YtSies SPlaral sKmfiiUiet toi3 Pictorial Some feomjicwiian. 
Tfpuxttir dbiti^rtmi^ 
seed-s o win g. 
4< A wonderful tiling is a seed—• 
The one thing deathless forever I 
The one thing changeless—utterly true— 
Forever old and forever new. 
And fickle and faithless never.” 
You hold in your hand a tiny seed. Very small, 
you say ; but what possibilities are wrapped up within 
the little brown atom ! There lies the germ of a 
plant, the leaves, the blossoms, the flowers, and the 
next generation of seeds. Were we to see the process 
of germination and development for the first time, we 
would all exclaim : “ A miracle !” But it is repeated 
so constantly before our eyes, that we cease to regard 
it as any thing marvelous, and forget that in this pro¬ 
cess we have one of the most striking evidences of 
Divine agency upon the earth. As each season ful¬ 
fills its mission in the growth 
and maturing of vegetation, 
it yields us from its garnered 
store the seeds of numberless 
varieties and classes of plants 
that, although the parent 
plants may be cut down by 
the breath of the Frost King, 
they may live again the next 
summer in the forms of their 
offspring. 
Seeds vary indefinitely in 
form, size, and natural ten¬ 
dencies, and require a great 
diversity of treatment. The 
seeds of plants indigenous to 
the soil, like our weeds, will 
grow under almost any cir¬ 
cumstances, and in spite of 
neglect and abuse. But we 
desire to possess the floral 
and vegetable treasures of 
all climes, and therefore if 
we expect our foreign favor¬ 
ites to gladden us with suc¬ 
cessful growth, we must 
study the natural conditions 
under which each thrives in 
its native soil, and, as far as 
may be, fulfill those condi¬ 
tions. Some general directions, however, may be 
given, that will aid us in our efforts to make beautiful 
our flower-beds, or our garden successful. 
First, our plans must be laid in good season. It re¬ 
quires faith to lay out flower-beds and garden-walks, 
even in imagination, while February winds are whist¬ 
ling and snow-drifts hide the face of Mother Earth. 
But it must be done, and preparations made for the 
summer beauty we covet, if we expect any measure of 
success. In February, then, make out your lists. If 
you are supplied with seed of the varieties you desire, 
well and good; if not, study your seed- catalogue, make 
out your order, and send to your florist at once. 
Of the rarer species of flowers, especially the double 
varieties, it is more satisfactory to get seed from the 
florist every year, as those saved by the unskilled 
grower are apt to be semi-double. Flowers growing 
near each other are very liable to mix, and deterior¬ 
ate in many ways. This is well illustrated by self- 
sown pansies, which in blooming often show the 
strangest markings, the result of mixture from the dif¬ 
ferent varieties. Therefore, if pure varieties of choice 
species are desired, get fresh seed from headquarters 
every year. 
Having received your seed, it will be neeessary to 
turn your attention to planting such as need to borrow 
time from the early spring, to be ready to bloom in due 
season in the summer. Do not plant all varieties in¬ 
discriminately, as soon as received; for while some 
need the longest time you can give them, others do not 
thrive when planted too early. Your floral catalogues 
will give the needed information on this subject, and 
they cannot be studied too carefully. As a general 
rule, annuals desired for early bloom will need an early 
start in the house. A few varieties have long top 
roots, which do not bear transplanting well; these 
should be sown when they are to flower, when the 
season is sufficiently advanced. 
Having obtained all the information possible in re¬ 
gard to your seeds, you are ready to begin operations. 
It is supposed that you have a box of rich, fine-sifted 
earth, taken from around some old barn or hen-park 
An Oriental Vine-Covered Court. 
in the fall, and stored in the cellar for the spring’s use. 
Cigar, pipe, candy boxes, square oyster cans, with one 
of the sides removed, are excellent to plant seeds in, as 
they are shallow, light, and easily handled. 
A very important point is the preparation of seeds 
for planting. Most varieties are hastened in their ger¬ 
mination by soaking over night in warm water. A 
bit of personal experience may not be amiss. Several 
years ago there appeared in Scribner’s Magazine an 
item regarding the effect of camphor upon seeds, and 
experimenting with the idea thus gained, I obtained 
wonderful results. Taking tomato seeds, which every 
one knows to be slow in starting, I poured boiling 
water upon them, putting in two drops of camphor, 
and letting them soak in a warm place until the next 
day. Then I planted them in -well warmed earth, cov¬ 
ered them with several thicknesses of flannel, and set 
them directly under a large stove, in which fire was 
kept night and day. They were not allowed to get 
dry, but were watered occasionally with quite warm 
water. On the morning of the fifth day, the little 
loops came hurrying up, helter skelter, almost tumbling 
over each other iir their eagerness. Then the flannel 
was removed, the little seedlings given air and sunlight 
by day, and a warm corner by night, constant care 
being taken that they should not be chilled. 
My experience with cypress seeds was very peculiar. 
It was quite late in the season, and they were needed 
to fill a vacant spot in a flower-bed. I put them in 
hot camphorated water, and left them for twenty-four 
hours. At the end of that time I found them sprouted, 
many of them with shoots half an inch long. I planted 
them iu the bed, and in less than a week they were up, 
and growing finely. 
Smilax seeds are among the slow germinators. I 
have bad them lie dormant two or three months be¬ 
fore putting in an appearance, but camphor helps them 
forward wonderfully. It is also of great value in re¬ 
storing the vitality to old seeds, often proving effica¬ 
cious in very doubtful cases. 
All seeds planted in the house do better if covered 
with flannel until they come up; it protects them from 
changes of temperature, and 
keeps them moist. Light is 
not necessary to germination, 
but as soon as the young 
shoot is in sight, then sun¬ 
shine and air are indispens¬ 
able to healthy growth. 
Too much water is nearly 
as prejudicial to seeds as too 
little. Never pour water 
over the earth in which they 
are planted, hut sprinkle the 
dirt carefully, so as to keep 
up a gentle moisture. 
Much more might he said 
upon this subject, hut space 
forbids. These few practi¬ 
cal directions have been 
written for women who can¬ 
not command a hotbed in 
which to start their flowers 
and early vegetables, hut 
who, with limited appliances, 
desire to enjoy these beau¬ 
ties and luxuries. If these 
few suggestions, horn of ear¬ 
nest effort and varied experi¬ 
ence, shall help any to even 
a measure of success, their 
object will have been gained. 
And, dear sisters, let us remember that we are con¬ 
tinually ‘‘ seed-sowers,” and that the fruits of our daily 
sowing will spring up in our homes, and wherever our 
lives touch other lives. 
“ Plant blessings, and blessings will bloom; 
Plant hate, and hate will grow; 
You can sow’ to-day—to-morrow will bring 
The blossom that proves what sort of a thing 
Is the seed—the seed that you sow.” 
Mrs. S. B. Titteeington. 
"Vines for Shaded Places. — I had a north wall, 
from which high, projecting buildings on the east and 
west shut out the sun entirely, and German ivy grew 
over it twenty feet high, forming a mass of most thrifty 
green. I procured the ivy from the florist the 1st of 
May, well rooted, and with vines a yard long. I cut 
it bade closely when I transferred it from the pots to 
the ground, watered freely all summer, and twined the 
vines on twine. The soil was half sand and half gar¬ 
den loam. I also had Madeira vines grow in the same 
location, but not very thriftily. The Bignonia or trum¬ 
pet vine will also grow in the shade. M. L. A. 
