258 THE FLOWER-GARDEN, [chap. viii. 
a hot-bed. The hole should be filled with 
this compost, so as to raise it about six 
inches higher than the rest of the border, to 
allow for the new earth sinking, and the 
annuals should be planted in the centre, and 
carefully shaded for a few days by a flower¬ 
pot being turned over them. The mode of 
making and managing a hot-bed has been 
already given in the second chapter of this 
work; but the readiest way for the inhabit¬ 
ants of a suburban villa to obtain half-hardy 
annuals, is to purchase them from some 
nurseryman when ready for transplanting. 
The usual price is from two-pence to four- 
pence for a dozen plants; and thus, for a 
couple of shillings, a sufficient number of 
plants may be procured to make a splendid 
display for a whole summer. No. one should, 
indeed, attempt to manage a hot-bed, who 
has not some person to pay constant atten¬ 
tion to it; as one day’s neglect respecting 
giving air, watering, &c. will often destroy 
the hopes of a whole season. 
The Californian annuals require peculiar 
treatment. These plants are very hardy, 
and though many of them are of short dura- 
