GROWING FLOWERS FROM SEED 
After selecting the portion of your garden in which you wish to plant flowers, 
pay particular attention to the preparation of the soil. If you will refer to page two 
you will find some information that will help in this, although, of course, the ground 
will be spaded instead of ploughed. Work the soil deeply and make the top three or 
four inches as fine and loose as possible. It is well to apply a liberal coating of well 
rotted manure and spade in, in the fall. In the spring work the soil as early as possi¬ 
ble and apply commercial fertilizer as a top dressing (see commercial fertilizer page 
2). Much weed killing can be done before planting. 
Sowinq the Seed Nearly all flowers do well in sunny locations, a few can be 
y grown in the shade. Most flowers can be grown by sowing 
the seed as soon as the soil has become warm and danger 
of all frost is over. Many of the finer seeds can be sown in the house in boxes or 
flats. The soil used should be composed of about equal parts leaf mold, sharp sand 
and good garden soil. The bottom of the flat may be covered with a layer of coarse 
cinders, broken pots or some such material and the prepared soil finely sifted to fill 
up the balance of the box within about an inch of the top. Place a window where 
exposed to the sun and cover with a pane of glass to retard evaporation. Water care¬ 
fully with a fine spray, keeping the soil moist but not wet. Remove the glass as 
soon as the seeds begin to sprout. When the plants are a couple of inches high, they 
should be thinned, allowing at least two inches apart each way. The plants pulled 
may be transplanted to other boxes, later to be reset in the open ground. 
Depth of Plantinq The ruling is to plant seeds to a depth of about twice 
^ ^ their diameter. Fine seeds may be pressed into the soil 
with a flat board, and a very little soil sprinkled over 
them. Do not plant too deeply. Larger seeds of course, will stand deeper planting. 
Construct a shade to keep off the burning rays of the sun and prevent crusting, also 
to avoid the seed being washed away by rains. Hi-caps set close together over the 
seed row make an excellent shade. See Page 86. Be sure to mark all rows where 
you sow the seed so you will know what you have planted and where. 
To Grow Extra Larqe Thin so the plants are twelve to fifteen inches apart 
Z . . ^ in the row and place the rows three feet apart for the 
innias giant types and two feet apart for the small varieties. 
Plant the seed one-half inch deep, twenty to twenty- 
five seeds to the foot of row. 
Do not plant until all danger from frost is past and do not plant nearer any 
trees than the height of the tree. Never plant where they will be shaded. They do 
the best on very rich soil. Cultivate and water frequently. Dust the ground with 
finely ground sulphur when the plants are beginning to bud at the rate of one-half 
pound to the square rod to avoid mildew. 
The following symbols are used in connection with each item: 
A—Annual: The plants live and bloom one season only. 
B—Biennial: The plants live two seasons, often blooming only the second year. 
P—Perennial: The plants usually live from year to year. 
H—Hardy: Plants that are easily grown and resist average seasonal extremes 
of temperature. 
H-H—Half-Hardy. 
T—Tender. 
Approximate height of each plant is also given. 
FLOWERS BEST ADAPTED TO VARIOUS USES 
For Cut Flowers 
Antirrhinum (Snap Dragon) 
Aster 
Calendula 
Candytuft 
Carnation 
Centurea Imperialis 
(Sweet Sultan) 
Chrysanthemum 
Clarkia 
Columbine 
Cosmos 
Gaillardia 
Gypsopbila 
Marigold 
Nasturtium 
Stock 
Sweet Peas 
Zinnia 
For Fragrance 
Alyssum 
Candytuft 
Carnation 
Centaurea 
Petunia 
Stock 
Sweet Peas 
Sweet William 
For Partial Shade 
Balsam 
Campanula 
Centaurea 
Clarkia 
Columbine 
Pansy 
Sweet William 
For Withstanding 
Drought 
Candytuft 
Cosmos 
Four O’clock 
Hollyhock 
Petunia 
Portulacca 
Verbena 
Zinnia 
For Window Boxes 
Antirrhinum 
Asparagus Sprengeri 
Geranium 
Morning Glory 
Nasturtium 
Petunia 
Phlox 
Verbena 
For Rock Gardens 
Alyssum 
Columbine 
Carnation 
Campanula 
Candytuft 
Diauthus 
Gypsopbila 
Phlox 
Portulacca 
Verbena 
For Climbing 
Canary Bird Vine 
Cypress Vine 
Morning Glory 
Sweet Peas 
Plants, other than climbers, given as being 3 feet or more in height may be used 
as backgrounds; 2 to 3 feet for borders; 10 to 20 inches for bedding and borders; 
less than 10 inches for edgings. 
94 
D. V. Burrell Seed Growers Co., Rocky Ford, Colo 
