CHAP. VIII.] 
ANNUALS. 
255 
A circle is then made by pressing the bottom 
of a flower-pot saucer, three or four inches in 
diameter, on the ground; and six or eight 
seeds are spread over the level surface thus 
formed: a little soil is then sprinkled over 
them, and the surface slightly pressed again 
with the saucer. If the weather, or the soil 
be dry, a slight watering should be given to 
the seeds after sowing, with a watering-pot 
having a very fine rose; but this must be 
done carefully, as too much water would 
wash the seeds out of their place. It is usual, 
after sowing, to stick a flat stick into the 
ground in the centre of the patch with the 
name of the flower upon it; and it is better 
to wwite these names very plainly, with a 
as the ink is very apt to run, and to render the 
words indistinct. Very neat little tallies, 
called monogrammes, made of very smooth 
wood, and prepared for writing on, are sold 
at the principal seed shops. It is customary 
with many gardeners, after sowing flower 
seeds, to turn a flower-pot over them; and 
this practice is useful in keeping the seeds 
moist by preventing evaporation, while the 
rather soft black-lead pencil than with ink 
