ANNUALS 
That flower from seed the first season, are, taken all in all, among tho 
best of flowers which cun he used for the decoration of the gardens of the 
people; and a great many choice varieties may be bought 
for a little money, and they are from first to last not only 
easy of culture and sure of growth, but they 
produce gorgeous masses of the most lovely flowers imagin- 
able; the blossoms include forms of peculiar shape, all shades 
of colors and exquisite fragrance. 
The Soil for Annuals. 
If there is anything important in flower culture, it is the 
thorough preparation of the soil. The seeds of a majority of 
our flower annuals aro very small indeed, so it is doubly necessary to 
work the soil finely. Otherwise the small seeds, falling into air spaces 
and interstices of the soil, find no contact with tho earth upon all sides, 
lienee germination is retarded, or often emiroly prevented, and the sower 
of tho seeds waits and waits for results that never appear, and very likely 
blames tho seed seller for the trouble. One great essential in fining tho 
soil is to have it dry, not wet and soggy. If in latter condition, it can never 
be made right. A permanent injury is effected by working the ground too 
early. Lumps and cokes are formed which prove troublesome all tho 
season. So never attempt to save time by beginning work too early. Wait 
by all means until the ground is warm and dry. Then spade carefully, 
breaking all lumps and turning the soil over. Finish the job with an iron 
rake. This is a splendid tool for the purpose. Work it backward and for- 
ward. Spare no labor and you will have a fine seed lied, for it is useless to 
expect fine seeds to come up if they are buried beneath great clods of dirt. 
Planting the Seed. 
In starting flower seeds of any kind, OH ly heat and mOiStUT© 
are required until they sprout through the ground. 
Sow the seeds thinly, then cover with finely pulverized soil; as a general 
rule, cover only to twice tho thickness of the seeds. Such fine seccfci as 
Petunia, Portulaca, Ice Plant, Lobolia, etc., need only to be pressed into 
the soil with a pieco 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 beforo tho roots get a 
firm hold of tho soil. If the ground becomes very dry just as the seed is 
starting, it will not grow. Never under any circumstances ullow tho sun 
to dry them out. Along with the sun they mU8t be kept moist. 
An hour of a bright, clear sun may so dry them that germination is des- 
troyed. It is at tills critical point really where tho fault of so-called bad 
seeds largely lies. In the case of large seeds, there is less need of 
tliis precaution, but when once they are wet, keep thorn so or you will be 
likely to suffer loss. 
Watch the Seedlings 
§ As they come up, and do not let them become wcuk and spind- 
ling from overcrowding. Keep the weeds down and loosen the 
'ground occasionally, to give air and sunsbino to tho hungry 
feeding roots. 
If Drought Threatens 
Cover tho surface of the bed with a two or three inch mulch of 
grass-clippings, litter, chip-manure, etc., to keep tho roots cool 
and moist. 
Transplanting. 
Nearly all flowers will bear transplanting. Sweet peas and 
poppies are usually sowed where they are to grow, By growing them in 
boxes, hot-beds or cold-frames and transplanting them, you escape tho 
first growth of weeds. 
3 
