
Rocky Ford High School girls harvesting Lilliput Zinnia. A great deal of 
credit is due school children throughout our country for assistance they have 
given on farms. This experience should fit them for playing an increased part 
in these times of stress. 

GROWING FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 
(See page 3 for soil preparation) 
Nearly all flowers do well in sunny locations, a few can be 
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. The old rule is to plant seeds te 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. 
Remember that “In union there is strength,” and for fine seeds 
especially, sowing too thin may result: in the single plant not 
having enough strength to break through the soil. 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. Crinkle Covers set close together over 
the seed row make an excellent shade and will enable two 
weeks earlier planting. See page 86. Be sure to mark all rows 
where you sow the seed so you will Know what you have 
planted and where. ; 
STARTING PLANTS IN FLATS 
Many flowers if sown outside do not bloom until quite late 
in the summer. You can have them early if you sow the seed 
in hotbeds, cold frames, or in the house in boxes. In fact, many 
annuals benefit by being transplanted as it develops for them 
a better root system. In this group are snapdragon, carnation, 
cosmos, dianthus, pansy, petunia, phlox and verbena. If sown 
indoors in boxes or flats, these should be of convenient size 
and about 3 inches deep. The soil used should be composed of 
about equal parts of 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 in a window where 
exposed to the sun and cover with a pane of glass to retard 
evaporation. Water carefully with a fine spray, keeping the 
soil moist but not wet. Remove the glass as soon as the seeds 
begin to sprout. Some flower seeds are very slow to germinate 
and a few require several weeks before sprouts appear. When 
the seedlings are large enough to handle, about four leaves, 
they should be transplanted one inch apart in another bed, 
flat or in small pots (paper pots are excellent for this purpose). 
The plants pulled may be transplanted to other boxes, later to 
be reset in the open ground. 

119 
