Catalogue of High-Class 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 pots 



placed in a warm window, a hotbed, or, if possible, in a 

 greenhouse. 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 convenient 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 allowed 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 trans- 

 planted 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 along 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 sub. 

 stituted ; or a cheap and effective 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. Treated in this way, the seedlings receive no check 

 in growth, and require none of the extra care in watering 

 or shading necessary with other methods. 

 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 may be 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 (hBj 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 they 



CYCLAMEN PERSICUM GIGANTEUM. 



