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 liable 
to occur with window-grown plants. Vigorous June-sown plants 
are better than such weaklings. It must be remembcred 
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 the 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. 
