A FEW BRIEF HINTS 
. . . ON THE . . . 
Sowing and Cultivation of 
•* <# FLOWER SEEDS. 
THE SOIL AND ITS PREPARATION. 
^HE BEST soil for annuals and for most flowering plants, whether 
biennials or perennials is a light rich loam. In such they grow 
readily, and attain to great perfection of bloom with but little care. 
By the application of proper manures, sand or clay, they can be bronght 
to such a condition as to answer all the purposes of a flower garden. 
Deep and thorough trenching in the autumn, if possible, and the appli¬ 
cation of very old decayed manure or leaf mould, will give the amateur 
a well prepared and suitable soil. 
Where the soil is too light, a thin layer of clay, if to be had, should 
be spread over the surface in the autumn, and dug in,—after being 
pulverized by the winter frosts—in the spring. This, with the use of 
old manure—that which has lain a year or more, and been frequently 
turned over till it becomes thoroughly decayed—will keep the garden 
in good condition. No unvarying rules can be given; much must be 
left to the judgment of the amateur. He must understand that the 
soil of a good garden should be deep, well pulverized, friable and rich. 
Where the flower garden is a specialty, then more pains ought to 
be taken, and those who are about to do this, if they have not the 
requisite information, will consult something more than a catalogue. 
Our hints are intended for the mass of the people who love flowers, 
and do not wish to incur great expense in the gratification of their 
taste. 
PERIOD FOR SOWING. 
This must depend much upon the season as well as the locality. 
As a general rule, the proper time to commence sowing is about the middle of April; though a few 
sorts may be planted as soon as the ground can be got ready; and for a succession 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 at the North. To avoid all danger 
of injury, the sowing may de deferred till the last of April, but when a little labor is of no consid¬ 
eration 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 favorable. Because we 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 the summer. 
It is the great error to cover too deeply; and the cause of more than half of the complaints 
against seedsmen of selling old and worthless seeds come from inexperience and 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, Lupins, etc., may be sown half an inch deep-smaller, less, and for the smallest, Clarkia, 
Pinks, etc., a covering of one-sixteenth of an inch will suffice. If sown too deep they are longer in 
germinating, and are liable to decay. Avoid the general error of sowing the seeds too thickly, as it 
causes an elongated and feeble growth, which no subsequent thinning will entirely remedy. 
