MARCH. 
It is reasonable to suppose that winter has, in a great 
measure, departed; in many sections of our country it 
still lingers, but in others the gardens are laden with 
flowers that have come to stay. It is now time to 
commence our gardening operations in earnest. Those 
of our subscribers who have selected seeds for their 
premiums should not longer defer preparations for 
growing them, in order to get the best results, which is 
our earnest wish. 
The following sorts should now be sown, either in 
boxes in the house, or in the hot-bed, in order that 
good, strong, healthy plants may be secured by the 
time the beds are ready to receive them, and the 
weather will permit of their being planted out. As 
soon as the young plants have their second leaves well 
formed, prick them out into thumb-pots, or boxes 
where they will have more room; this is important, as 
it makes the plants much stronger than if left until 
they are an inch or two high. Besides, the slight 
check given causes the roots to branch and grow in a 
compact form, insuring them from danger when the 
final planting is made. If two or three shifts can be 
made, it will materially benefit the plants. We have 
fully tested all the seeds offered and know their 
requirements. 
Gaillardia Picta Lorenziana is a decided acquisition 
to our list of annuals. The Garden (London) says of it: 
“To Herr Carl Lorenz, of Eifurt in Prussia, we are 
indebted for these acquisitions to our hardy garden, the 
flowers of which are altogether transformed from the 
ordinary form of the old Gaillardia picta, the outer ray 
of petals having entirely disappeared, and the usually 
flat centre being developed into a perfectly spherical 
mass of distinct florets, apparently one of the most re¬ 
markable metamorphosis that has ever - been effected in 
a simple flower by the horticulturist or hybridist.” 
There are fully six distinct varieties in our collection. 
Petunia Nana Compacta Multiflora. This is a new 
type of this already popular flower, remarkable for 
its compact habit of growth, which does not exceed 
ten inches in height, and a single plant forms a 
mass from one-and-a-half to two feet in diameter, com¬ 
pletely covered with blotched and striped flowers. For 
a border-plant it has no equal. Both of the above fur¬ 
nish masses of flowers the entire season; consequently, 
giving them the advantage of the hot-bed prolongs 
their season of usefulness. 
Coreopsis Lanceolata. Although a perennial, this 
plant succeeds well as an annual, if the seeds are sown 
early, coming into flower in August, and continuing 
until killed by the frost. This is one of the best yellow 
flowering plants in the garden, useful for cut flowers or 
for garden decoration. 
Pansies may be had at all seasons with but little care 
and attention. Seed sown now will make plants that 
will flower in May, and continue on through the sum¬ 
mer, if the situation is not too warm and dry. This 
plant prefers a wet, heavy soil. For later - -flowering— 
October and November—we prefer sowing the seed 
about the first of June, and for early spring flowers, 
sow in September, and protect the plants by a frame 
during winter. 
The seeds of the following annuals should be sown 
where they are wanted to bloom, as there is nothing to 
be gained by starting early and transplanting, at least 
not sufficient to pay for the trouble required. 
Balsams. The seed of these showy annuals should 
be sown as soon as the garden is in condition to work 
in deep, rich soil, and the plants thinned out so they 
will be at least two feet apart each way. When treated 
in this liberal manner they will show their appreciation 
by a gorgeous display of flowers, larger and more 
double than this plant is generally supposed to produce. 
Mignonette may be sown at any time, and anywhere 
that there is a vacant place. It is better to make two 
or three sowings for a succession of bloom. For later- 
flowering, sow about the middle of July. No plant 
more generously repays good treatment than the Mig¬ 
nonette. In good, rich soil, well worked, the spikes of 
flowers are simply enormous, and for late-flowering- 
there is no plant more desirable. 
Zinnia Haggeana. For a border-plant, or for ribbon- 
work, we prefer this new variety to the well-known 
garden sorts. Its flowers are yellow, very double, and 
produced in the greatest abundance. It more closely 
resembles the dwarf French Marigold than the Zinnia. 
It should have plenty of room and a moderately heavy, 
rich soil. 
Phlox Drummondi Grandiflora Splendens, the most 
desirable variety of this showy annual; it requires a 
warm, sunny border, moderately heavy soil, which 
need not be particularly rich. The seed may be sown 
as soon as the ground is in order, and for a succession, 
sow late in June. 
Morning Glories. If we could have but one climbing- 
plant, it would be a variety of this old-fashioned 
annual, for there is none other half so beautiful, either 
in color or form; none that will grow in such neglected 
out-of-the-way places, and yield its flowers in such pro¬ 
fusion. No other flower gives you so kindly a greeting, 
and at so early an hour in the morning. Those who let 
the Morning Glory take care of itself know nothing of 
its beauty. Make a bed for it as for a Geranium, and 
furnish strings at least twenty feet high, for it to run 
upon, then in August get up with the sun and behold 
as grand a floral display as it is possible to conceive. 
Gladiolus seed should be sown in precisely the same 
manner as Onion seed is sown, and cared for in the same 
way. If the soil is rich and moist, bulbs will be formed 
half an’inch in diameter the first season. These should 
be taken up and put in paper bags, away from the 
frost during the winter. Many of them will flower the 
second season, and all of them the third. The growing 
of Gladiolus from seed is an interesting branch of flori¬ 
culture. There is always a good reason to expect 
something equal to the best, a chance to get some better 
ones than ever before produced, and no danger of 
getting any but what is well worth growing. 
Roses may be had in abundance, particularly in the 
autumn, from the plants selected, provided our sub- 
