SUBURBAN GARDEXIXG. 



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are well started, tlie plant can be taken up and 

 divided. They can also be very easily raised from 

 seed, whicli, if sown in May or June, will give nice 

 plants by tbe autumn for flowering the next spring. 

 This is a most interesting method of raising a stock, 

 by reason of the great variety of colours and mark- 

 ings that will be obtained from a packet of mixed 

 seed. T^Tien signs are seen of the seedlings coming 

 up, damage from slugs must be prevented, or the 

 young and tender growths will soon disappear. One 

 section of this class of plants is generally called by 

 the generic name (Viola) among cultivators ; those thus 

 designated will flower the greater part of the season, 

 with proper attention in respect to watering, and the 

 removal of seed-pods. This latter oxDcration is an 

 essential point not to be overlooked by those who 

 value the greatest possible extension of the flowering 

 season. All plants that seed freely are considerably 

 overtaxed when developing their seed-pods and pro- 

 ducing flowers at the same time. The Tropaeolums, 

 or Xasturtiums, are an instance of this ; so are the 

 Sweet Peas. These all seed so freely that if their pods 

 are allowed to remain it is not possible for them to 

 produce either the quantity or quality desired in 

 their flowers. 



The double perennial Daisies, already described, 

 are another favourite class of plants for smaU gar- 

 dens ; and they are excellent for edgings to the 

 borders and beds, being both neat and compact. These 

 are to be seen offered for sale in quantities during 

 the early spring, as in the case of the Pansies. We 

 would not advise the purchasing of them at that 

 period of the year imless urgently needed, for the 

 following reasons. In the first place, when exposed 

 for sale at that time of the year, they are opening 

 their first flowers ; those that should succeed these 

 for several weeks will not be nearly so fine as they 

 should be, by reason of the removal of the plants, 

 and the consequent loss of roots and check to the 

 \ital functions of the plants. If not looked closely 

 after for watering after being newly planted, they 

 will soon perish ; the leaves will turn yellow, and the 

 plants get less day by day. This will cause their 

 OTvmers to give up in despair, perhaps, but such need 

 not be the case ; for by transferring the planting 

 operations to the autumn, when the bedding plants 

 and other tender subjects are past their best, and 

 only fit for removal, then the Daisies, and many 

 other kindred plants on w^hich reliance can be placed 

 for quality, may be planted in their place. All 

 plants thus treated in the autumn have every oppor- 

 tunity of becoming well established ere the flowering 

 season comes roimd. The floral beauties of many 

 plants will thus be greatly enhanced, giving far 

 more satisfaction to the pur'chasers. 



"We consider it is a mistake on the part of the 



growers of such plants for town sale not to push 

 them into prominent notice in the autumn instead 

 of the spring. Of course there is this difiiculty, 

 the plants are less attractive, and consequently 

 not so likely to draw customers, when out of 

 bloom. On the other hand, however, the purchasers 

 would have the pleasure of seeing their gardens 

 filled to a certain extent in the dullest season of the 

 year, which would be far better than having the 

 beds and borders looking bare and barren, especially 

 where an undue proportion of summer bedding 

 plants have been employed, and which have to be 

 removed in the autumn. 



In another way this latter defect may also be 

 remedied, and that, too, by a very economical process. 

 By reserving two or three square yards where best 

 to be spared, some seed of Myosotis (Forget-me-nots), 

 which are always favourites in the spring months, 

 might be sown during June. . These seedling plants, 

 when of sufficient size to handle, should be taken up 

 carefully and pricked off a few inches apart wherever 

 room can be found, as long as they are not too much 

 shaded. These would make good plants for re- 

 moval when the bedding plants of the summer were 

 taken up, and thus more room being made for them. 

 Silene pendida compacta, pink and white varieties, 

 would be excellent things to use in association with 

 the blue Forget-me-nots, being raised from seed, and 

 treated in the same way as just recoramended. 



Primroses and Polyanthus can be raised in the 

 open border, but success is more certain with the pro- 

 tection of a hand-glass or cold frame. Seed should 

 be sown of this garden favourite in March or April, 

 to flower in the following spring. Wallflowers, 

 again, are another easily-managed class of plants. 

 If the seed is sown in May or June, and then treated 

 hke the Forget-me-nots, they will come into flower 

 about the same time. A list of some of the most 

 popular annuals to flower the same season as sown 

 will be given in another article. 



Sowing Seeds. — In the sowing of seeds, some 

 extra care is advisable in preparing the soil. The 

 operation should not be done w^hen the ground is 

 very wet, neither when it is at the other extreme. 

 When it (the soil) works well and crumbles to 

 pieces in the hand will be the best time. The 

 smaller the seed, the finer should be the soil that 

 covers them. Be cautious with watering till the 

 seed is germinated : what is given previous to that 

 time must be applied with a fine rose on a water-pot ; 

 but much will not be required till the young plants 

 are fairly advanced in growth. The state of the 

 weather must be taken into consideration. If seed 

 is sown in hot weather, it is a good plan to cover 

 the ground dm-ing the heat of the day till it shows 



