DREER S GARDEN CALENDAR. 25 



Bireccions for the Sowing and Management of Flower Seeds 



Provided the soil is in a proper state, flower-seeds maybe sown iu 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 

 satisfactoi-y, as daring the interval between the sowing of the seed and 

 the period of blooming, the ground occupied isn ot 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 seed. — 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 ip 

 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 

 August. Of these the most important are Sweet Alyssum, Candytuft, 

 Mignonette, Lobelia, Schizanthus, German Stocks, Browallia and sev- 

 eral 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, Acroclinum Roseum, Linum Grandiflorum 

 Mimulus, Myosotis, Petunias, Phlox Drummondii, Salpiglossis, Verbe- 

 na, &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 mixed ; then fill 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 fiower-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-eight 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 goon 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 admit- 

 ted. As soon as the plants are large enough to handle, pick them out 

 of the seed-pot ; in other words, transplant them into another pot, pla- 

 cing them about one inch apart ; they must be shaded for a few days 

 from the sun, until they are established. When large enough, they can 

 be planted separately into small pots, and kept thus until the proper 

 season for planting out in the garden. 



BIENNIALS. — These do not usually bloom until the second season 

 after sowing. They may be sown out of doors, at least those that are 

 hardy, while a few very desirable ones had better be sown in pots. The 

 following are among the most desirable, — Wall-flower, Foxglove, Pinks, 

 Sweet William, Antirrhinum, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Canterbury Bell' 

 and others. 



