The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-01-22
Flowers from Seeds.

ANGELICA, n. Y. Nj. LEFTY LEE.
Flowers from Seeds.
Flowers are as necessary to some
peoples existence as the air they
breathe or the water they drink, and an
alI-wise, generous Providence has scattered
them lavishly all over this broad and beautiful
continent. Flowers abound on the mountain
top, in the shady dell, by ripping streams, and
grow in the silverY lakes; and it seems to me
everybody should learn to love these beautiful
objects of nature, and in contemplating them
look up with reverence to Natures God The
cultivation of flowers is especially to be COM
mended as an amusement for children. teaching
them to be patient and hopeful l have loved
flowers from as long as [ can remember, and as
[ write the memories Of the past come crowd
ing in upon me. When less than years of
age planted some peas in g pot and set them
in a window to see how soon they would sprout.
/ have been thinking a great deal about my
boyhOed lately, how as [ grew up the love of
flowers grew with me, and would like to get
my young friends in the same way OF thinking.
All plants which reproduce themselves by
seeds are divided into three main classes
Annals, Biennials and Perennials-and these
again, according to their constitution are sub
divided into tender, half-hardy aud hardy va
L
ANIMALS, and from time to time, in subsequent
letters, shall have something to say about the
others. ANIMALS are those plants which pro-
duce their seeds in the same year in which
they are sown, and then die. ANIMALS are so
cheap and easily grown they may be called
everybody's flowers. There is. not q. boy or
girl or man or woman, who has if no more
than a box on the window-sili, who cannot raise
some of the hardy sorts. Although common,
some of the sweetest flowers are to be found
among the Animals. There IS the fragrant
Mlgnonette, and the very old-fashiOned Four
O'clock, and many others.
Now, let us suppose you are provided with
seeos of Aardy Annuals-that il, such as may
be safely sown in the open ground after the
weather becomes warm and settled. Having
carefully prepared the seed bed, making the
soil mellow by digging and raking, the seeds
may them be sown either broadcast or in drills
and covered very slightly with sand aud sandy
soil. When the seedlings come up they must
be kept free from weeds, and, if at all thick in
the seed-bed, transplant them on q rainy day.
Most people are anxious to have flowers greet
them as soon as possible, and, to hasten their
early maturity, hot beds, cold frames, and
boxes in the window are all resorted to- These
letters are written for the masses, the great
majority of whom have no better wav Of start
ing their flower seeds than in the house. For
this purpose get soap box at your grocery
store, and cut it into three portions. In this
way YOU get two complete boxes and the sides
of another, so that it only needs bottom put
on it. Have ready some soil, made up of equal
parts of sand, soil, and rotted manure. Run
the whole through g. sieve to take out the
Jumps. Fill your boxes, and then pat the snr-
face with smooth board; then SOW your seeds,
busting over them barely sufficient soil to hide
them from your view. If the soil be pressed
down upon the seeds they will start more rap
"a p6a
sprouted never let them go dry; on the other
hand guard against damping off. which is
caused by want of air and sunshine, and too
much water. All the fine small seeds should
be started in the house, such as the Petunia,
Double Daisy, Snapdragon, ETC., and I advise
you not to cover them atalI, but simply to press
them into the soil.
Everybody loves the Verbena, and most peo-
pie admire the lovely bed of them in the sum
mer. They are easily grown from the seed if
you only have patience, and the flowers of Yer
benas produced from seed are nearly always
fragrant, besides being far more plentifully
produced than on plant raised from cutting.
Florists sell Verbena plants in great quantity
every year, but they would not dispose of any
thing like so many if people will raise them
from the seed. To the ANIMALS we are mainly
indebted for the lovely beds Of glorious hued
flowers in summer and autumn. The Asters
linger with us until destroyed by frost, and
there are so many varieties, some of them
should be in every garden Then the beautiful
Phlox Drummondii with it's hosts of marvellous
shades in coloring and that pretty Salamander,
the Portulacca, enduring the hottest sun with |
impunity, and throwing wide its many-colored |
flowers to the monday sun when all 9TH |
ers are closed by the intense heat A |
bed OF blotched and striped Petunias
is one Of the most beautiful sights, |
in g well-kept garden. Every now and then |
some one writes me about double Petunia seed |
The double Petunia does not produce seed and |
to got the double flowers from seed very
difficult and tedious process has to be gone
through. termed by florists the art of hybrid
zing. For this purpose single varieties of
most perfect shape aud coloring are selected,
md fortified with pollen taken with camePs-
nair brush from the double varieties 1t re-
luires great skill on the part OF the manipu-
ator, and from the seeds, thus obtained GER
ain percentage may be expected to produce
louble flowers. These seeds are very costly,
,eing sold, at wholesale, by one Of the most
seedsmen in America. at 800 per
ounce. 80 - Mr. RENNIE.
AINswoRTH, Washington county, Iowa. -.