26 



LIST OF CHOICE ANNUALS, ETC. {^MarcJl. 



them close until the heat arises, covering them at night with 

 mats or shutters. As soon as you feel the heat increased, 

 give air by tilting the sashes a few inches, to let off the 

 steam and stagnated air, observing to close in the afternoon, 

 and cover at night. If the heat is violent, about half an 

 inch of air might be left during the night. In about three 

 days, if all has been properly attended to, the bed will be 

 what is termed sweet. Then put in about six inches of fine 

 garden soil ; if heavy, mix a little sand with it. Spread it 

 level, and, when the soil is heated through, sow in small 

 drills, from one-eighth to an inch deep, according to the size 

 of the seeds ; cover with very fine, sifted soil. Some very 

 small kinds do best when sown upon the surface. When 

 sown, give gentle sprinklings of water until they come up, 

 when it will be necessary to give air freely during the day, 

 to prevent them from being weak, or damping oflf, which 

 many of them will do if they have not air regularly admitted. 



A LIST OF CHOICE FLOWERING ANNUALS ADAPTED 

 FOR SOWING ON A HOT-BED. 



Alyssum calycina, white, fragrant. 

 Argeratum Mexicanum, blue-flowered Argeratum. 

 Asclepias curassavica, swallow wort, orange and red-flowered. 

 Aster Chinensis, China Aster, or Queen 3Iargarets, in great 



variety. The late imported German and Italian Asters 



are of extraordinary beauty. 

 Balsamina hortensis, Balsam, commonly called Ladies^ 



Slipper. 



Browallia alata, upright blue and white Browallia. 

 Cacalia coccinea, scarlet Cacalia, or Venus' Paint Brush. 



sonchifolia, orange Cacalia. 



Calandrinia discolor, rosy purple, very pretty. 



Celosia cristata, Coxcomb, two varieties^ red and yellow. 



Centaurea Americana, American Sultan. 



suaveolens, yellow sweet Sultan. 



Clarkia elegans, elegant rose-colored Clarkia. 



pulchella, showy purple Clarkia. 



alba, white flowered Clarkia. 



Cleome grandiflora, large lilac flowering spider plant. 

 Clintonia elegans, elegant blue Clintonia. 



