The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-06
HOW TO GROW A SEED GARDEN
Good Rules For the inexperienced
Gardener TO Remember.

Gardener to Remember.
The one invariable rule of the ex-
perienced gardener is to order his seeds
for the seasons paintings as early in
the year as seeds are obtainable.
1t must be remembered, too. that for
the best results seeds of some flowers,
ANNALS and perennials. and of some
vegetables must be planted indoors.
nursed into sturdy growth before the
season Is come for outdoor planting
and grown on,~ as the gardener ex-
presses it, so that they may be set in
the open ground as soon as the spring
is sufficiently advanced to make the
transplanting safe.
For starting seeds indoors it is best
to make use of shallow boxes some
three or four inches deep. The florists
call these flats" and a visit to any
florists shop will supply the beginner
with an idea of their construction.
Avoid making them too wide or too
long. for when filled with earth they
are heavier than you would imagine.
In the bottom of the boxes drill quar-
ter inch holes and over these set bits
Of broken flowerpots. Fill in first
with coarse earth. to which sand or
ashes may be added to insure good
drainage. Toward the top add finer
earth until the surface layer, half an
inch deep, is Of soil that is finely pull
verified. For very small seed fill the
fiat" to within quarter of an inch
of the top Of the box, SOW the seed
lightly. making sure of as uniform dis
tribution as possible, and press these
I in place with a board. Water care
fully with fine spray and set the box
in a warm. light situation.
Larger seed are covered to varying
depths. depending upon the size of
the seed. A safe rule is to bury the
seed to a depth four times it's own
size. 1t is apparent, of course. that
fats for these coarser seed are not
filled so full of earth. 1t is generally
advisable to fill the boxes partially
to the point where the seed are to be
planted. then to place the seeds on
this surface at the required distance
apart and finally to sift the pulverized
earth on top until the boxes are filed
to within a quarter inch of the top.
Perennials for the garden are easily
raised from seed by the amateur, pro-
vided. of course. the professional gar
dener himself adopts that means Of
propagation. Some perennials, how
ever. are best propagated by root divi-
sion. Not a few may be grown from
seed provided one has the time and
patience to expend on them. but there
is little to be gained with these when
| there is, comparatively speaking, a
large group that responds readily to
this sort Of treatment
The perennials easiest raised from
the seed are the following: Adonis,
aquilegia, Alyssum saxatile, Bells
perennis. geum. beris, myosotis. phlox,
campanula, delphinium. dianthus, gail.
lardia, Geranfum sanguineum, digitalis,
achillea, heuchera, asters and lychnis.
! This list by no means exhausts the pos
sibilities. There are other varieties that
the gardener as he becomes more ex-
| pert will add TO his collection.
A word of advice may be permissi-
BILE in regard to the purchase of seeds.
1t is a matter of economy to buy Of
| standard firms. whose seed may be de
pended upon to be true to name, good
In quality and most likely to germi.
nate, even if the price seems a little
higher than that demanded by other
| firms. The gardener must remember
that he is seeking to gain time, to
grow sturdy stock. and that he Offsets
both IL be uses weak seed The plant
can he no better than its source. and
it is well to see TO it that only reliable
seeds are sown. Study the catalogues
thoroughly. proceed cautiously in thu
selection of varieties, either in flow
ers or vegetables; rely on established
sorts rather than upon novelties
and, as it was suggested in the be
ginning, lose no time in ordering tn
seeds required