Flower Seed Cultural Directions 
We show below the various cultural directions for the Flower Seed offered in this Catalog 
CULTURE 1 
Sow in April or May in the open ground where the 
plants are to remain. Thoroughly prepare the garden 
bed to a depth of 8 inches, as soon as soil is fit to work 
in the spring. If the soil is light, add humus to help 
retain moisture. If it is heavy and sticky, humus will 
lighten it, and sand added to a depth of 2 inches and 
thoroughly worked through, will provide good drainage 
which is essential. Have the surface level and finely 
pulverized. Sow seed in rows or groups, covering to a 
depth of two or three times its size. Press soil down 
firmly with a board and water moderately with a fine 
spray, never permitting surface to become dry or soggy. 
When seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, thin out to avoid 
spindly growth. Later, thin out to provide room for 
development depending on size the plant normally 
attains. Until seedlings appear, water often but lightly. 
As they grow they require a greater supply of moisture. 
During germination, and when seedlings are small, bed 
should be shaded from the hot sun. Give light frequent 
cultivation. 
CULTURE 2 
If early flowering is not a factor, sow from April 15 
through May in the open ground in rows or groups, in a 
well-prepared bed where plants are to remain. Keep the 
finely pulverized surface soil moderately moist, never 
allowing it to dry out or become soggy. Provide shade 
from hot sun until plants are well established. Thin out 
seedlings to allow room for development, depending on 
size the plant normally attains. Give light, frequent 
cultivation. 
For early flowers, sow in February or March in 
shallow boxes in a finely pulverized mixture of 2 parts 
good loam, 1 part humus and 1 part sand thoroughly 
soaked. Cover seed to a depth of two or three times its 
size and press soil down firmly with a board. Keep in 
a medium temperature and water moderately with a 
fine spray, never having surface dry or soggy. When 
seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch apart 
in similar boxes, or to 2 J^-inch pots, gradually ventilat¬ 
ing to harden off plants. Set out in garden when danger 
of frost is past. 
CULTURE 3 
If early flowering is not a factor, sow in April or May 
in the open ground in rows or groups, in a well-pre¬ 
pared bed where plants are to remain. Keep the finely 
pulverized surface soil moderately moist, never allow¬ 
ing it to dry out or become soggy. Provide shade from 
hot sun until plants are well established. Thin out 
seedlings to allow room for their development, depend¬ 
ing on the size the plant normally attains. Give light, 
frequent cultivation. 
For early flowers, sow in March or April in shallow 
boxes of a finely pulverized mixture of 2 parts good 
loam, 1 part humus and 1 part sand, thoroughly soaked. 
Cover seed to a depth of two or three times its size and 
press soil down firmly with a board. Keep in a medium 
temperature and water moderately with a fine spray, 
never having surface dry or soggy. When seedlings 
have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch apart in similar 
boxes or to 2 3^-inch pots, gradually allowing more 
ventilation to harden off plants. Set out in garden 
bed in May. 
CULTURE 4 
Sow in February or March in shallow boxes of a 
finely pulverized mixture of 2 parts good loam, 1 part 
humus, and 1 part sand, thoroughly soaked. Cover 
seed to a depth of two or three times its size and press 
soil down firmly with a board. Keep at a medium 
temperature and water moderately with a fine spray, 
never permitting surface to become dry or soggy. When 
seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch apart 
in similar boxes. Do not discard the weak seedlings; 
they often produce the best flowering plants. Later, 
transplant to pots, and in May or June set plants out 
in the garden where they are to remain, or shift to 
larger pots for indoor bloom. 
CULTURE 5 
For largest and earliest spring flowers, sow from July 
to September 1 outdoors, either in shallow boxes of a 
finely pulverized mixture of 2 parts good loam, 1 part 
humus, and 1 part sand, thoroughly soaked, or in a 
finely prepared seed-bed. Cover seed to a depth of two 
or three times its size and press soil down firmly with a 
board. Water thoroughly with a fine spray, never per¬ 
mitting surface to become dry or soggy. Provide plenty 
of ventilation and shade from the hot sun. When seed¬ 
lings have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch apart in 
similar boxes. In September or October the plants may 
be either transplanted to the garden bed and given 
winter protection, or they may be potted up and 
wintered over in a coldframe and set out in a garden 
bed in early spring. 
For bloom from summer to frost, sow in February 
indoors in shallow boxes as above described, and, after 
the first transplanting, and when danger of frost is 
past, set the plants out in the garden bed. The seed 
may also be sown direct in the open garden bed in 
April or early May. 
CULTURE 6 
For earliest flowers, sow in February or March 
indoors in shallow boxes of a finely pulverized mixture 
of 2 parts good loam, 1 part humus, and 1 part sand, 
thoroughly soaked. Cover seed to a depth of two or 
three times its size and press soil down firmly with a 
board. Water thoroughly with a fine spray, never per¬ 
mitting surface to become dry or soggy. Provide plenty 
of ventilation and shade from the hot sun. When seed¬ 
lings have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch apart in 
similar boxes or to 2J4-inch pots. Later harden off 
plants and set out in the garden bed when danger of 
frost is past. 
The seed may also be sown in coldframes or in an 
open ground seed-bed in late April or May, or later in 
July and August. When seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, 
thin out to prevent spindly growth and to give room 
for development. Later transplant to where the plants 
are to remain. After the ground freezes, give protection 
until early spring with peat-moss or leaves. 
Note. Sow Lupinus and Poppy seed in pots so they 
can be set out later without disturbing roots. They 
are difficult to transplant. 
CULTURE 7 
Sow May 15 in the garden bed, thoroughly prepared 
to a depth of 8 inches, where plants are to remain. The 
surface soil should be level and finely pulverized. Sow 
the seed in rows or groups, covering to a depth of two 
or three times its size. Press soil down firmly with a 
board and keep moderately moist with a fine spray, 
never permitting surface to become dry or soggy. When 
seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, thin out to allow room for 
development, depending on size the plant normally 
attains. Shade bed from hot sun until plants are well 
established. Give light, frequent cultivation. 
The seeds may also be sown indoors in late April or 
May, in shallow boxes of a finely pulverized mixture of 
2 parts good loam, 1 part humus, 1 part sand, thor¬ 
oughly soaked. Cover seed to a depth of two or three 
times its size and press soil down firmly with a board. 
Keep in a warm temperature and moderately moist 
with a fine spray, never having surface dry or soggy. 
When seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant to 1 inch 
apart in similar boxes, and later transplant to the 
garden bed. 
CULTURE 8 
Sow from August to October in pots containing a 
finely pulverized mixture of 2 parts good loam, 1 part 
humus, 1 part sand, thoroughly soaked. Cover seed 
to a depth of two or three times its size and press soil 
down firmly. Water moderately with a fine spray and 
provide shade from hot sun. As this seed is slow to 
germinate, requiring from 4 to 6 months, the seedlings 
will not appear until the next spring. Carry the pots 
over the winter in a coldframe. When seedlings appear, 
shade and water carefully. Later, thin out, and when 
plants have attained good size, remove the pot and set 
out in the garden bed where they are to remain. 
Flower Seed Cultural Directions 
6 
FORBES GARDEN STORE 
