242 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



open garden. Moreover, the plants are likely to receive better 

 care in these boxes, and therefore to grow more rapidly. Of 

 course, if still earlier results are desired, the seed should be sown 

 in the kitchen, hotbed, coldframe, or in a greenhouse. In 

 starting plants ahead of the season, be careful not to use too 

 deep boxes. The gardener's "flat" may be taken as a sugges- 

 tion. Three inches of earth is sufficient, and in some cases (as 

 when the plants are started late) half this depth is enough. 



The difficulty with early sown seedlings is "drawing up," and 

 weakness from crowding and want of light. This is most Hable 

 to occur with window-grown plants. Vigorous June-sown plants 

 are better than such weaklings. It must be remembered 

 that very early bloom usually means the shortening of the 

 season at the other end; this may be remedied to some extent 

 by making sowings at different times. 



The "hardy" annuals are such as develop readily without 

 the aid of artificial heat. They are commonly sown in May or 

 earlier, directly in the open ground where they are to grow. 

 Florists often sow certain kinds in the fall, and winter the 

 young plants in coldframes. They may also be wintered under 

 a covering of leaves or evergreen boughs. Some of the hardy 

 annuals (as sweet pea) withstand considerable frost. The 

 "half-hardy" and "tender" annuals are alike in that they 

 require more warmth for their germination and growth. The 

 tender kinds are very quickly sensitive to frost. Both these, 

 like the hardy kinds, may be sown in tlie open ground, but not 

 until the weather has become settled and warm, which for the 

 tender kinds will not commonly be before the first of June; but 

 the tender kinds, at least, are preferably started in the house and 

 transplanted to their outdoor beds. Of course, these terms are 

 wholly relative. What may be a tender annual in Massachu- 

 setts may be a hardy annual or even a perennial in Louisiana. 



These terms as ordinarily used in this country refer to the 

 northern states, or not farther south than middle Atlantic states. 



