CATALOGUE OF FLOWER SEEDS, 
7 
cession, the sowing should be continued until June. In the Southern States, of 
course, January, February, or March will be the time to sow, as they correspond 
with April, May, and June of the North. To avoid all danger of injury, the 
sowing may be deferred till the last of April; but, when a little labor is of no 
consideration, the sowing may be made earlier, and, in case of failure or injury 
from frost or wet, another sowing may be made when the weather is more favor¬ 
able. Because w r e recommend April, it is not to be understood the sowing must 
be made at that time. If sown in any part of May, they will flower later, but 
abundantly, throughout the latter part of summer. 
Too much pains cannot be given in preparing the soil previous to sowing. It 
is the great error to cover too deep; and the cause of more than half of the com¬ 
plaint against seedmen of selling old and Worthless seeds comes from inexperience 
or want of judgment in sowing. No rule can be given in this respect; but, as a 
general guide, all large seeds, such as Sweet Peas, Lupin, &c., may be sown half 
an inch deep,—smaller, less; and for the smallest, such as Clarkia, Pinks, &c., a 
covering of one-sixteenth of an inch suffice. If sown too deep, they are longer 
in germinating, and are liable to decay. Avoid the general error of sowing the 
seeds too thick, as it causes an elongated and feeble growth, which no subsequent 
thinning will entirely remedy. 
As soon as the seedlings have made three or four leaves, and are an inch high, 
they should be thinned out. If they are kinds which will bear removal, they may 
be replanted in vacant spaces in the border. Tall-growing plants with spreading 
branches will require more room than slender-growing dwarf kinds. Stir the soil 
around the plants from time to time ; and, if they appear crowded, a second thin¬ 
ning will be of great benefit to those that remain. If the growth is not strong, 
from the nature of the soil, apply occasionally a very small amount of guano or 
bone-dust. 
Transplanting should if possible, always be done in cloudy weather, and to- 
wards®evening. If the soil is dry, the plants will require a light watering to set¬ 
tle the earth around the roots; and if warm sunny clays succeed the operation, 
they will root all the better to have shade fora day or two. All large-growing 
plants should be transplanted singly ; bnt many of the smaller may be removed 
in patches, without any trouble. After the plants are established, they will need 
no other-care than to tie up the taller-growing sorts to stakes, to prevent the wind 
and rains from beating them down, and injuring their blossoms. 
GARDEN REQUISITES. 
There are several aids to the economical management of the garden, which are 
almost indispensable; one of these is the hot-bed frame, for the forwarding of 
plants for early planting. A frame made of various sizes, according to the size 
of garden, from four sashes upwards. The length of sash is generally seven feet 
by three and a half wide, the size of glass six by eight inches ; making the entire 
frame of four sashes fourteen by seven feet. The frame should have a southern 
or south-eastern exposure ; should be made up with fresh horse manure and a few 
leaves mixed with it; this must be laid in a heap preparatory to being used, and, 
when in a proper state of fermentation, prepared for the reception of the frame. 
A few inches of rich, loamy soil must be spread over the manure ; then cover 
the frame with the sashes ; and, after standing a few days to allow the rank heat 
and steam to pass off, the seed can be sown. Where the ground is well drained, 
a better plan is to dig out a space the size of the frame, from one to two feet deep, 
according to the season and the heat required, in which the manure is placed, 
care being taken to pack it firmly and evenly. 
