DREER'S GARDEN CALENDAR. 23 



suitable ; also, choice annuals sown. The following brief directions 

 will be found reliable. 



Directions for the Sowing and Management of Flower Seeds. 



Provided the soil is in a proper state, flower-seeds may be sown in the 

 open border, in the months of April and May ; the best criterion is the 

 state of the soil. The seeds should be sown as soon as the soil becomes 

 dry and friable, after the spring frosts have disappeared. Care should 

 be taken not to sow in a crowded border, as light and air are indispen- 

 sable. They may also be sown in prepared beds, to be transplanted to 

 the garden. The former is the more simple method, but not always 

 satisfactory, as during the interval between the sowing of the seed and 

 the period of blooming, the ground occupied is not attractive. The 

 changes of climate, heavy rains and drying winds, with hot sun, renders 

 the surface of the soil unfit for the germination of small seeds. — As to 

 the depth to which seeds should be covered, the best general rule is, to 

 cover fine and light seeds very lightly, just enough to protect them from 

 the sun ; and in extremely dry weather, a sprinkling of damp moss is 

 very useful. Several varieties are so tender as to require special atten- 

 tion, such as the Calceolaria. 



Many annuals are very desirable for the Green House, when sown in 

 early fall ; of these the most important are Sweet Alyssum, Candytuft, 

 Mignonette, Lobelia, Schizanthus, German Stocks, Browallia and several 

 others ; these are for winter blooming. Many varieties, as well as the 

 above, may be sown later, for blooming early in spring, such as Pansy, 

 Ageratum, Antirrhinums, China Pink, Dianthus Heddewegii, Lacinatus 

 and Sinensis, Acroclinium Roseum, Linum Grandiflorum, Mimulus, 

 Myosotis, Petunias, Phlox Drummondii, Salpiglossis, Verbena, &c. 

 For sowing in pots, or seed-pans, the following directions will be found 

 suitable : 



The best soil is a mixture of equal parts of sand, leaf-mould, and 

 loam, which should be thoroughly mixt ; then fill up your pots or 

 boxes to within one-half inch of the rim ; press the soil firmly and evenly 

 in the pot, which can be done most conveniently with the bottom of an 

 empty flower-pot ; then sow your seed evenly over the surface, and, 

 with the addition of a little more sand in the same soil, cover the seeds 

 according to their size, say from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch, 

 then press the soil as before, even and firm with the bottom of a flower- 

 pot ; water sparingly, enough to keep the soil moist, avoiding either 

 extreme. As soon as the plants appear, they will require your careful 

 attention, as the least over-watering may cause them to " damp off," and 

 suddenly destroy all your hopes. They should now have as much sun 

 as possible, and when the weather is pleasant, some air may be admitted. 



