Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
Begin to Plant Them
Under Glass to OBJ
tain Early Blooms
Some Amateur
Gardeners Are Sue
cessful With Seeds
SoWn in Shallow
Box Placed in Sunny
Window, Pane Pro-
tecting Bulbs.

~T Is time now to plant seeds for
some OF the flowers that are 10
grace the outdoors garden later on
Whether your flower garden is n
half-acre lot or Just a plain win
dow box. the flowers that you raise
yourself will seem more your own than
those that the florist starts for you. and
the only way to get early blossoms 10
to plant the seeds now. under glass
Some amateur gardeners are success
full with seeds planted in a shallow box
placed IN a sunny window. The win
dow glass serves to protect the tiny
plants from too sudden changes Of
temperature. But more usually sue
cessful method is to plant the seeds in
boxes. cover them with glass, and leave
them out of doors in sheltered place.
-
OF first Importance is the soil in
which the seeds are to be sowed. 1t
should be made up OF garden soil.
lightened with sand so that IL will not
cake and harden. and mixed with some
reliable fertilizer. Prepare the soil sew
eral days before it is needed. moisten
It with a fine spray. and put it in the
sun, covered with glass, that 1t may
become warm and friable before the
seeds are planted. Before the soil Is
put in the boxes a. layer of broken
flower crooks should be put in. to sup
ply proper drainage. over this should
go a layer OF coarse fiber of some sort
to keep the fine soil from washing
down.
The top soil. for the depth of an inch.
CHI ho r,,h1 nod fjra
sieve. The seeds should be sprinkled
carefully over the surface of the sol.
The soil should be even. SO that when il
Is watered the moisture will spread evenly
| over 1t, and not collect in any depres
sions If the seeds are very small they
need not be covered with any earth. II
| they are not of the tiniest sort-like those
| Of cockscomb. for instance, which are al
| most tnfinitesimal-mix them with sand
before strewing them over the soil.
Larger seeds still can be lightly covered
with fine soil
| AS soon as the seeds are in or on the
soil water them with very fine spray.
An atomiZer makes a good SPRAY easily
! worked and fine enough not TO disturb
either soil or seeds.
| The water used to spray seeds and
seedlings by the way, should be drawn
| some time before 1t is needed. and kept
| in the sun. in big bucket. to warm
+
As soon as the newly planted seeds
| have been moistened they should be put
in the sunshine. OF course, while the
nights are chilly the boxes of seeds and
seedlings must be brought in the house.
and on stormy days they must not be
taken out of doors. When the weather
is fine the glass covers must be raised
to ventilate the boxes. They can be en-
tirely removed In mild weather, or else
propped up on stones or sticks an inch
or SO from the top Of the box. On days
when the boxes are kept in the house
they must also be opened for ventilation.
Be sure that the soil reaches the top
of the box, almost, SO that the edges will
not cast shadow over any of the tiny
seedlings and deprive them of the
sunlight which is their life.
AS soon as the little seedlings make
their appearance, be doubly careful OF
them. For a sudden draught may blight
them, too hot sun may scorch them and
a lack of moisture will surely starve
them. When the normal temperature is
warm and comfortable the seedlings
which by that time may have become too
large for their boxes and have been trans
planted into pots. may. be set out in tho
garden.