
HOW TO GROW ZINNIAS 
Do not plant zinnia seed until all danger from frost is past. 
Select a location not nearer trees than the height of the 
trees; as zinnias will not do well in the shade. Sow 15 seeds 
to the foot of row, at a depth of % to % inch. Keep the 
soil moist and the crust broken until the plants are up. Thin 
so the plants are 12 to 15 inches apart in the row for the 
giant types, and 8 to 10 inches apart for the Lilliput. Rows 
should be 3 feet apart for giants, and 24 inches apart’ for 
the small varieties. Zinnias do best on very rich soil. Culti- 
vate and water frequently. Dust with finely ground sulphur 
when the plants are beginning to bud, at the rate of % lb. 
to the square yard to avoid mildew. 
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 sow- 
ing the seed as soon as the soil has become warm and danger 
of all frost is over. The old rule is to plant seeds to 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 85. 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 de- 
velops 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 trans- 
planted one inch part in another bed, flat or in small pots 
(paper pots are excellent for this purpose), later to be reset 
in the open ground. 
igey, 
