20 



A SIMPLE FLOWER GARDEN. 



ing-pot will finish the operation. Spread newspapers over 

 the spot during sunny days till the seeds come up, then re- 

 move them. This will assist germination by keeping away 

 the light and the extreme heat of the sun, and by preventing 

 evaporation. 



To plant seeds of a large size, like the mignonette, 

 roughen the surface by drawing the fine iron rake over it, 

 and then scatter the seed thinly. By drawing the rake 

 backward and forward over the spot a few times, the seeds 

 will be covered, and the operation complete. Water as be- 

 fore. The newspaper shelter may be used, but is not abso- 

 lutely essential. 



Larger seeds, like the sweet pea, are carefully sown in 

 narrow trenches, and about one inch deep and two inches 

 apart, in the row. These are made with the trowel, and 

 the seeds when dropped in the depression are simply cov- 

 ered by turning back the soil with the rake or trowel. 

 Water as directed, but do not shade. 



TENDER ANNUALS 



are plants that reach maturity in one season, but whose 

 time of growth is longer than our short northern summer. 

 To enable them, then, to reach a flowering state, they must 

 be cultivated for the first few weeks under glass, in a green- 

 house or hot-bed. This is best done by the commercial flo- 

 rists. From them the young plants can be procured at a 

 very low cost. They are furnished either in clumps, or 



