Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-13
The Flower Garden.

A writer in The Country Gentleman writes
charmingly upon the subject Of cultvating
flowers. The following hints may be found
useful to those who have not had much ox-
perienco in foricaliurei
There is some art required in planting
seeds IL buried too deeply, they will never
sec the light There lies the trouble with
amateur norsts-thoy bury the tiny seeds I'M
der an inch or so Of soil, and they cannot
sprout they might as well be ten fathoms
deep Small seeds like Petunias, etc, need
only slight sprinking Of sand or loan
Baisams can be planted an inch deep Sweet
Peas, three inches. "A goodly mixture Of
sand is highly conducive 10 the growth Of seed
ings or cuttings. If no other can be found,
securing sand should be used Now, with
basket Of Seeds sticks with labels, pan Of
sand, box to sit upon, and O carpet to knecl
upon, we are equipped for our first operations.
A cloudy day is the best for such work, but
it must not be cold aud chilly. Plant your
seeds in circles made thus: Take a stick a
foot or more high. and tic O string to its top
tic smaller stick to the other end OF the
string which should be eight to ten inches
longs plant the longest stick firmly in the
ground, and draw am exact circle with the
other plant the seed in the iurrow you have
made, aud IL small, cover slightly with sand
If large sprinkle on MORE and press down
tightly with the fat Of trowol or the hand
The soil must touch the seeds closely Water
them with warm water from the nose Of
watering pot, and cover with newspapers if
the sun shines, fastening them securely with
weights, for if the hot sun bakes the ground,
the tiny seeds may wither away. This is Of.
ten the cause Of the frequent failures in rails
ing plants from seeds, The ground should be
kept damp until the seeds terminate. | have
had the rarest Asters Balsams, etc, sprout in
two or three days under this treatment. Re-
move the papers ut night, aud water thorough
y with warm water. In the heat Of summer.
water directly irom aqueduct or pump, should
never be applied warm water is far more
desirable.
In many parts Of our country one cannot
plant seeds out of doors until the latter part
Of May and the lrosts come so carly that
unless they arc forced they hardly repay the
care aud attention their cultivation demands
But they can be planted in doors, or a small
hot-bed prepared for their reception. An old
raisiu or soap box will make good house
GARDEN it eau be placed upon a stand in an
upper chamber where the sun lies warm and
bright from morning till night. Good garden
loan can be procured, and baked in the stove
oven to free it from vermin; goodly supply
Of sand added and the seeds can be planted
Wet a thick flannel in hot water, and, after
the seeds are well watcred, lay it over then
I tightly keep it on night and day until they
terminate; then tear it off, where the sced'
are cup" keeping it over the others. Seeds car
i be forced in this manner most easily; they re
quirc light and air, and protection on chilly
nights, if the room is dreless. Plants, grown il
this manner, are ready to transplant the last o
May. All ANIMALS require transplanting, ex
cepting the tap-rootcd varieties, such a
Larkspurs, Mignonette, etc. They can neye
be grown in perfection en- massc.