86 
The Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners 
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 anuuals will thrive fairly in 
almost any soil or situation, some little preparation of the ground i 
before sowing is necessary to grow them to perfection ; aud 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-deca} r ed manure. 
For a general display, perhaps the best time for sowing is 
about the middle of March, and for a later succession, April ; 
but we have seen annuals sown in May, and even the early part 
ol June, that have bloomed splendidly in the Autumn months. 
After sowing, the cultivation of hardy annuals is extremely ’ 
simple, early aud 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 adopted 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 Nemophila insignis and alba, Silene 
pendula, Limnanthes Douglasii, &o., may be sown in 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 flue plants and blooms for which 
they are so much esteemed, aud sowing should therefore com- 
mence as soon as convenient after the second week in February, 
and be coutinucd to the end of March, or the middle of April. 
There are, however, some slight exceptions to this rule, as for 
instance, in the case of Ziunias and Marigolds, which should not 
be sown before the middle of March, and Ten- week Stocks, 
which may be sown as early as the middle of January, or early 
in February, aud 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 (IAnum grandijiorum rubrum) succeeds 
best treated as a hardy annual, and sown in April. 
The most usefnl 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 be 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 be had by sowing on a 
loose and porous surface. Sow the seeds I li ini}', distributing as 
evenly as you can, and cover as lightly as possible with a sprink- 
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 mouths of May, Juue, 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 
largo enough, prick out on nursery beds to strengthen, and 
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 in Winter, and to bloom freely and finely in the 
coming Spring aud Summer. This is especially the case in 
reference to double German Wallflowers and Brompton Stocks, 
which should not be sown later than the end of May. These 
being 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 iu July. Sweet Williams, unless 
sown early, will not all bloom the following year. 
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, aud 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. When the plants have reached a 
size at which they can be handled, the choicer varieties should 
be carefully pricked out into pots, pans, boxes, &c., and placed 
in the greenhouse close to the glass, or in frames, &c. t w r here 
on fine warm days they can have the full benefit of air and sun. 
This will enablo them to make good sturdy plants with plenty 
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 
be 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 in a cool frame close to the glass, the only 
difference being their blooming somewhat later. We have, indeed, 
seen a fine Autumn display of half-hardy annuals sown in 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 iu the year, some giving preference to those 
sown the preceding Autumn. 
Greenhouse or Tender Annuals. 
The mauy fine varieties of such valuable plants as Balsams, 
Thunbergias, Amaranthuses, Celosias, 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, aud 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 
transferred to the size in which it is intended to bloom them. 
The growth of the plants is very much assisted by occasion- 
ally watering with weak liquid manure; but this should be 
discontinued when the bloom is making its appearance, and 
tepid rain or soft water only should be used instead. Balsams, 
although classed as “tender,” may be planted out in June, in 
sheltered positions in the open garden, and will make a fine 
display. 
Every packet of Flower Seed supplied by us bears all necessary cultural instructions 
printed on the envelope. 
