plants from the hot-bed, cold-frame and seed-bed shall be transplanted to the border or beds where 
they are to flower, and these helps are intended mainly for Tender and Half-Hardy Amtuals, . 
described in an article on the Classification of Flowers, on another page. The Hardy Anmials 
may be sown where they are to flower, though, with the exception of a few varieties difficult to 
transplant, it is best to sow all in a seed-bed. 
All seeds of hardy and half-hardy Annuals, and Perennials, and, in fact, nearly all flower 
seeds, can be sown in the South in the autumn. The plants are thus enabled to make vigorous 
growth in the early spring, and become well matured before the heat of summer. The Perennials 
should be sown so early as to make a fair growth before winter sets in. Then they will flower 
the next summer. The Hardy Annuals generally do best sown rather late, so that the seed will 
remain in the ground and be ready to start at the first approach of spring. 
TRANSPLANTING. 
All the operations of the garden should be done with neatness : no crooked, irregular rows 
are admissible. The engraving shows how easily lines are marked in a bed with a i-od or ruler. 
After plants in the seed-beds have obtained their second leaves and made an inch or two of 
growth, they should be removed to the garden beds or border. This should be done on a dull, 
showery day, if possible, if not, the plants may require shading after removal until they become 
established. In transplanting in dry weather, always give the plants as they stand in the seed- 
bed a good soaking with water, and also the soil 
to which they are to be removed, an hour or so 
before removal. In removing, disturb the roots 
as little as possible. If the plants are not too- 
thick, there is no need of injuring the roots ; and 
in sowing, it is well to have this in view, and 
sow evenly and thinly. As soon as the young 
plants come up, if too thick, a portion should be 
removed. A few plants, with long tap-roots, 
jj will not bear removal well. The Larkspurs are 
'' difficult : and these and the Poppies, and plants 
with like roots, should be sown where they are 
to flower. Still, there are few plants but can be removed when young, with proper care. Sweet 
Peas, Candytuft, and a few flowers of similar character, that do best if sown as early as the 
ground can be got ready, should always be sown where they are to flower. 
DISAPPOINTED CULTIVATORS. 
Many years of experience and careful estimates have convinced me that while nearly all 
of my customers succeed in growing excellent flowers from the seeds they receive, and are 
not only satisfied, but enthusiastic over the results, some two or three per cent, totally fail, 
or fail to such an extent as to feel quite dissatisfied with the expenditure and labor of the 
season. To this small number I cannot give much space, but will make a few remarks that may 
be profitable, and prevent disappointment in the future. / 
Some are disappointed because flowers do not prove 
what they expected. It should be remembered that I 
do not agree that flowers shall meet the expectations of ----^^^:=g^f;^^^^^^^ ii^^ ■■•ghN ^^^^Q; ^- , 
any person. The first thing is to ascertain what it is 
right to expect. Not the notion of any person, but the 
descriptions I have given must be the standard. The 
descriptions and drawings are not exaggerated, yet they 
represent plants and flowers that have been well grown : 
neglected, half-starved plants will present a very difl-erent ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^.^ ^^^^ ^^^^pp^ 
appearance. Any specimen of the animal as well - as the woman's husband. The man who thinks 
vegetable kingdom will become dwarfed and deformed, and it nonsense for wife and girls to make 
lose every trace of beauty by ill-treatment and neglect, flowerbeds. 
Then the descriptions must be well understood. If I call some little, delicate flower, like a 
Lobelia, a fine variety, you have a right to expect it to be a fine Lobelia ; but have no right to 
expect it to be as large, fine and showy as an Aster, a Ten-Weeks' Stock, or a Zinnia, or any 
10 
MARKING FOR PLANTING. 
