See our Cultural Flower Group- 
ing Chart on page 4 to learn 
what flowers should be planted 
in flats or jin 
the open 
ground. 
Good flowers do not just happen. They are the result of prudent planning, wise buying of seed 
and a little effort without which nothing we do can succeed. After you have taken home with you 
the best seed you can buy—and we stand good for that—the next concern must be the ground 
wherein these seeds are to be planted. You would not spend your money to throw first class seed 
into just any kind of ground. So here is our advice: A good flower bed needs a well-prepared 
subsoil. Dig deep and make the subsoil right just once, and you needn‘t bother about it again for 
many years. To get that result, break up heavy subsoil with sand, peat moss or humus. Top this 
off with fine loam. When the dug-up bed settles down to its normal level, you can safely entrust 
your flower seed to such a soil and sit back with great expectations. 
HOW TO PLANT SEEDLINGS IN FLATS 
1. Preparing the Soil 
ture of good garden 
soil, manure, sand and peat 
moss through a Y4 inch mesh. 
Do not make the soil too fine, 
small lumps of soil and bits of 
fibrous matter are beneficial. 
Use a notched stick to level soil 
and scrape out surplus. Surface 
of soil should be about '% inch 
betow top of flat. 
7. Loosen Plants in Flats 
When the seedlings are large 
enough to transplant lift them 
out gently with an ordinary 
table fork or other con- 
venient implement. 
10 
2. Drainage Is Important 
Make sure there is at least V4 
inch space between the boards 
in the bottom of the flat. Cover 
these cracks with coarse moss, 
broken pots or gravel. Observe 
same precaution with pots, 
5. Sow Seeds Evenly 
ee 
Use the edge of a 12-inch ruler, 
large garden label or similar im- 
plement to make shallow drills 
for the seed. Sow seed evenly in 
the drills. Sift a little fine soil 
over the seed. 
8. Lift Little Seedlings 
Lift the seedling with a notched 
garden label, being careful not 
to bruise or break the stems. 
3. Filling the Flat 
Place required amount of soil 
in flat. Firm around edges with © 
finger tips, then press whole 
area down gently with a wooden 
block. 
Water with a fine spray, taking 
care not to wash out the seed. 
Flats or pots may also be set 
in a shallow pan of water until 
thoroughly soaked. 
9. Transplant Seedlings 
With a pointed stick of suitable 
size, make holes in a freshly 
prepared flat of soil; lower roots 
into hole and firm soil around 
the plants. 
FLOWERS FOR SHADE 
Balsam Columbine 
Butterfly Flower Foxglove 
(Schizanthus) Godetia 
Bellis (English Daisy) | Nasturtium 
Clarkia 
LOW GROWING FLOWERS FOR 
EDGINGS 
Ageratum 
Alyssum, Carpet of Snow 
Alyssum Royal Carpet Nemesia 
Bellis (English Daisy) Nasturtium, Dwarf 
Lobelia Portulaca 
FOR SUCCESSIVE SOWINGS 
Sow these annuals at three-week intervals for 
continuous bloom. 
Calliopsis 
Candytufts 
Bachelor Button 
Larkspur 
Mignonette 
Shirley Poppy 
Pinch ‘em off! If you desire more and bigger 
flowers in your annuals, pinch off the top of 
the stem when they are a few inches high, but 
remove only the end bud, about 14” off the top. 
That makes the plants branch out and develop 
more flower buds. 
TO AVOID LOSS IN TRANSPLANTING 
Avoid root shock. Three things to do are: 
1. Move plant with minimum exposure of roots 
to the air. 2. Protect from too severe sunlight 
while the plant is establishing self. 3. Get food 
to the root system as quickly as possible after 
transplanting job is completed. 
If small plants are in a flat, wet soil thor- 
oughly before transplanting, squeeze lightly 
into ball around root system of each plant, set 
into ground and firm soil around it. Go over 
planting with sprinkling pot or hose and puddle 
each plant in. Planting done in late afternoon 
gets full night, before exposure to sun. Tender 
seedlings should be protected for first day, 
shingles set beside them or with some other 
shading device. In first 24 hours give each 
plant a booster solution followed by good 
general sprinkling. 
In planting, or transplanting perennials, the 
soil should be worked free of big lumps which 
create air pockets. The average planting dis- 
tance for perennials is one foot, but vigorous 
growers require up to three feet distance from 
their neighbors. Plant heavy-rooted plants 
with the root-buds. just below the ground. 
Plants in which the leaves spring from the 
crown, should be planted with crown just at 
the level with the dirt line. Spread roots na- 
turally and bring the soil into contact with all 
the roots by pressing it firmly so that no air 
pockets are left. If water is applied, water the 
roots, not the plants. Most perennials must be 
divided every three or four years. Cut away 
all dead roots and stalks and plant the best 
portions anew. 
LIFT = 
CAREFULLY 
=, a-= 
“PUDDLE IN" 
From Flat to Seed Bed 
FLOWERS RESPOND TO A FEEDING OF MORCROP REGULARLY 
