SUCCESS WITH FLOJTEIiS 
.3 
RAISING HARDY PERENNIALS 
FROM SEED 
Hardy perennials are easily grown from seed; many 
of them if sown early in spring will bloom the first 
year from seed as freely as annuals; others wait a year; 
that is if sown this year will not bloom until next year. 
The seed can be sown in spring or in summer. The 
sowing may be made in a hotbed, cold-frame, green¬ 
house, in pots or boxes placed near the window or in 
the open ground. By sowing the seed indoors time will 
be gained and no seed will be lost by insects, unfavor¬ 
able weather, etc. 
When sown in boxes or pots, etc., firm the soil first, 
then sow the seed, shake very little fine soil over it, 
press with the flat of your hand or a board, then water 
gently through a fine spray; keep the boxes in a warm, 
sunny window, shade with a piece of paper from drying 
sunshine, but take this off when the sunshine passes. A 
pane of glass laid over the pots or boxes until the seed¬ 
lings appear will hasten the germination; always tilt 
the glass up at one side % inch or more to allow for air. 
Transplant the seedlings before they overcrowd or 
become spindly in other pots or fiats setting them one 
inch apart. Before transplanting in the garden the pots 
or boxes should be placed on the porch or sheltered 
place for some time when the weather is mild to become 
gradually inured to the open air. 
All hardy perennials and biennials may also be grown 
to perfection by sowing the seed on a suitable bed in 
the open ground, this way causes the least trouble and 
for many has been the most successful one. Prepare 
a bed in a warm, sheltered spot in the garden, the 
soil to be mellow with line earth on the surface. Sow 
the seed thinly in rows or 4 inches apart, cover it 
thinly with earth and press the whole surface gently; 
water moderately; if the weather is sunny, shade with 
paper or branches, but remove these in the evening. If 
the weather should set in very dry, the bed should be 
thoroughly watered occasionally and all the weeds that 
appear should be taken out. The seedlings may be 
transplanted as soon as they are large enough to handle 
or the rows be thinned out leaving about inches from 
plant to plant; and early in the fall they may be trans¬ 
planted into their permanent quarters. Remember it is 
very necessary to either thin out or transplant seedlings 
so that they become robust and are capable of pro¬ 
ducing a bountiful crop of bloom. All this should be 
done in early spring. 
Again in July and August perennials arc very easily 
raised in much the same way as in spring. Transplant 
these seedings in August so as to get well rooted 
plants before the winter sets in. Be careful to set the 
plants at just the same depth or better a trifle deeper 
than they were before. 
