CHAPTER VI 



BEDDING PLANTS FROM SEED 



A VERT decided saving in the season's outlay for 

 the garden can be made by growing one's own bedding 

 plants from seed. Many of the bedding plants pur- 

 chased from the florists are quit^ as easily grown from 

 seed as from cuttings, and will usually make a more 

 vigorous growth than when subjected to the change 

 from a heated greenhouse to the open ground. At 

 any rate, the saving in expense is well worth con- 

 sidering, as a hundred plants may be raised from seed 

 for what one would pay for a dozen pot plants. 



Coleus is easily raised from seed sown in hotbed 

 or flats, the seed germinating quickly and the plants 

 growing finely from the start. A good many new 

 shades and markings may be expected, and as the 

 plants twill be showing individuality by the time 

 they should go into permanent beds, one can readily 

 select those which most appeal to one, and discard 

 the undesirable ones. No special care is required in 

 sowing the seed. Cover an eighth of an inch deep, 

 pressing the soil firmly above it, water carefully, 



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