26 LIST OF CHOICE ANNUALS, ETC. [March. 
them close until the heat arises, covering them at night with 
mats or shutters. As soon as you feel the heat increased, 
give air by tilting the sashes a few inches, to let off the 
steam and stagnated air, observing to close in the afternoon, 
and cover at night. If the heat is violent, about half an 
inch of air might be left during the night. In about three 
days, if all has been properly attended to, the bed will be 
what is termed sweet. Then put in about six inches of fine 
garden soil ; if heavy, mix a little sand with it. Spread it 
level, and, when the soil is heated through, sow in small 
drills, from one-eighth to an inch deep, according to the size 
of the seeds ; cover with very fine sifted soil. Some very 
small kinds do best when sown upon the surface. When 
sown, give gentle sprinklings of water until they come up, 
when it will be necessary to give air freely during the day, 
to prevent them from being weak, or damping oiF, which 
many of them will do if they have not air regularly admitted. 
A LI. T OF CHOICE FLOWERING ANNUALS ADAPTED FOR 
SOWING ON A HOT-BED. 
Alyssum calycina, white, fragrant. 
Argenttum Mexicauum, blue-flowered Argeratum. 
Asclepias curassaviea, swallow wort, orange and red-flowered. 
Aster Chineusis, China Aster, or Queen Margarets, in great 
variety. The late imported German and Italian Asters 
are of extraordinary beauty. 
Balsamina hortensis, Balsam, commonly called Ladies' 
Slipper. 
Browallia alata, upright blue and white Browallia. 
Cacalia coccinea, scarlet Cacalia, or Venus' Paint Brush. 
sonchifolia, orange Cacalia. 
Calandrinia discolor, rosy purple, very pretty. 
Celosia cristata, Coxcomb, two varieties, red and yellow. 
Centaurea Americana, American Sultan. 
suaveolens, yellow and sweet Sultan. 
Clarkia elegans, elegant rose-coloured Clarkia. 
pulchella, showy purple Clarkia. 
alba, white-flowered Clarkia. 
Cleome grandiflora, large lilac-flowering spider-plant. 
Clintonia elegans, elegant blue Clintonia. 
