214 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Bedding Plants fkom Seed. 



In no other way can such a largo number of plants be obtained for making beds and 

 borders gay in summer at such small cost as by raising them from seed. Some of the 

 most admired of summer flowers cannot be provided in any other way. This is the case 

 with what are known as half-hardy annuals, such as stocks, asters, Phlox Drummondi, 

 African and French marigolds, zinnias, and others that will be briefly described. 

 There are also plants other than annuals that are raised in the same way and grown 

 for the same purpose; for example, antirrhinums, golden feather, lobelias, petunias, 

 pentstemons, and verbenas among others, the plants of which, raised under glass in the 

 spring, afford beautiful masses of colour in the summer, and are cleared away in the 

 autumn with the remains of tender bedding plants generally. 



Most of the kinds that will be mentioned are raised from seeds in February, March, 

 and April. With suitable glass structures in which different temperatures are main- 

 tained, February-raised plants may be kept steadily growing healthfully and sturdily till 

 they can be removed to cold frames preparatory to planting in due course ; but when 

 amateurs have, perhaps, only one frame, in which they grow cucumbers, or a solitary 

 greenhouse, it would be a grave mistake to sow so early, as the plants would be drawn 

 and spoiled long before the time for planting in the beds, and much better results would 

 follow by sowing towards the end of April. Where only a greenhouse temperature can 

 be maintained, strong plants of lobelias, petunias, pentstemons, and salpiglossis can be had 

 for planting in May, by sowing thinly in August in seed-pans, covered with squares of 

 glass, in a shady place in a frame or outdoors (not under trees), wintering the seedlings 

 on a greenhouse shelf suspended from the roof, and transplanting them an inch or two 

 asunder in boxes in the spring. 



KINDS AND VAEIETIES EOE SOWING. 



Ageratttms.— Imperial dwarf blue, imperial dwarf 

 white, and Cannell's dwarf blue, are good dwarf 

 ageratums, all 9 inches high, and come true 

 from seed. Early in February, fill pans with a 

 mixture of fine loam, leaf soil and sand, making 

 this firm and perfectly level. Give a gentle 

 watering, and three hours later sow the seed, over 

 which lightly sprinkle fine soil. Place in a brisk 

 moist heat, cover the pans with squares of glass, 

 and shade heavily till the seedlings appear ; then 

 gradually expose thean to light and air, eventually 



placing them near the glass on the shelf of a warm 

 greenhouse. Before they overcrowd each other, 

 prick out the seedlings two inches ajiart in boxes 

 of good light soil, and return to gentle heat. Any 

 that have come up thinly may be left till they are 

 2 inches high, and be then transplanted 3 to 

 4 inches apart in boxes. To]) them all once, 

 and those pricked out closely will need moving 

 into other boxes or beds of soil in pits and 

 frames. Harden off and plant out as advised 

 on page 206. 



