set in it, so that they will get established before cold weather. During cold nights and stormy days the sash should be kept closed and covered with straw mats — in mild days the air should be admitted freely — the object being to keep the plants dormant, so that in Spring they are in a forward state for planting out for early crops. Flower Seeds may be sown as soon as the soil becomes dry and easily crumbled after spring frosts have disap- peared. They may be sown in the bor- ders where they are intended to flower, or in seed beds or pans and transplanted to the flowering borders. The latter is the best plan, especially with very small seed, as it enables the plants to be sooner established, and also because during the period of early growth the ground occupied is not attractive. There must be discretion exercised as to the depth to which seed should be covered — small delicate seeds merely on the surface, some barely pressed into the soil, and others fully one-fourth inch deep — the depth in every instance being regulated by the size of the seed itself. Seedling plants can be nearly as well raised in a window — provided the tem- perature is right — as in a greenhouse. Seeds do not need a strong direct light while germinating. Germination of Seeds. — The average period is ten to fourteen days, but some seeds of a hard body often remain dormant for weeks or even months. The germination of such seeds will be great- ly accelerated by putting them into a cup of warm water and letting them steep for a night before sowing. As soon as the plants are up they will require careful attention, and should have as much sun and air as possible in fine weather. Prick out of the seed pans into other pans or boxes, placing them about an inch apart, and shading from the sun for a few days till they are established. It is a good plan to sow only part of a packet of seed at once, and then in a week or ten days the remainder. Thinning out of Plants in their earlier stages is most important. It is always desirable to sow thicker than the plants are required, but if the young plants ate allowed to remain in a crowd- ed state they soon spoil each other ; GAR 192 GAR they must therefore be thinned oat. In all cases commence thinning in time — before they become crowded. Transplant whenever the plants are large enough to handle. Lift the plants carefully with the aid of a garden trowel, retaining as much soil to the roots as possible. This should be done in wet or cloudy weather ; if the ground is dry a good soaking with water before and after transplanting is advisable. Shade them for a few days from the sun. Plants in Pots should only be watered when the surface of the soil be- comes dry. Liquid manure is beneficial to plants whose roots are confined in pots, but should never be given to very young plants, or oftener than twice a week, and always in small quantities. Annuals are those plants that arrive at maturity, bloom, produce seeds and die in one season.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

set in it, so that they will get established before cold weather. During cold nights and stormy days the sash should be kept closed and covered with straw mats — in mild days the air should be admitted freely — the object being to keep the plants dormant, so that in Spring they are in a forward state for planting out for early crops. Flower Seeds may be sown as soon as the soil becomes dry and easily crumbled after spring frosts have disappeared. They may be sown in the borders where they are intended to flower, or in seed beds or pans and transplanted to the flowering borders. The latter is the best plan, especially with very small seed, as it enables the plants to be sooner established, and also because during the period of early growth the ground occupied is not attractive. There must be discretion exercised as to the depth to which seed should be covered — small delicate seeds merely on the surface, some barely pressed into the soil, and others fully one-fourth inch deep — the depth in every instance being regulated by the size of the seed itself. Seedling plants can be nearly as well raised in a window — provided the temperature is right — as in a greenhouse. Seeds do not need a strong direct light while germinating. Germination of Seeds. — The average period is ten to fourteen days, but some seeds of a hard body often remain dormant for weeks or even months. The germination of such seeds will be greatly accelerated by putting them into a cup of warm water and letting them steep for a night before sowing. As soon as the plants are up they will require careful attention, and should have as much sun and air as possible in fine weather. Prick out of the seed pans into other pans or boxes, placing them about an inch apart, and shading from the sun for a few days till they are established. It is a good plan to sow only part of a packet of seed at once, and then in a week or ten days the remainder. Thinning out of Plants in their earlier stages is most important. It is always desirable to sow thicker than the plants are required, but if the young plants ate allowed to remain in a crowded state they soon spoil each other ; GAR GAR they must therefore be thinned out. In all cases commence thinning in time — before they become crowded. Transplant whenever the plants are large enough to handle. Lift the plants carefully with the aid of a garden trowel, retaining as much soil to the roots as possible. This should be done in wet or cloudy weather ; if the ground is dry a good soaking with water before and after transplanting is advisable. Shade them for a few days from the sun. Plants in Pots should only be watered when the surface of the soil becomes dry. Liquid manure is beneficial to plants whose roots are confined in pots, but should never be given to very young plants, or oftener than twice a week, and always in small quantities. Annuals are those plants that arrive at maturity, bloom, produce seeds and die in one season.

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