We often think, because the seed we plant does not germinate, that we
have purchased poor seed, when the fault is in the manner of planting.
Nearly all kinds of flower seeds require transplanting, therefore it
is best to plant in boxes, pots, or hot-beds. Old cigar boxes are
convenient, and are easily handled, but first bore holes in the bottom
of the boxes, and in your pots or boxes place either broken clam or
oyster shells, or pieces of old flower pots, as a drainage; then take
light, rich earth and sift it or rub it carefully in your hands, to be
sure there are no lumps; some bake the earth to destroy any insects
which may be in it, but it answers the same purpose to pour boiling
water upon it. After you have filled your boxes or pots with this
prepared earth, sprinkle your seed carefully over it, and sift over
them light soil sufficient to cover them, moisten them with warm water,
and place the box where there is but little light, and throw a piece
of paper over the top. Some use a piece of thick flannel; if you use
flannel, water your seeds without removing it, until your seeds have
sprouted. A warm place will start them best. Let them remain thus
several days, till the seeds have a chance to swell, before you give
them much light, and keep the earth moist (a sponge is excellent to
water them, as it does not disturb the position of the seeds; also use
warm water); as soon as you see they are sprouting, give them light,
and air, if not too cold, or else the plant will not have strength to
grow well. Hot-beds are the best, and can be made with but little
expense, by taking some old box; and if you do not possess an old
window-sash, you can purchase one of some builder for a trifling sum
of money, and fit it to your box by nailing strips at the sides; dig
a place the size of the box, and two or three feet deep; fill it
with horse manure, mixed with straw, which is the most heating; then
sprinkle soil over the top about six inches deep; place your box on the
top, carefully heaping the earth around the outside, and your hot-bed
is made, in which you can start your seeds and slips by either placing
your boxes or pots in the earth on top of the manure, and plant your
seeds and slips in them, or as many prefer, planting in the soil of
your hot-bed. After your seedling plants are of sufficient size to
transplant, if you first transplant them into small pots, you can
easily plant them in your flower beds without disturbing the roots,
and the plants will not require covering; you must first dig a hole
and pour water into it, then carefully slip the plant, dirt and all,
from the pots, and place into the hole made for it, and press the earth
tight around it. Of course they must remain in the pot till they are
well rooted. In raising slips, you need to mix in full half common
scouring sand with the soil, and they must be shaded from the light
several days.
All who care for flowers will desire to raise verbenas, as they blossom
all summer. If you wish to raise them from seed, they should be sown
in February or first of March. One secret in raising fine verbenas
is change of soil. It would be better to plant them every year in a
different location, but if you renew the soil it will do to plant them
twice in the same bed, but never three years in succession. Indeed,
flowers as well as vegetables need constant change of soil; they soon
exhaust the earth. Seeds are better that are raised in locations
distant from the place where they are to be sown. Flowers soon
deteriorate if you continue to plant over and over from seed raised in
the same spot; that is one of the reasons why seeds from Europe are
generally preferred by florists. Japan Pink seed should be planted in
March, in order to have them flower the first year; they are hardy and
blossom also the second year. Pansy seed should be planted as early as
Verbenas. Ten Weeks’ Stock, Phlox Drummondi, Double Zinnias, Lobelia,
Petunias, Portulaca, Salpiglossis, Candytuft, Larkspur, &c., should be
planted in April. If you desire to raise Picotee or Carnation Pinks
for the next year, and Canterbury Bells and Fox Gloves, sow in April.
Sow Asters of all kinds the last of April or first of May. Some of the
climbers, such as Maurandya Barclayanna, Tropæolum, commonly called
Nasturtium, Cypress Vine, Thunbergia, &c., need transplanting, and
better be sown early. Sweet Peas should be sown in the open soil about
three inches deep, early in April. It is better to soak the seed in
warm water before sowing. When they have germinated, and as they begin
to climb, fill in earth around them, and water now and then thoroughly
with soap suds. Mignonnette should not be transplanted; sow the seed in
the open soil the first of May. Candytuft and Sweet Alyssum are hardy,
and the seed can be sown out of doors; but if you have once had them,
they will come up self-sown. Look over your beds in spring, and take
up such plants, when you have the soil prepared and beds made, then
you can plant them back again where you desire. Joseph’s Coat is a very
brilliant plant; its leaves are all shades of green, red, and yellow;
the seed can be sown either in or out of doors by the first of May,
also Golden Calliopsis. Balsams will grow better if the seeds are not
planted till the second week in May, out of doors.
All the flowers we have mentioned are desirable, even in a small
garden; of course there are hundreds of varieties of even annuals, but
unless you have a gardener it is impossible to raise them all, for
it is desirable, even in a small garden, to have some flowers raised
by slips, or bought from some green-house, such as Fuchsias, Double
Feverfews, Scarlet Geraniums, Bouvardias, Heliotropes, Rose Geraniums,
Lemon Verbenas, Monthly Roses, Hardy Perpetuals, &c. Hardy Perpetual
Roses are desirable in every garden, they grow so thrifty and blossom
all summer, and with a little covering will live out all winter, and
if they are showered often, early in the spring, while the dew is on
the roses, with whale-oil soap suds, using a syringe to shower them, it
will prevent the usual damage done by the slug. If you have a shady,
moist place in your garden, there you can plant your Lily of the
Valley, Double Blue English Violet, Forget-me-not, and Pansy.
Fuchsias also require some shade. Heliotropes and Geraniums will bear
enriching more than most plants; frequent waterings with guano water
are excellent. A table-spoonful of guano to a gallon of water is
sufficiently strong. It also improves Pansies, Fuchsias, and nearly
all plants except Roses. Soap suds is better for Roses and Verbenas,
at least according to our experience. Nearly all plants make a finer
show in a garden arranged either in beds, each variety by itself,
or in clusters. Before planting your garden in spring, it is well
to carefully consider the nature of each flower, and arrange your
garden so that each flower can be displayed to advantage; never plant
promiscuously; it is astonishing what a difference landscape gardening
will make in the general aspect of even a small place. It is quite as
desirable as to arrange the colors in a picture to harmonize. Even an
old stump of a tree can be made beautiful by planting vines around
it, or by scooping out the top and filling in soil, and planting
Nierembergia, Lobelia, Double Nasturtium, Variegated Myrtle, &c., in
it. Those we have mentioned blossom all summer, except the Myrtle, the
leaves of which are as beautiful as many flowers.
If we ladies would spend less time on our dress and in arrangements
for the table, and take that time for working in our gardens with our
children, we should not only make our homes more attractive, but we
should gain in health and strength. Early every spring call a family
council to decide the arrangement of your flower garden. Let your
boys have a place to raise vegetables as a pastime. Encourage them
to diligence by promising to purchase all they will raise; in that
way they can earn money to give to the poor, or for their Christmas
presents; even children will take far more pleasure in giving what they
have really earned with their own hands.