DEEER'S GARDEN CALENDAR. 43 



to handle, pick them out of the seed-pots or boxes, and transplant them into others, placing them 

 about I inch apart each way; 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 

 until the proper season for planting out in the garden, when danger of frost is over. 



Nature bountifully provides for the reproduction of plants ; the difficulty of multiplying by 

 one method is counteracted by the ease in which it may be done in another way. When 

 plants are difficult to make grow from cuttings or slips, we generally find that they seed freely, 

 thus giving ample means for increase by that method, which is the most natural way of repro- 

 ducing those varieties. For instance, the much admired Centaureas, of the " Dusty Miller 

 class," or white silver-leaved plants, so extensively used for edgings, massing or baskets, which 

 are so difficult to grow from cuttings, are readily raised from seed; there are numerous varieties 

 havincr the same nature, which all Florists and Amateurs soon discover by experience. 



Annuals are plants that arrive at perfection, bloom, produce seed, and die the first season. 

 Hardy Annuals can be sown in the borders from April to June. 



Half-Hardy and Tender Annuals can be sown in March and April in shallow boxes, etc., 

 and placed on a hot-bed ; see directions under head of Sowing and Management of Flower- 

 Seeds; when the plants are large enough, transplant in a cool frame near the glass to harden. 

 In May, when the weather has become favorable, transplant in the borders, or the seed may be 

 sown in the open ground in May and June. 



Many annuals are very desirable for the green-house for winter-blooming, and must be sown 

 in July or August. Of these the most important are Browallia, Candytuft, German Stocks, 

 Kenilwotth Ivy, Lobelia, Mignonette, Schizanthus, Sweet Alyssum, and Dwarf Nasturtiums. 

 Many varieties, as well as the above, may be sown in the fall and winter for blooming early in 

 the spring, such as Acroclinium, Ageratum, Antirrhinum, Apple-scented Geranium, China 

 Pinks, Dianthus Heddewigi, Dianthus Laciniatus and Diadematus, Linum grandifiorum, 

 Mimulus, Myosolis, Pansy, Petunias, Phlox Drummondi, Saipiglossis, Salvia, Verbena, Vinca, 

 and others which will be found in our full and complete lists of the best leading varieties. 



Biennials are those that last two seasons ; however, some of the varieties bloom the first 

 year, and remain over winter, flowering again the second year and then die, having fulfilled 

 their mission; a slight protection of leaves or coarse manure will be found beneficial. 



For summer and autumn flowering the seed should be sown in March and April, and treated 

 the same as half-hardy annuals, for those varieties that bloom the first season. 



Hardy kinds can be sown from April to September in the open border, and transplanted where 

 they are intended to bloom the following year. 



The following are among the most desirable : Canterbury Bell, Foxglove, Hollyhock, Dark- 

 spur, Pinks, Sweet William, Wall-flower, etc. 



Perennials do not flower until the second year, and the hardy varieties remain in the ground 

 from year to year, and improve by age, forming large clumps or bushes, which are completely 

 •covered with their attractive flowers. They should be planted in the borders or beds where 

 they are intended to remain permanently. 



The seed may be sown early in the spring with Annuals, or later in the summer in a cool and 

 partially shaded situation, and when large enough transplant where desired. 



Climbers, for garden decorations, should be sown in February and March, the earlier the 

 better, as the display for the after season will be in proportion to their early vigor; they are 

 Cobaa, Eccremocarpus, Lophosper?num, Matcrandia, Thunbergia, Tropaolum, etc. 



Clematis among hardy vines, and Pentstemon among herbaceous plants, are prominent 

 instances of seeds which remain long dormant, often a whole year, before they germinate. 



Verbenas, among half-hardy annuals, are treated as tender perennials, and are at times of slow 

 germination ; we have read an article on the experience of a skilful amateur, who sowed 

 some of the best Verbena seed obtainable, in a shallow box, and placed in heat, and only re- 

 ceived about a dozen plants from the seed ; the box, instead of being emptied, was laid aside in 

 case any more seedlings should come ; it was then forgotten until the following spring, when it 

 was again wanted for other seeds ; instead of throwing out the soil the surface was scratched 

 over and sown with Dantana seeds, and the box was placed in a brisk heat, and in a few days 

 the surface was covered over with seedling Verbenas, the produce of seed sown the previous 

 year; as his reward for leaving the soil in the box he received a fine stock of both Verbena 

 and Lantana plants. We merely relate this incident to show how important it is to exercise pa- 

 tience in growing seedlings; the best varieties being often the slowest to germinate. 



The germination of many hard seeds of strong body throughout, either green-house or hot- 

 house species, which are impervious to moisture, is greatly accelerated by pouring warm water 

 over them, or soaked over night in camphorated water, and then sown. Thus treated, the young 

 plants appear in a few weeks ; but without such treatment they are often many months. The 

 Varieties of Acacia, Erythrina, Canna, and Smilax, are the mo<t prominent of this class. 



Calceolaria. — As this very desirable flower requires a little special care, the following 

 method should be adopted : The seed should be sown in the latter part of August, or begin- 

 ning of September, in pots prepared in the following manner: the pots should be half-filled 

 with drainage, over which a rough sifting of soil should be placed, and the surface covered 

 with very fine soil, half composed of river sand. When prepared thus it should be watered 

 with a fine rose, immediately after which sow the seed carefully, without any covering 

 of soil. The pots should then be placed under a close frame or hand-glass, in a shady part of 



