928 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



GATHERING FLOWER-SEEDS. 



Continue to watch the ripening of all sorts of flower-seeds 

 wliich it may be desirable to propagate in quantities, as well 

 as those which are only annual or biennial. From a want of 

 due attention being paid to this simple practice, our lists of 

 cultivated biennials are small when compared to the number 

 that exist, and that have been introduced into the country. 

 Many interesting and beautiful plants belong to this denomi- 

 nation, that would be an ornament to our gardens. 



A reference to the British Flower Garden, published by 

 that indcfi\tigable botanist, Mr. R. Sweet, will exhibit a striking 

 proof of the truth of the above assertion, as great attention 

 has been paid to figure most of the biennial plants recently 

 introduced, and may be considered the chief stimulus for their 

 rapid introduction into all the best gardens of the kingdom. 

 Many of these, however, do not freely perfect their seeds with 

 us in the open air, a little assistance is therefore necessary, on 

 the part of the cultivator, to perpetuate his favorite species ; 

 and this can, in most cases, be completely effected by protect- 

 ing some with hand-glasses after the flowers begin to fade, 

 and the culture of a few others of the most tender in pots, 

 where they may be taken into a pit or frame for a similar 

 purpose. 



