Daniels Bros., Norwich , Spring , 1892. 
On the Rearing of Flowers from Seed. 
Hardy Annuals. 
The many beautiful varieties of hardy annuals available for 
the Summer decoration of our gardens are worthy of a much 
more extensive growth, and a better cultural treatment than 
they usually receive, and, well-grown, will produce flowers of 
a size and brilliancy that will surprise many who are only 
accustomed to the weedy, starved representatives so often seen 
of this fine class. Although hardy annuals will thrive fairly in 
almost any soil or situation, some little preparation of the 
ground before sowing is necessary to grow them to perfection ; and 
the first consideration is to reduce the surface to a fine and even 
tilth, carefully removing all large stones and clods, and if the soil 
be poor, working in a liberal quantity of well-decayed manuro. 
For a general display, perhaps the best time for sowing is 
about the middle of March, and for a iater succession, April ; 
but we have seen annuals sown in May, and even the early part 
of June, that have bloomed splendidly in the Autumn months. 
After sowing, the cultivation of hardy annuals is extremely 
simple, early and vigorous thinning out of the clumps or 
patches being nearly all that is necessary to ensure an abundance 
of fine plants, with a profusion of handsome flowers. Various 
methods are adoptod in sowing; but perhaps the simplest and 
best plan for garden decoration is to sow in shallow furrows, in 
circles of from nine to twelve inches in diameter; or in rows 
or drills, their distance apart to be regulated according to the 
height of the plants when fully grown. When this is done in 
dry weather, an excellent plan is to fill the furrows with water 
and allow it to settle before sowing, carefully covering the seeds 
with the soil removed in the operation, and pressing down 
firmly with a trowel or flat piece of wood. Such large seeds 
as Nasturtiums, Lupins, and Sweet Peas may be covered to the 
depth of an inch ; Convolvulus major and minor, not quite so 
deep ; smaller seeds, such as Mignonette, &c., require but a 
slight covering. Hardy annuals may also be sown broadcast in 
mixture, in beds or patches, in waste places, shrubberies, &c., 
and have a very pleasing effect. For early spring decoration 
such fine varieties as Nomophila insiguis and alba, Sileue 
pendula, Limnanthes Douglasii, &c., may be sown iu a sheltered 
position in August or early in September, and transferred as 
vacancies occur to where they are intended to bloom. Godetias 
also, in their many beautiful varieties, which are perfectly hardy, 
bloom much earlier and finer when sown in the Autumn and 
transplanted early in Spring. 
Half-Hardy Annuals. 
The great majority of half-hardy annuals require a long 
period of growth to develop the fine plants and blooms for which 
they are so much esteeinod, and sowing should therefore com- 
mence as soon as convenient after the second week in February, 
and be continued to the end of March, or the middle of April. 
There are, however, some slight exceptions to this rule, as for 
instance, iu the case of Zinnias and Marigolds, which should not 
be sown before the middle of Maroh, and Ten-week Stocks, 
which may be sown as early as the middle of January, or early 
in February, and indeed treated thus will produce much finer 
blooms than those sown in March or April ; whilst the finest 
Asters are produced from seeds sown the first and second weeks 
in April, and which should not, as a rule, be sown earlier. The 
beautiful Scarlet Flax ( Linum (} rand ijlorum rubrum ) succeeds 
best treated as a hardy annual, and sown in April. 
The most useful soil for raising plants from seeds, under 
glass, is composed of about equal parts of good rich loam, leaf- 
mould, and well-decayed manure from an old hot-bed, thoroughly 
incorporated with a sufficiency of coarse sand to render the 
whole fairly porous. In filling pots, pans, &c., with soil, it is 
of the first importance, after providing ample drainage, that the 
soil should bo pressed down firmly before sowing the seeds, which 
will have the effect of providing a much more even moisture, 
and certainty of germination, than can bo had by sowing on a 
loose and porous surface. Sow the seeds thinly, distributing as 
evenly as you can, and cover as lightly as possible with a sprink- 
ling of fine soil, and after submitting them to a slight pressure 
from such as the bottom of a flower-pot, give them a careful 
watering and place iu a gentle heat. When the young plants 
come up, place them as near as possible to the light, and give 
them on all favourable occasions a fair quantity of air, carefully 
avoiding, however, their exposure to the keen, drying east winds 
so often prevalent in Spring. 111100 the plants have reached a 
size at which they can be handled, the ohoicer varieties should 
be carefully pricked out into pots, pans, boxes, &c., and placed 
in the greenhouse close to the glass, or iu frames, &c., where 
on fine warm days they can have the full benefit of air and sun. 
This will enable them to make good sturdy plants with plonty 
of roots, that will transplant well, and produce an abundance of 
handsome flowers. 
The best time for planting out depends very much on the 
season, and this operation should never be hurried if the weather 
bo unfavourable, or proper attention cannot be given. Where 
heat is not available for the rearing of half-hardy annuals, they 
are easily raised by sowing in April, in pans or boxes placed 
under hand-lights, or iu a cool frame close to the glass, the only 
difference being their blooming somewhat later. We have, 
indeed, seen a line Autumn display of half-hardy annuals sown 
iu May on the open border, and of Asters sown so late as the 
first week in June. We may add, that Lobelias for bedding 
out, cannot be sown too early in the year, some giving preference 
to those sown the preceding Autumn. 
Hardy Perennials & Biennials. 
With the exception of some few sorts, which require a 
somewhat different treatment, the greater part of these are 
best raised in the months of May, June, and July, in the 
manner recommended for hardy annuals, selecting, however, 
a somewhat cool and shady situation in preference to one 
exposed to much sun. Sow thinly, and when the plants 
are large enough, prick out on nursery beds to strengthen, 
aud plant out early in Autumn, or in favourable weather 
in February and March, where they are intended to flower. 
Early sowing is decidedly the best, as it gives the plants a far 
better opportunity of becoming sufficiently strong to resist 
severe frost iu Winter, and to bloom freely and finely in the 
coming Spring and Summer. This is especially the case in 
reference to double German Wallflowers and Bromptou Stocks, 
which should not be sown later than the end of May. These 
boiug less hardy than most classed as such, should have the 
benefit of a more sheltered spot when finally planted out, which 
ought to be done if possible in July. Sweot Williams, unless 
sown early, will not all bloom the following year. 
fcrJ 5 - Every packet of Flower Seed supplied 
printed on 
Greenhouse or Tender Annuals 
The many fine varieties of such valuable plants as Balsams, 
Thunbergias, Amaranthuses, G'elosias, Ipomoeas, Cockscombs, &c., 
are richly deserving of cultivation wherever facilities exist for 
growing them. Their treatment in the young state closely 
resembles that of half-hardy annuals, a good light and rich soil 
with a liberal proportion of sharp sand being nearly all that is 
required to grow them to perfection. The chief difference in 
their culture, however, consists iu their being sown somewhat 
earlier and on a stronger heat, and iu pricking out the young 
plants as early as possible, singly into small pots ; and as these 
fill with roots, shifting into larger, and so on, till they are trans- 
ferred to the size in which it is intended to bloom them. The 
growth of the plants is very much assisted by occasionally 
watering with weak liquid manure ; but this should he dis- 
continued when tho bloom is making its appearance, and tepid 
rain or soft water only should bo used instead. Balsams, although 
classed as “tender,” may be planted out in June, in sheltered 
positions in the open garden, aud will make a fine display. 
us bears all necessary cultural instructions 
) envelope. 
