64 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



sprout, and then planted in -warm soil in a sunny 

 situation. Or if this is not convenient and it is pre- 

 ferred to plant direct in the open ground after the 

 nights and soil are warm, then they should be 

 dropped thinly in a shallow drill and hot water 

 poured over them before filling in the earth ; this will 

 make several days' difference in the germination 

 period. 



Asters will make much finer plants if transplanted 

 once at least before being set where they are to grow, 

 and balsams will not give the fine, double blossoms 

 desired if they are not transplanted once at least. 

 On the other hand, some annuals will not bear trans- 

 planting at all, so must be sown where they are to 

 bloom, as the various annual poppies. The perennial 

 forms, however, transplant readily. 



In planting canna, the seed, which is very hard, 

 should have a hole filed or sandpapered on one side 

 and then be soaked in hot water until the inner shell 

 bursts. It should then be planted in pots, plunged 

 into the hotbed or a box of sand in a warm window 

 and grown until time to plant out where it is to re- 

 main. Re-pot if the plant requires it. Many an- 

 nuals are greatly benefited by the use of marsh earth 

 or muck in the bed. Especially is this the case with 

 the salvia, which grows to unguessed proportions 

 under this stimulus. This, if old, may be spread over 

 the beds and spaded in, but if fresh a hole should be 



