Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12
Sowing Flower Seeds.

4 taste for the cultivation Of flowers botf
indoors and out, has been gradually increas
/ ing tor several years past Very many o
the farm houses are now graced with the
/ presence OF cultivated flowers, as well al
/ those Of the villagers and city people. That
/ they have wholesome and refining influence
IN many respects none will doubt.
We cannot now, however be enticed away
/ by the charms of the subject from our pur
pose, which is to say what our experience
has been in relation to the so1oiRg Of seed fol
/ f9ireTS.
/ Quite )ne-half of all the flower seeds sown
we have no doubt, never come up. Tn,
reason for this is imputed to bad seed Ne
doubt but there i abundant reason tor com
paint on this score, but the disappointment
arises as often from mistake in the manner o.
sowing as from all other causes combined
Most flower seeds are quite small, and con
sequentlv perish quickly if in ground which
il too moist. On the other hand if they JIG
too ne@r the surface. and exposed to tht
direct rays Of the sun, they soon lose THEN
moisture, and with that their power d
termination.
Time If S0iring- This VIII depend in the
/ first place upon the condition Of the soil
There viii be difference 10 seasons Of two
weeks in this particular. The hardy ANNALS
such as asters, larkepur, clarkia candytufts
etc may be sown in April, during the frs
/ half of the month, some seasons, but gener-
ally with greater success during the last hal
/ Of the month The half hardy, such as will
not bear hard frost, as the balsam, mari
goII, cockscomb, etc. ought not to be soweC
in the open ground sooner than from the frs
TO the last OF May. BY observing these rule.
we have succeeded in getting fine flo Eers o
| the tender ANIMALS, such as the cypress vine
/ sensitive plant, ice plant, etc.
Preparation Of the SoiJ-Wh hen this il
sufficiently dry 50 as to fall to pieces upor
being removed, dig it thoroughly, rake it anC
dig again, until no Jumps remain, then pa
the surface gently with the back Of the
spade, in rider to press the particles together
and to get level surface for the seeds to fal
upon.
Souing-Strew the seeds over the impress
sion made by the spade, and then SIT fin,
soil over them, to the depth Of sixteenth to
an eighth OF an inch, and gently press it
down With the back OF the spade.
I Marklng-Now split at the top the little
pine sticks, four or five inches long, which
you have prepared, place the paper from
which the seeds were taken into the split,
and the lower end Of the stick into the center
Of the spot where the seeds were sown. This
Will remain there as a record, until autumnal
1 frOsts have nipped the flowers, and there is
I no longer UcCdslDn LOT tHe5e SUCKS.
CyUerlng the .Seeds-Take piece Of paper
lIttle larger than the space covered by the
seeds lay it over them and place handful
OF earth on each corner, and the work il
done. This will keep out the direct rays of
the sun. prevent exces i've evaporation, and
also the rain from breaking up the even sur
face Of the soil
The coming Of the seeds must be watched
and as the young plants grow up, the cor
ners Of the paper may be brought together a
little, which will raise it in the center, get it
out Of the way, and also admit light and
air.
As the plants grow, the soil must be kept
in a proper degree of moisture, and then an
abundan, crop of beautiful flowers may be
expected.-N. f. Farmer.