cHoies on SRaisincj flower Seeds 
ANNUALS (HARDY). Those families which are sown and bloom 
the first season, the plants dying with the approach of Winter, such as 
Alyssum, Calliopsis, Candytuft, Centaurea, Mignonette, 
Nasturtium, Poppy, Sweet Peas, etc. Sow from April to June, 
the later sowings being confined to rapid-growing annuals only. 
The ground should be previously prepared by digging, working in 
a little manure at the same time. The surface should be made level 
and finely raked. If the weather is dry, give a watering some hours 
before sowing. Sow thinly and gently press the seed into the earth, 
covering lightly with finely sifted soil; the very small seeds must have 
very little covering. Keep the soil moist and shaded until the seed¬ 
lings are up; the shade can be managed with branches of evergreens 
or sheets of paper fastened to little stakes. When large enough to 
handle, thin out freely, leaving space for each plant to develop to its 
full size. Thinning out is best done during dull, moist weather, or in 
the evening time. In calculating the distance that should be left 
between plant and plant, it may be taken as a general rule that 
Iants which attain, when fully grown, a height of 1 foot, require to 
e thinned out to at least foot apart, and so on. 
Many of the hardy annuals may be sown in August and September for 
Spring and early Summer flowering, and if the seedlings are boldly 
thinned out at an early stage they become hardy and robust, produc¬ 
ing finer plants and a greater profusion of bloom than when sown 
in Spring. 
Hardy Annuals do not, in most cases, transplant well; they should 
therefore be sown, where intended to bloom. 
HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. Slower in growth than the Hardy 
Annuals. They include Antirrhinum, Aster, Cosmos, Marigold, 
Salpiglossis, Salvia, Stocks, Verbena, Zinnia, etc. May be 
sown in March or April, in gentle heat, in pans, shallow boxes, or pots, 
a light sandy soil being used. Shade from the sun’s rays till seedlings 
are up; this can be done by simply placing a newspaper lightly over 
them. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick off 
into shallow boxes, and when strong enough and all danger of frost 
is over, plant out on to well-prepared ground. 
Those who have no convenience for sowing in heat can sow all Half- 
hardy Annuals in the open border middle of May. 
GREENHOUSE FLOWERS such as Calceolaria, Cineraria, 
Cyclamen, Primula, etc. Sow in gentle heat, in pans of loam, leaf 
soil and sand, in equal parts, placing a piece of glass over the pan 
and keeping shaded and moist until the seedlings are up; pot these 
off singly when large enough, and replace in heat, shading and keep¬ 
ing close until established, and pot on as necessary. 
PERENNIALS. Those plants which do not usually blossom until 
the following year after sowing, but continue to flower and increase 
each year thereafter, many however, will flower the first season from 
seed if sown in February indoors, and planted out. Some popular 
perennials are Aquilegia, Delphinium, Digitalis, Gaillardia, 
Hollyhock, etc. Sow from March to July in pans or in drills on a 
prepared bed of light, rich soil and keep shaded and moist until the 
seedlings appear. Prick these out as soon as large enough to handle, 
into shallow boxes or nursery beds, and when strong enough trans¬ 
plant to permanent situations. Do not allow the seedlings to remain 
too long in the seed pans or to get starved for want of water. 
HARDY ALPINES. Seeds of Alpines, rock plants, and all hardy 
Primulaceae should be sown in pots or pans during early Winter, 
and after a good watering should be stood outdoors against a north 
hedge or wall where the soil can get frozen. Then when milder 
weather sets in, bring the pans into gentle warmth and the seeds will 
germinate freely. After March it is better to wait and sow the seed 
in Winter, giving the treatment as recommended above. 
BIENNIALS require similar treatment to perennials. They include 
Campanula, Pansy, Sweet-william, etc. The plants die after 
the flowering season. 
NOTE—In the case of very hard-shelled seeds it will be found a good plan to steep them in tepid water for some hours 
previous to sowing, as this will hasten their germination 
T.T.S. 
A photograph showing Choice, Modern Pansies under expert cultivation for seed. We devote two pages to an 
extensive list of high class sorts. Please refer to pages 80 and 81 
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