January, 1917 
THE GARDE N MAGAZINE 
!211 
may be run over the rows. The seed drill 
has a smaller wheel which does this auto- 
matically. Another point to bear in mind is 
to cover the seed as soon as possible after the 
row or drill has been opened up, while the soil 
is still fresh and moist. 
WHEN TRANSPLANTING 
’’ I 'HE soil for transplanting or for setting 
^ out plants should be prepared just as 
carefully as for sowing seeds. Mark out the 
rows and the positiops for the plants ac- 
curately. This helps greatly in the work of 
cultivation throughout the season. For small 
plants, the holes may be made rapidly with 
a “dibber” or a pointed tool of wood or metal. 
For larger plants, use a hoe or a trowel. If 
fertilizer or manure is to be used, mix it 
thoroughly with the soil in each “hill” be- 
fore beginning to .set the plants. Cut back 
the larger leaves from a third to a half. 
This makes the plant much less likely to 
“wilt,” with a consequent check to growth, 
after being transplanted. Then remove the 
plants carefully from the flat or pot in which 
they have been growing. If the soil is so 
dry that water must be used, pour a pint or 
so into the hole where the plant is to go, 
before planting. Set the ball of roots well 
down into the hole, and press the soil about 
it firmly with both hands unless the soil is 
wet or heavy: it is usually a good plan to go 
back over the row after planting, and press 
the soil about each plant still more firmly by 
putting one foot on either side of the stem. 
This may seem like harsh treatment for a 
tender little plant, but you will soon get onto 
the “knack” of it, and see that it gets your 
plants in more solidly and more rapidly than 
you can do it with your fingers alone. Im- 
mediately after planting, rake over the whole 
surface with an iron rake leaving it smooth 
and fine. This is not only for looks but to 
reestablish the soil mulch, the importance 
of which I have already explained. 
The newly set plants in hot dry weather, 
should be protected from the sun for a few 
days to prevent severe wilting. Old news- 
papers, held in place by soil or stones, but left 
open at the ends to admit free circulation of 
air, may be used. Broad shingles, stuck into 
the soil on the south side of the plant answer 
the same purpose; or a wide board, held on 
edge by pegs, on the sunny side of the row. 
Selecting Flower Seeds for Definite Objects. ° 
SUMMING UP THE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF THE LEADING ANNUALS SO AS TO GET THE GREATEST EFFICIENCY 
FROM THE LIST OF PLANTS OFFERED IN THE CATALOGUE 
jk NNUALS give positive, definite 
/% results in the same year as they are 
I ^ sown and a selection of the avail- 
able kinds can be made to fill any 
requirement of flowers. It is of course true 
that many annuals soon become rather weedy 
looking after producing a few flowers, which 
fact has to a great extent prejudiced many 
people against using them to any extent. 
But, there are annuals and annuals! 
Some kinds of annual plants flower more 
freely in rather poor thin soil, but it should be 
remembered that under these conditions the 
duration of the flowering season is consider- 
ably shortened. Therefore, I advise a thor- 
ough preparation of the border, digging it 
deeply (i8 inches if possible) and working 
in a liberal quantity of rotted manure. 
Where manure is not available, use leaf mould. 
If the soil is naturally very heavy, road 
scrapings spread over the surface previous to 
raking it will help to keep it open and porous. 
Very rich soils which have been heavily 
manured in previous years will be much 
benefited by a dressing of freshly slaked lime. 
Make a start with your preparations as 
early in spring as the ground can be caught 
in a sufficiently dry condition. Previous to 
sowing the seed, the surface must be made as 
fine as possible by raking, that a perfect seed 
bed is assured. 
When sowing be careful to follow the in- 
structions given in the tables which follow 
with regard to the depth at which to cover 
the seed, as deep sowhig is the cause of the 
majority of failures with amiuals. 
ANNUALS FOR A LONG SEASON 
The following fifteen kinds carefully sown on well prepared ground, will completely 
fill 100 square feet, or a bed 25 x 4 feet. With one or two exceptions they will bloom con- 
tinuously from late spring or early summer until frost. If we except Sweet Alyssum, they 
are all what I may term cutting varieties, suitable for home decoration. 
NAME 
DEPTH 
TO SOW 
(INCHES) 
COLOK 
THIN 
OUT TO 
INCHES 
APART 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
HEIGHT 
(INCHES) 
Snapdragon 
i 
Various 
9 to 12 
July to Nov. 
18 
Sweet Alyssum 
> 
White 
6 
June to Nov. 
6 
China Aster 
i 
Various 
9 to 12 
July to Oct. 
12 to 18 
Pot Marigold 
Yellow and orange 
9 to 12 
June to Nov. 
12 
Cornflower 
1 
Various 
9 
June to Nov. 
18 
Pink 
j. 
Various 
6 
June to Nov. 
9 to 12 
California Poppy 
JL 
Various 
6 
June to Nov. 
9 to 12 
Blanket Flower 
i 
Yellow and crimson 
12 
July to Nov. 
18 to 24 
Mexican Poppy 
Yellow 
6 to 9 
July to Nov. 
15 to 18 
Nasturtium 
i; 
Various 
9 
June to Oct. 
12 
Petunia 
1 
Various 
12 
June to Oct. 
12 
Phlox (Drummond) 
i 
Various 
9 
June to Oct. 
12 
Zinnia 
Various 
18 
June to Oct. 
24 
Verbena 
i 
Various 
18 
June to Oct. 
6 
Pansy 
i 
Various 
9 
July to Nov. 
6 
GOOD CUTTING LONG SEASON ANNUALS 
The Salvia should be sown indoors early in March, also Celosia for early display, though 
the latter sown in the open early in May will begin to flower toward the middle of August, 
and continue until frost. Sown in heat and set out in May, it blooms June until frost. 
NAME 
DEPTH 
TO SOW 
(INCHES) 
COLOR 
THIN 
OUT TO 
INCHES 
APART 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
HEIGHT 
(INCHES) 
Celosia 
i 
Various 
18 
June to Nov. 
30 
Velvet Flower 
1 
Various 
9 
July to Nov. 
24 
African Marigold 
\ 
Yellow and orange 
15 
July to Nov. 
30 
Scarlet Sage 
I 
Scarlet 
15 
June to Oct. 
24 to 36 
Wallflower 
i 
Yellow and brown 
12 
Aug. to Nov. 
15 
Sunflower 
h 
Yellow 
36 
July to Oct. 
36 to 72 
Baby Breath 
i 
White 
4 
June & July 
12 
Calliopsis 
} 
Yellow and brown 
9 
June to Oct. 
24 
Prickly Poppy 
i 
Yellow 
12 
July to Nov. 
24 
Balsam 
1 
Various 
12 
July to Sept. 
24 
Flora's Paint Brush 
k 
Yellow and scarlet 
6 
June to Sept. 
18 
Larkspur [tion 
i 
Various 
9 
July to Oct. 
18 
Marguerite Cama- 
i 
Various 
12 
July to Nov. 
12 
Swan River Daisy 
i 
Blue and white 
9 
June to Aug. 
9 
AN ALTERNATIVE COLLECTION 
This collection of seventeen packets is quite distinct from the preceding. It includes six 
varieties of Spencer Sweet Peas that will sow a row 25 feet long, while the eleven remaining 
packets will be ample for a border at least 20 feet by 4 feet. The Free-flowering Begonias 
must be sown indoors, or in a hotbed early in March, and it might also be well to start the 
Nicotiana under glass toward the end of March. With the exception of Portulaca (which 
makes a most beautiful dwarf edging plant) all are first class subjects for cutting. 
NAME 
DEPTH 
TO SOW 
(INCHES) 
COLOR 
THIN 
OUT TO 
INCHES 
APART 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
HEIGHT 
(INCHES) 
Begonia 
Free flowering 
1 . 
Various 
12 
June to Nov. 
12 to 15 
Marigold 
Dwarf French 
Yellow and brown 
12 
July to Nov. 
12 
Nicotiana 
i 
Various 
12 
July to Oct. 
24 
Aster Daybreak 
1 
4 
Various 
9 
Aug. & Sept. 
15 
Portulaca 
i 
Various 
12 
June to Oct. 
4 
Ageratum 
X 
Blue and white 
9 
July to Oct. 
9 to 18 
Mourning Bride 
i 
Various 
9 
July to Nov. 
.30 
Cosmos 
Various 
36 
Sept, to Oct. 
60 
Madagascar 
Periwinkle 
X 
White and red 
9 
Aug. to Oct. 
18 
Centaurea Imperialis 
1 
Various 
9 
June to Oct. 
24 
Sweet Peas (6) 
2 
Various 
3 
June to Aug. 
60 to 72 
Mignonette 
V 
Various 
9 
June to Nov. 
12 
DEPENDABLE LONG SEASON KINDS 
•All may be sown directly where intended to flower, but I recommend starting Torenia 
indoors. This collection also is sufficient for a 25 by 4 feet bed. 
NAME 
DEPTH 
TO SOW 
(INCHES) 
COLOR 
THIN 
OUT TO 
INCHES 
APART 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
HEIGHT 
(INCHES) 
Diascia barbaraea 
i 
Rosy salmon 
9 
June to Nov. 
12 
Straw Flower 
k 
Various 
12 
July to Nov. 
30 
Lupine 
i 
Various 
9 
June to Aug. 
24 
Phacelia 
1 
Blue 
6 
June to Sept. 
12 
Cone Flower 
1 
Yellow and brown 
9 
July to Nov. 
24 
African Daisy 
) 
Golden yellow 
9 
June to Oct. 
12 
Love-in-a-mist 
1 
Blue and white 
9 
June to Oct. 
15 
Gilliflower 
1 
Various 
9 
July to Nov. 
15 
Torenia 
1 
Blue and white 
9 
July to Oct. 
6 
Red Sunflower 
1 
Yellow and red 
36 
July to Sept. 
60 to 72 
Toad Flax 
Red and yellow 
3 
June to Aug. 
6 
Summer Cypress 
} 
Foliage 
24 
June to Oct. 
30 to 36 
Globe Amaranth 
i 
Various 
18 
July to Nov. 
30 
