Suggestions for Sowing Seed 
T he growing of flowers from seed is one of the 
easiest and most enjoyable ways of making a 
garden. With a well-prepared soil, many varieties 
may be sown directly in the open flower beds or borders, 
giving masses of bloom in a few short weeks. Where 
it is desired to have earlier flowers, seed may be sown 
in boxes placed in a sunny window. The following 
suggestions are given for the inexperienced gardener. 
Know your soil. If your garden is composed of a stiff 
clay that bakes hard in the summer sun after heavy 
rain, it needs sand and humus. A yard of sand will 
go far in the average small garden to break up the 
stiffest of soils. Humus, either in the form of manure 
not less than two years old, leaf mould from a compost 
pile, or peatmoss should be well worked in. The result 
will be an open, easily crumbled loam. With a natural¬ 
ly sandy soil, the moisture-conserving humus is equal¬ 
ly necessary. 
Do not forget that good drainage is important. This 
may be already supplied through an open subsoil or a 
raised surface. If not, a layer of gravel or tiling should 
be laid at least two feet below. 
Know your flowers. Most annuals do best in full sun¬ 
shine, and in as open a situation as possible. Sow your 
nasturtiums, portulaca and cosmos in the sunniest 
part of the garden. Asters, zinnias and marigolds will, 
if necessary, grow and bloom in part shade. Many of 
your perennials, too, will be satisfied with no more 
than four or five hours of sunshine qach day. 
Do not sow seeds too deep. Four times the depth of 
the seed is the rule. For many varieties, this means 
barely covering the seeds with sifted soil. Fine seeds 
need only to be pressed into the soil and carefully 
watered. 
Protect your seed bed from hot sunshine or sudden 
showers. Burlap or cheesecloth may be laid directly 
over the soil until the seeds germinate and will help to 
conserve moisture. It should then be removed. Most 
annuals, after this, need only to be kept watered. The 
slow-growing perennials, on the other hand, should 
either be sown in constant shade or protected by a 
raised cheesecloth frame until they are large enough to 
withstand withering heat or heavy rain. Where pet 
animals are inclined to dig up seeds, a strip of wire 
fencing laid over the soil will be found effective. 
For early flowers, seeds may be sown in pots, boxes or 
pans placed in a coldTrame, or indoors before a sunny 
window. In these, drainage and well-prepared soil are 
very necessary. There should be several small holes 
covered with charcoal in the bottom of a seed box. 
The soil should be composed of equal parts of garden 
loam, sand and humus sifted together through a 
inch wire screen. Sterilizing, by means of baking, or 
allowing boiling water to drain through this soil, will 
remove fungi and kill weeds. This should be done 
twenty-four hours before seed is sown. A light cover¬ 
ing of sterilized soil may be sifted over the seeds, and a 
pane of glass, slightly raised for air, laid over the top 
of the container until the seeds germinate. 
A few varieties of flower seeds are of slow germination. 
Such seeds as the Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, will 
germinate more quickly if soaked in warm water over¬ 
night. On the other hand, Aconitum, Hardy Asters 
and Dictamnus will show life in shorter time if kept 
from one to two weeks in a mechanical refrigerator, at 
a temperature just above freezing. The majority of 
flower seeds germinate in from four to twenty days and 
ordinary care is all that is needed. 
2 
