Helpful Hints 
t°A 
Gardeners 
Sowing Seed In Boxes For Transplanting 
S EED boxes, or “flats,” as they are commonly called 
are made about 24 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 
3 inches deep. Deeper boxes are not advisable as too 
much soil will become heavy and sodden which will make 
the boxes difficult to handle. 
Use a good light soil in your boxes and mix with Yi 
leaf mould or Peat Moss. Add not more than Y 2 inch of 
sand on the top of the soil, for the seeds to germinate in. 
Press the surface down smooth with a piece of board 
and after sowing cover with soil to the necessary depth. 
The depth will of course depend on the size and variety 
of the seed being planted. 
An old fashioned method and a very good one is to 
spread a wet sheet of newspaper over the soil after 
seeding and by lightly watering the paper daily a 
constant moisture will be maintained and seeds will 
germinate quickly. Care must be taken to remove the 
paper as soon as the seedlings appear. Plants should 
be thinned out in the boxes to one inch apart each way, 
otherwise they will be weak and spindly. Transplanting 
is usually done when the plants are three or four 
inches high. 
Paper pots can be used in which to raise seedlings 
if desired, and transplanting can be done as soon as the 
plants are ready. We handle all sizes of these pots. 
When transplanting it is not necessary to remove the 
paper pot which can be set right in the ground and will 
gradually decay. By growing the seedlings this way the 
roots of the small plants are not disturbed or broken 
when transplanting. 
Water Lilies For Garden Ponds 
O plants are easier grown than Water Lilies. 
There are many different types and hundreds of 
varieties that are too numerous to describe or mention 
in this limited space. It is more satisfactory when 
planting lilies to use boxes or pots rather than the loose 
soil at the bottom of the pond. After planting and when 
submerged, some sand or small rocks should be placed 
around the plant to prevent the loose soil from scattering 
and washing away. 
Planting time depends entirely on locality. When 
vegetation commences and conditions are favorable the 
hardy varieties may be planted. Nelumbiums, Egyptian 
and Japanese Lotus, though hardy when established, are 
tender in their younger growth and should not be 
transplanted until warm weather comes. Tender 
Nymphaeas do well in just such places as the more 
hardy varieties; but it is not wise to expose them quite 
as early. These will give early flowers over a long season. 
Obtain your plants or rhizomes from our mail order 
department and be sure to keep dead leaves and flowers 
picked off. Few, if any insects will be found troublesome. 
Green or black fly may be eradicated by washing off 
with the hose. We will gladly advise you as to varieties 
best suited to your particular location. Nothing will give 
more pleasure for the small amount of labor than a 
Lily Pond in your garden. Write for information, we 
would like to help you plan a garden pool. 
The Simple Secrets of Making Lawns 
I T is not difficult to have a good lawn, provided good 
Grass Seed is used and a little attention given .to 
ground preparation. 
The preparation of the soil is much the same in all 
cases—occasionally unusual conditions exist which call 
for special treatment. 
A rich soil is not necessary as humus and fertilizer, 
which are inexpensive, can be added to ordinary soils 
and a perfect lawn will result. May we suggest Peat 
Moss and Vigoro, the only eleven element fertilizer. 
After clearing off the area, decide on the level or 
contours desired. Proceed to level in a rough way before 
starting to spade or fork over the ground. After this has 
been done, the ground should be spaded or forked over. 
Lawn grasses are not deep rooted but the condition of 
the soil will be greatly improved by a good, deep 
cultivation. After the area has all been worked it should 
be watered and left for a week or two to allow weed 
seeds to sprout. It may be necessary, according to the 
time of the year, to water frequently to get the soil 
moist and weed seeds to germinate. 
Final Soil Preparation 
S OME soils are very sandy and lack fertility and 
moisture content. A top soil covering consisting of 
good loam about 3 inches thick combined with a good 
dressing of well-rotted manure will provide an ideal soil 
for lawns. 
On the other hand, heavy adobe and clay soils will be 
improved by a generous quantity of sand and stable 
manure with a large proportion of straw in it well mixed 
in when spading the ground. 
We have mentioned that the roots of grasses are not 
deep and for this reason we recommend that after the 
ground has been worked over and weed seeds sprouted 
a second forking over be done. Before doing this, 
however, a good dusting of Bone Meal should be applied 
to the soil and also a good dressing of humus (Peat Moss) 
should be spread on top. If cow or stable manure is avail¬ 
able put on a layer of about an inch all over the surface. 
Having done this, fork over the ground about 3 inches 
deep, mixing in the manure and bone meal thoroughly. 
Then rake over the surface to remove any stones and 
make the surface even. Remember, a little extra time 
spent in obtaining an even finish will help greatly toward 
an attractive finished lawn. If the soil is loose after raking 
it would be well to roll the ground with a light roller 
before seeding, but do not roll while the ground is wet. 
Seeding 
HE ground having been prepared, the method of 
seeding is next to be decided. A pound of Grass Seed 
will sow 150 to 200 square feet according to the variety 
of seed use. An even distribution of seed is essential. 
After the seed has been sown it should be covered 
lightly, about Ys to % inch in depth. This is best done 
by what is called “tucking” with a rake. Instead of 
using the rake with the usual raking motion forth and 
back, employ a light chopping action with only a very 
slight pull towards you. All of the seed will not be 
covered but sufficient will. After this, roll the area 
lightly. After rolling sprinkle the lawn well with a fine 
hose nozzle. Do not let the ground dry out but sprinkle 
a little every day. In the heat of summer if a lawn is 
being put in it is a good plan to cover the ground after 
seeding with some Peat Moss or Pulverized Sheep Guano. 
Early Care of Lawn 
W HEN the young grass is about 2 inches high it 
should be mowed. Early mowing makes the plants 
spread out and fill up the areas between the seedlings. 
Early weeding should also be done as soon as possible. 
The sooner the weeds are out the quicker the grass will 
fill in. There is no weed seed in high quality grass seed. 
A good lawn will require cutting twice a week. 
Remember, it is easier work to cut the lawn while the 
grass is short and will take half the time and effort, and 
it is better for the lawn. 
After the lawn is well established it is advisable to 
use a grass catcher on your lawn mower or rake well 
after cutting with a bamboo rake. 
To renovate an old lawn, sow some seed of the variety 
needed and then lightly scatter a little good soil or Peat 
Moss over the top. Water lightly a little each day if the 
weather is dry. 
The best time for watering your lawn is just after 
sundown. The grass then slowly absorbs all of the 
moisture and is not dried out by hot sun. 
