On Southern farms an invaluable fertilizer is found in cotton seed, which may be spaded into the ground at any time during the winter. After the flower beds have been made sufficiently rich and light they should be raked over until fine and smooth, and ele- vated in the middle so that the water will run off. PLANTING THE SEED. Nearly all kinds of flower seeds require transplanting, therefore it is best to plant in boxes, pots or hot-beds. Old cigar boxes are conve- nient and are easily handled, but first bore holes in the bottom of the boxes, and in your pots or boxes place either broken clam or oyster shells or pieces of old flower pots as a drainage ; then take light, rich earth, and sift or rub it carefully in your hands to be sure there are no lumps ; some bake the earth to destroy any insects which may be in it, but it answers the same purpose to pour boiling water on it. After you have filled the boxes or pots with this prepared earth, sprinkle your seed carefully over it, and sift over them light soil sufficient to cover them, moisten them with warm water, and place the box where there is but little light, and throw a piece of paper over the top. A warm place will start them best. Let them remain thus several days till the seed have a chance to swell, before you give them much light, and keep the earth moist ; a sponge is excellent to water them as it does not dis- 92 FLOWERS. turb the position of the seeds ; also use warm water ; as soon as you see they are sprouting give them light and air, if not too cold, or else the plant will not have strength to grow well. \ Hot-beds are the best, and can be made with but little expense by taking some old box, and if you do not possess an old window sash, you can purchase one of some builder for a trifling sum of money, and fit it to your box by nailing strips at the sides ; dig a place the size of the box and two or three feet deep, fill it with loose manure mixed with straw, which is the most heating ; then sprinkle soil over the top about six inches deep; place the box on the top, carefully heaping the earth around the outside, and the hot-bed is made, in which you can start the seeds and slips by either placing the boxes or pots in the earth on top of the manure, and plant the seeds and slips in them, or, as many prefer, planting in the soil of the hot-bed. After the seedling plants are of sufficient size to transplant, transplant them into small pots; you can easily plant them in the flower beds without disturbing the roots, and the plants will not require covering. First dig a hole and pour water into it ; then carefully slip the plant, dirt and all, from the pots and place into the hole made for it and press the earth tight around it. Of course they must remain in the pot till they are well rooted. In raising slips you need to mix in full half common scouring sand with the soil, and they must be shaded from the light several days.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

On Southern farms an invaluable fertilizer is found in cotton seed, which may be spaded into the ground at any time during the winter. After the flower beds have been made sufficiently rich and light they should be raked over until fine and smooth, and elevated in the middle so that the water will run off. PLANTING THE SEED. Nearly all kinds of flower seeds require transplanting, therefore it is best to plant in boxes, pots or hot-beds. Old cigar boxes are convenient and are easily handled, but first bore holes in the bottom of the boxes, and in your pots or boxes place either broken clam or oyster shells or pieces of old flower pots as a drainage ; then take light, rich earth, and sift or rub it carefully in your hands to be sure there are no lumps ; some bake the earth to destroy any insects which may be in it, but it answers the same purpose to pour boiling water on it. After you have filled the boxes or pots with this prepared earth, sprinkle your seed carefully over it, and sift over them light soil sufficient to cover them, moisten them with warm water, and place the box where there is but little light, and throw a piece of paper over the top. A warm place will start them best. Let them remain thus several days till the seed have a chance to swell, before you give them much light, and keep the earth moist ; a sponge is excellent to water them as it does not disturb the position of the seeds ; also use warm water ; as soon as you see they are sprouting give them light and air, if not too cold, or else the plant will not have strength to grow well. \ Hot-beds are the best, and can be made with but little expense by taking some old box, and if you do not possess an old window sash, you can purchase one of some builder for a trifling sum of money, and fit it to your box by nailing strips at the sides ; dig a place the size of the box and two or three feet deep, fill it with loose manure mixed with straw, which is the most heating ; then sprinkle soil over the top about six inches deep; place the box on the top, carefully heaping the earth around the outside, and the hot-bed is made, in which you can start the seeds and slips by either placing the boxes or pots in the earth on top of the manure, and plant the seeds and slips in them, or, as many prefer, planting in the soil of the hot-bed. After the seedling plants are of sufficient size to transplant, transplant them into small pots; you can easily plant them in the flower beds without disturbing the roots, and the plants will not require covering. First dig a hole and pour water into it ; then carefully slip the plant, dirt and all, from the pots and place into the hole made for it and press the earth tight around it. Of course they must remain in the pot till they are well rooted. In raising slips you need to mix in full half common scouring sand with the soil, and they must be shaded from the light several days.

The household (of the Detroit free press)