Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-11
DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
FLOWER SEEDS.
BY G. @. Thorburn.

II is pleasing 30 observe that the taste
for the cultivation of flowers Is steadily
increasing. Almost every one can find
leisure To pM few seeds into the
ground, and afterwards to watch the
young plant pushing through the earth (;
10 observe the bright green stem waxing
into strength and throwing out rs tender
tolinte to SEQ the delicate and wonder
iul bud forming and swelling, which is 10
be the reward of all your assiduity -
ANY one who has done tins for a season,
will find the pursuit to possess species
of fascination, which will yield the pur-
est enjoyment When further initiated,
and become familiar with the beautiful
mysteries, it IS delightful to steal into
the garden day after day, and trace the
gradually expanding bud developing the
unknown glory Of new variety. Bu,
the whole process Of flower cultivation is
so innocent, so congenIal to health, and
leads the mind 50 naturally TO devout
contemplation, that we conceive It un-
necessary to urge anything in It's favor.
Previous to forming flower garden,
the ground should be properly prepared,
by being well broken and slightly ma
nured. In the country it should be pro-
,ecled from the cold Winds by close fen
ces, or plantations Of shrubs. General
ly speaking, IA flower garden should not
. be upon large scale the bed, or bor-
ders should in no paIt of them be broad
cr than the cultvator can reach without
treadiny on them. In small gardens
where there is not space for picturesque
dcineations, nearness should be the pre-
yailing characteristic. A. variety OF
forms may be INDUCED in, provided the
figures are graceful and neat, and not in
anv place too complicated. An oval is
a form that generally pleases, on ac-
count OF the continuity Ol It's outlines ;
next, If extensive, "A circle; but hearts,
diamonds, or iriangles seldom please
A simple paraIelogram, divided into
beds running lengthwlse, or the large
segment Of an oval, with beds running
parallel to its outer margin, will always
please.
All kinds Of annual flower seeds may
be sown in the month OF April and May;
the beds should he leveIled and the seeds
sown either in small patches, each kind
by itself, or in drills from a quarter to
half an inch deep. In about a month,
more or less, many of them will DO fit to
transplant. Take advantage Of cloudy
and rainy weather move the plants
carefully with trowel, the smaller Kinds
set IN front, the larger IN the rear but
II the weather be dry and the sky cloud
less, give a little water and cover them
for aiew days. The best way TO OBJ
tain early flowers is TO prepare slight
hot bed lnr the tender kinds, and either
To sow IN pots aud plunge them up TO their
briuns, or Ia sow the seed in the earth IN
shallow drills, not more than quarter.
of an I'M h deep. In general, flower
seeds will c"me up IN the open ground
from one To three weeks. IL some oi
the hardy ANNALS he sown IN Septem-
her, they will grow large enough to sur
vivr The winter, by u slight covering Of
straw ~ litter. aud when iransplanted Ia
the spr,ng. will 'llnwcr ca ly.
Hard, blrmlalS aud prrennials may
be- snwn NJ the same time wuh the annu.
ais A. they do not blossom the first
year. they may be ihnIed oui, or romoy- I
ed irou the :. rd trds ~ soon hs they
ATE veil routed, aud planted either into
different parts al the garden, or into a
nursery bed, ~ rows, luot or more
apart keep them clear ol weeds by H
noeing aud sil,r,ng the earth occasion
ally, whlrh viii greatly pr"oo'e their
growth, aud prepare them Tor transplant /
,ng iuio the permanent bl"ss"n brds,
raher ~ the autumn or following sp'rg !.
B,cnn,aIs are principally from seed