltural Society, in 1870, 

 at Utica, to decide upon the relative value of agri- 

 cultural implements other than mowers and reap- 

 ers. He was also a member of the committee of 

 the U. S. Agricultural Society at the trial of mowers 

 and reapers at Utica, in 1857, and served upon a 

 similar committee of the N. Y., State Agricultural 

 Society, at Auburn, in 1866. 



His funeral services were held in the Hall of 

 Representatives, and President Abbott of the Agii- 

 cultural College pronounced a fitting eulogium of 

 the moral and mental qualities of the deceased. 

 He was alluded to as a man of great purity of soul 

 and purpose, and one who possessed a high-toned 

 religious fiiith and trust. Tlie Michigan Farmer 

 closes a notice of the death of Mr. Howard with 

 the following sentence : — 



Mild and quiet in manner, and studious in habit, 

 he was not one tliat acquired wealth, and while he 

 helped others and became interested in their labors ; 

 he was not selfish, and derived but little benefit 

 from his labors beyond the satisfaction of knowing 

 that he had aided in the increase of a correct 

 knowledge of the practice and principles of agri- 

 culture, and that he had done something to render 

 it a nobler pursuit than it was when he first en- 

 tered upon its study. 



SOWING FLOWER SEEDS. 



A taste for the cultivation of flowers, both in- 

 doors and out, has been gradually increasing for 

 several years past. Very many of the farm houses 

 are now graced with the presence of cultivated 

 flowers, as well as those of the villagers and city 

 people. That they have a wholesome and refining 

 influence, in many respects, none will doubt. 



AVe cannot now, however, be enticed away by 

 the charms of the subject from our purpose, which 

 is to say what our experience has been in relation 

 to the sowing of seed for flowers. 



Quite one-half of all the flower seeds sown, we 

 have no doubt, never come up. The reason for 

 this is imputed to bad seed. No doubt but there 

 is abundant reason for complaint on this score, but 

 the disappointment arises as often from mistake in 

 the manner of sowing as from all other causes 

 combined. Most flower seeds are quite small, and 

 consequently pevish quickly if in gi-ound which is 

 too moist. On the other hand, if the}' lie too near 

 the surface, and exposed to the direct rays of the 

 sun, they soon lose their moisture, and with that 

 their power of germination. 



Time of Soaving. — This will depend in the first 

 place upon the condition of the soil. There will 

 be a difference in seasons of two weeks in this par- 

 ticular. The hardy annuals, such as asters, lark- 

 spur, clarkia, candytufts, &c., may be sown in 

 April, during the first half of the month, some 

 seasons, but generally with gi-eater success during 

 the last half of the month. The half hardy, such 

 as will not bear a hard frost, as the balsam, mari- 

 gold, cockscomb, &c., ought not to be sowed in the 



open ground sooner than from the first to the last 

 of May. 



By observing these rules, we have succeeded in 

 getting fine flowers of the tender annuals, such as 

 the cypress vine, sensitive plant, ice plant, &c. 



Preparation of the Soil. — When this is suffi- 

 ciently diy so as to fall to pieces upon being re- 

 moved, dig it thoronghly, rake it and dig again, 

 until no lumps remain, then pat the surface gently 

 with the back of the spade, in order to press the 

 particles together and to get a level surfiice for the 

 seeds to fall upon. 



Sowing. — Strew the seeds over the impression 

 made by the spade, and then sift fine soil o\ ex X^x^m., 

 to the depth of a sixteenth to an eighth of an inch, 

 and gently press it down with the back of the spade. 



MARKING. — Now split at the top the little pine 

 sticks, four or five inches long, which you have 

 prepared, place the paper from which the seeds 

 were taken into the split, and the lower end of the 

 stick into the centre of the spot where the seeds 

 were sown. This will remain there as a record, 

 until autumnal frosts have nipped the flowers, and 

 there is no longer occasion for these sticks. 



Covering the Seeds. — Take a piece of paper a 

 little larger than the space covered by the seeds, 

 lay it over them and place a handful of earth on 

 each comer, and the work is done. This will keep 

 out the dii'ect raj'S of the sun, prevent excessive 

 evaporation, and also the rain from breaking up the 

 even surface of the soil. 



The coming of the seeds must be watched, and 

 as the young plants grow up, the comers of the 

 paper may be brought together a little, which will 

 raise it in the centre, get it out of the way, and 

 also admit light and air. 



As the plants grow, the soil must be kept in a 

 proper degree of moisture, and then an abundant 

 crop of beautiful flowers may be expected. 



Last year we planted some forty varieties of 

 flower seeds, most of whicli were from the well 

 kno\vn house of the Messrs. Hovey, of Boston. 

 Out of about forty varieties, there were only three 

 which did not come up. 



liTEW PUBLICATIOIfS, 



Money in the Garden. A Vegetable Manual, pre- 

 pared with a view to Economy and Profit. By P. T. 

 Quinn, Practical Hortic-ulturi.'t. New York: The 

 Tribune Association. 1871. 268 pages. Price $1.50. 



The unpopularity of book-farming is not charge- 

 able entirely to the prejudices of practical men. 

 Most of our early works on agriculture and horti- 

 culture were compiled by men who knew more 

 about handling the pen than about real work, and 

 it is not therefore strange that many of their sug- 

 gestions and much of their advice should have 

 been found impracticable by the man of toil and 

 small means. As practical working men become 

 l)ook makers, — as our teachers tell us their own 

 practice and detail their own methods, this preju- 

 dice against book-farming disappears. 



The author of "Money in the Garden" is one 



