J. M. Thorburn & Co.'s Catalogue of Seeds. 



7i 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTURE, TREATMENT, ETC. 



HARDY ANNUALS (hA).— Sow in April or May, according to the latitude, in shallow boxes or 

 placed in a warm window, a hot- 

 bed, or, if possible, in a green- 

 house. A second sowing ought 

 to be made from two to four 

 weeks after, for a succession, as 

 well as to provide against failure 

 the first time. For sowing seeds 

 in, there is nothing better than 

 shallow boxes from two to three 

 inches deep, and of any conveni- 

 ent size. The most suitable soil 

 in which to sow seeds of all the 

 smaller kinds is a very fine, rich, 

 sandy loam ; if some fine char- 

 coal can be mixed with it, it will 

 be beneficial. The soil from old 

 hotbeds is excellent, or sods from 

 an old pasture, piled up and al- 

 lowed to rot for two or three 

 years, and then mixed with a 

 little old stable manure and sand. 

 The selection of a proper soil in 

 which to sow fine seeds is very 

 important, as upon this depends 

 the success or failure of them. After the seeds are up, care must be taken to give them plenty of air and 

 moisture, and yet not too much water, or they will "damp off." When the young plants are well out of the 

 seed leaf, they must be transplanted to new boxes. If pots two inches or more in diameter can be had, set 

 out from three to a dozen or more of the young seedlings around the edges of the pot, so that as soon as the 

 ground is warm enough they may be easily turned out and planted singly, as by that time they will have 

 made good roots. Where the pots cannot be had, boxes, tin cans, etc., may be substituted ; or a cheap and ef- 

 fective plan is to take out the inside of a potato or turnip, leaving a shell half an inch thick. After filling 

 these with the compost above referred to, set out the seedlings in them, and place the whole in boxes, filling 

 in the spaces between the potatoes or turnips with soil. When the plants are ready to set in the open ground, 

 it is an easy matter to transplant them, and as the decay of the turnips or potatoes affords nourishment to 

 the young plants, a double purpose is served in using them. 



A common mistake in sowing flower, as well as other seeds, is in covering too deep. As a general rule, 

 cover only to the depth of the thickness of the seeds, or with medium sized seeds, like Balsams, Zinnias, etc., 

 a half an inch or so is none too much. Such fine seeds as Portulacas need only to be pressed into the soil with 

 a piece of board or the palm of the hand. Always press the earth down firmly after sowing all flower seeds, 

 else there is danger of their drying up before the roots can get firm hold of the soil. Seeds of the hardier 

 Annuals may be sown where they are to grow; but as a rule, it is preferable to transplant, as the plants are 

 generally stronger and stand the drought better. During very dry weather, and when the seedlings are first 

 set out, they should be watered frequently. Provide some support for all such Annuals as require it, else 

 the plants become weak and straggling, and do not make the show they otherwise would. 



The weeds should be kept down and the ground loosened often, so that the plants will receive the full 

 benefit of the rains and dews, which they will not if the ground is allowed to become hard and baked. 



Seeds of Biennials and some Hardy Annuals maybe sown in September in boxes, and placed in cold 

 frames. They will make strong plants by spring, and come into flower early. Do not put on the sashes until 

 heavy rains and frost render this necessary, and then always remove during the day, and whenever the tem- 

 perature is above freezing in winter. 



HARDY BIENNIALS (hB) and PERENNIALS (hP).— These require the same treatment as the 

 Hardy Annuals. In addition to the above, both Hardy Biennials and Perennials may be sown in the open 

 border in September; for if not sown until spring, the seeds of many Perennials require two years before 



