60 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



but should be planted in tbe hotbed or flat and kept 

 warm and not planted out until the ground is warm 

 — probably the first of June in the north. The 

 single dahlias are especially satisfactory when grown 

 from seed, and make excellent cut flowers, especially 

 for corsage wear. 



Asparagus Sprengeri is so easily raised from seed 

 that one should use it much more than is done, as 

 nothing quite takes its place for window and porch 

 boxes. 



Begonia is another easily raised bedding plant ; the 

 seed of this being very fine should be sown on the 

 surface of the soil in small fiats, the seed being 

 merely pressed into the soil and the young plants 

 must not be exposed to extremes of temperature or 

 moisture, and must be transplanted as soon as large 

 enough to handle, into other flats, setting them an 

 inch apart each way. 



Cannas, especially the omamental-foliaged varie- 

 ties, are very readily raised from seed, which should 

 be first sandpapered on one side till the white shows 

 through, then soaked in hot water till the inner shell 

 cracks, and planted two or three in a four-inch pot, 

 and when a few inches high all but the best one should 

 be removed. Give air, sunshine and abundance of 

 water at all times, and transplant into the open 

 ground when all danger of frost is past, setting from 

 one foot to eighteen inches apart each way. 



