
Growing 
Flowers 
FROM SEED 
To start seeds indoors, use a shallow 
box filled with light, rich soil not likely to 
bake or form a crust when the surface 
dries, and which has been treated with 
Formaldehyde or Semesan. Tamp firmly, 
so that the level is about half an inch 
below the top of the box. Make shallow 
furrows crossways, about an inch apart. 
Very fine seeds, like Petunias and Por- 
tulacas, need merely marks; large seeds, 
like Scabiosas, Lupines, and Four o’Clocks, 
should have furrows a half-inch deep. 
Sow the seed thinly in the rows, and label 
each row. Sift fine soil, mixed with sand, 
over the seeds, covering them to the soil 
level. Then press the surface with a board 
or a brick and water with a very fine 
nozzle or sprinkle the surface with a 
whisk-broom dipped in water. Cover the 
box with a sheet of glass and newspaper, 
and set it in a warm position, watching 
from day to day to see that the surface 
does not get dry or become soggy. 
As soon as the seedlings break through 
the ground, the newspaper must be re- 
moved and the box set where it will 
receive the largest amount of sunlight. 
When the first leaves are fully formed, 
remove the glass or tilt it to admit air; 
when the seedlings are all up and gathering 
strength, take off the glass. 
Special care will be needed in watering. 
If too much water is used, the seedlings 
are likely to damp off; if not enough, they 
will not grow rapidly. 
Transplant once before moving to 
garden. 
Perennials require exactly the same 
treatment, except that sowing may be 
delayed until the annuals are out of the 
way. 
Good results can also be obtained by 
sowing most annuals outdoors any time 
from early April to June. 
Alyssum saxatile 


Acroclinium 
Annual 
Double Large-flowering Hybrids. Beau- 
tiful Everlasting Flowers in salmon, apricot, 
pink, rose and cerise, white and creamy 
tones with golden centers. For drying, cut as 
soon as they open. Pkt. 10 cts., 4oz. 25 cts. 
Ageratum - Floss Flower 
Annual 
Excellent for low borders and edging, and 
is often used for porch-boxes. Can be sown 
outdoors in May, but to have blooms earlier 
start indoors in March. 
Blue Perfection. Pretty, deep lavender- 
blue flowers. Plants grow about 15 inches 
high. Pkt. 10 cts., 4oz. 40 cts. 
Dwarf Blue Boy. A new variety only 
about 4 inches high. Very uniform growth, 
completely covered with bloom in rich 
shades of blue. Pkt. 10 cts., %4oz. 75 cts. 
Imperial Dwarf Blue. Perfectly formed 
little plants about 8 inches tall, with flowers 
of clear blue. Pkt. 10 cts., %oz. 75 cts. 
Little Blue Star. Tiny plants, not over 
5 inches high, covered with masses of bright 
blue flowers. Pkt. 25 cts., %oz. $1.50. 
Alyssum 
Annuals and Perennials 
The ever-popular and always satisfactory 
flower for edging beds or planting in porch- 
boxes or rockeries. Sow the seed in the open 
ground any time from early April to June. 
Blooms all summer. 
Violet Queen. Annual. Dwarf, compact 
plants rarely 6 inches high. Flowers deep 
lavender-lilac. A very pretty variety. Pkt. 
10 cts., 140z. 50 cts., oz. $1.50. 
Little Gem. Annual. A dwarf form which 
makes dense, round, little bushes about 
6 inches high, covered with very white flow- 
ers. Pkt. 10 cts., Y4oz. 25 cts., oz. 75 cts. 
Saxatile compactum, Blanket of Gold. 
Perennial. Bushy plants a foot high. Tiny 
bright yellow flowers in clusters. A good 
ae Pkt. 10 cts., Moz. 40 cts., oz. 
White Carpet. Annual. The name de- 
scribes it—a carpet of white only 2 to 3 inches 
high. Pkt. 10 cts., %oz. 25 cts., oz. 75 cts. 
White Sweet. Annual. The old-fash- 
ioned variety. Low-growing and spreading. 
Sweet-scented, pure white flowers. Pkt. 
10 cts., 44oz. 15 cts., oz. 50 cts. 
