also useless to try to grow good flowers on a poor, or a hard, unbroken soil, or in a bed choked with 
weeds. In either case the plants become dwarfed, arrive at maturity too early, and flower and 
ripen their seeds before they have attained half their natural size, and about the time a good 
robust plant would be forming its buds. Such a soil can be much improved by a little sand, or 
ashes and manure, and by pretty constant working. It must not, however, be handled when too 
wet. Always drain the flower garden so that no water will be on or near the surface. 
SOWING SEED. 
This is a very important matter, and one in which the young florist is the most likely to 
fail. Some old and professional florists make sad work in starting seeds, for knowledge is not 
only necessary, but care and attention. 
One " forgot ''^ may ruin a whole sowing 
of the choicest seeds. (J)f course, there 
are some kinds of seeds that are robust 
and will grow, no matter how they are 
treated, just as our weeds grow and thrive 
under ill treatment; but others require 
BOX HAND-GLASS. 
SQUARE HAND-GLASS 
kind and proper treatment, just as almost everything desirable does in the animal as well as in the 
vegetable kingdom. Many seem to think that seeds will grow anywhere and under any circum- 
stances. They have seen the farmer make a hole and throw in the corn, and in a little while it 
was up and growing vigorously ; they have learned that the seeds of our native *rees and weeds 
grow without planting and care ; and from these facts they get the idea that it is of little conse- 
quence how or where seeds are sown, so that they are in the ground. But these should 
consider that the seeds used by the farmer are usually larger and produce stronger and more 
robust plants than those of the florist, and thus are enabled to bear more hardships and to live 
under more unfavorable circumstances. 
Still, farmers are fast learning that the 
better they prepare the ground, the more 
carefully they sow their seed, and the 
more they study the nature and wants 
of the plants they cultivate, the better 
the crops. Another fact should be 
remembered — that not one seed in a 
thousand matured by our forest trees 
and shrubs, produces a living plant. 
We cannot afford to purchase costly seeds protected by glass bells. 
seeds and lose such a large proportion, which would be the result if we should plant in the 
same manner. Our weeds are prolific, very tenacious of life, and able to propagate themselves 
under the most unfavorable circumstances; otherwise they would not be generally known as 
weeds. Most of our troublesome weeds are of foreign origin, the seeds being brought here by 
accident. The larger part thus introduced have lived for a season and perished unnoticed, while 
the hardiest became naturalized. If the florist would be satisfied with only the most hardy and 
prolific flowers, such as would take care of themselves, then he might pursue a careless system 
of planting and cultivation, and fill his grounds with Dandelions and Poppies ; but he craves 
flowers that are not natural to our climate — those that 
flourish in warmer climes and under more genial skies — 
their dazzling beauty, their delicious fragrance, must be 
secured at almost any cost of time and labor. This is well ; 
but having made up our minds to possess the treasures, we 
must pay the price — we must study their habits and treat 
them accordingly. None need feel alarmed at these 
remarks, or think themselves incompetent to the charge of such choice plants without hot-beds, 
green-houses and professional gardeners. We have known ladies, who, with but little preten- 
sions, equaled the most distinguished florists. There seemed to be magic in their fingers, and 
everything they touched flourished. It is true that a hot-bed, if properly managed, is of great 
aid in effecting the germination of seeds, and it is well all should know why this is so. 
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