THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS

Whether the modern demand for flowers has created the supply, or the

supply has found an appreciative public, we need not stay to discuss.

The fact remains that the last four or five decades have witnessed a

phenomenal extension in the use of flowers by all classes of the

community, for the decoration of the house no less than for beautifying

the garden. Primarily, this advance of refinement in the popular taste

is traceable to the skill and enthusiastic devotion of the florists who

have supported in all their integrity the true canons of floral

perfection, and whose labours will continue to be imperative for

maintaining the standards of quality. By their severe rules of criticism

the florists further the ends of floriculture subjectively, and by the

actual results of their labours they render objective aid, their finest

flowers serving not only as types, but as the actual stud for

perpetuating each race. Hence the decline of floriculture would imply

the deterioration of flowers, and the prosperity of floriculture

involves progress not only in those subjects which lie within the

florists' domain, but of many others to which they have not devoted

special attention. Yet the acknowledgment must be made that, brilliant

as their triumphs have been, the methods they practised have in some

instances entailed very severe penalties. Continuous propagation for

many generations, under artificial conditions, so debilitated the

constitution of Hollyhocks, Verbenas, and some other subjects, that the

plants became victims of diseases which at one time threatened their

existence. To save them from annihilation it was necessary to desert the

worn path of propagation, and raise plants possessing the initial vigour

of seedlings. In stamina these seedlings proved eminently satisfactory,

although in other respects they were at first sadly disappointing. It

then became clear that before show flowers could be obtained from

seedlings judgment and skill must be devoted to the art of saving seed.

This was necessarily a work of time, demanding great patience and rare

scientific knowledge. The task was undertaken with enthusiasm in many

directions, and the results have more than justified this labour of

love. Formerly, the universal mode of perpetuating named Hollyhocks was

by the troublesome process of cuttings, or by grafting buds on roots of

seedlings in houses heated to tropical temperature. In many places it

was the custom to lift the old plants, pot them, and keep them through

the winter in pits. All this was found requisite to insure fine flowers.

While the burden of the work was thus rendered heavy, the constitution

of the plant became enfeebled, and at one time the fear was entertained

that its extinction was at hand. But the new system has preserved the

Hollyhock, and at the same time afforded a striking example of the

principle that seed saved scientifically is found to reproduce the

varieties it was taken from. Seedling Hollyhocks now give double flowers

of the finest quality; and the seedling plants are less liable to

disease. So with the Verbena. From suitable seed plants can be raised

that will produce the most resplendent flowers, and instead of

propagating a stock to keep over winter, to be stricken with mildew and

cost no end of care, only to become diseased at last, a pinch of seed is

sown in January or February, and soon there is a stock of healthy plants

possessing the vigour peculiar to seedlings. These, being bedded out at

a proper time, flower far more freely than plants from cuttings, and

produce trusses twice the size.



To illustrate the change of method still further we may instance the

Cineraria. Formerly this was a troublesome plant to grow, because it was

considered necessary to propagate named varieties by divisions and

suckers. The restricted system was reflected in limited cultivation. Few

were willing to venture on a task known to be hedged about with

difficulties. By degrees it was discovered that the finest Cinerarias

might be secured by simply sowing seed, and giving the plants the usual

cultivation of tender annuals. This has brought the Cineraria within the

reach of thousands who would not attempt to grow it under the old

system, and the consequent gain to society is immense.



What has been done with the Cineraria has its parallel in quite a number

of the most elegant decorative flowers. Brilliant results have been

achieved with Begonias, Calceolarias, Cyclamens, Gloxinias, Primulas,

and Schizanthus. It has also ceased to be needful to keep such large

stocks of bedding and other plants through the winter, for Ageratums,

Lobelias, and Pansies have proved amenable to the new treatment, and

very much of the accustomed labour in striking and potting cuttings, as

well as the expense of glass, fuel, and the frequent purchase of

high-priced plants, have been rendered unnecessary. Even among the

flowers which are properly designated annuals, new and delightful

variations have been obtained from original types. Of these we have

examples in Aster, Godetia, Larkspur, Mignonette, Phlox Drummondii,

Poppy, Stock, Sweet Pea, and many others. In some instances the increase

in the size of the flowers is remarkable, and in others the development

of new tints will surprise those who are not familiar with the labours

of modern hybridisers.



Thus a revolution has been accomplished in the economy and complexion of

the English Flower Garden, a revolution which has reduced and simplified

the gardener's labours, augmented the number and enhanced the beauty of

many flowers, effected a marked saving in the cost of garden pleasures,

and brought the culture of a large number of the most attractive

subjects within the means of those who had neither the facilities nor

the knowledge requisite for pursuing the florist's methods. There appear

to be no limits to further progress. All that we can do is to experiment

and gather knowledge, and those who love gardening may assist in

extending the area of this new and cheap system of producing some of the

most elegant garden flowers in one season from seed alone.



The time and the method of sowing flower seeds must in each case be

regulated by considerations as to their nature. Seeds of tender plants

are usually sown in pots or pans and placed on a moderate hot-bed or in

a propagating house early in spring, and in this case the plants have

greenhouse cultivation until the time arrives for hardening them off

preparatory to final planting. But seeds of many hardy flowers may be

treated in the same way, when a long season of growth is necessary for

their development. Thus Phloxes, Verbenas, and Hollyhocks, plants that

differ immensely in habit and constitution, may all be sown in February,

and put side by side in the same warm pit or vinery, or even in the

warmest corner of any greenhouse, and the very same treatment will suit

them equally well. The soil should be principally loam and sand, with a

little old thoroughly well-rotted manure from a hot-bed or compost heap;

and light, air, and moisture must be regulated with a view to insure a

free and vigorous growth from the first, with the least possible amount

of artificial heat. In some cases, however, the sowing should be

deferred to March or April, and the result will be far more satisfactory

than the growth made under the stimulus of artificial heat earlier in

the season. But in every case the plants must have sufficient time; for

although the rapid system has been developed, the constitution of the

plants remains unchanged, and those which have heretofore been classed

as biennials and perennials need a long season when treated as annuals.



A considerable proportion of the finest flowers may be raised from seed

by the aid of a frame and a little careful management. We will take as

an example a very restricted garden. Here is a small frame and some

packets of seed, and the month of February or March has arrived. The

pans and pots are made ready with sweet sandy compost, and the seeds are

sown and labelled, and the pans and pots are packed together in the

frame on a bed of clean coal ashes, or some slates, or tiles, or bricks

laid on the soil, to promote warmth and cleanliness and to prevent the

intrusion of worms among the seeds. By simple management almost as quick

a growth of seeds can be insured in this frame as with the aid of a

hot-bed, and the secret consists in careful storage of the heat of the

sun. Lay over the seed-pans sheets of glass to prevent evaporation, and

let the sun shine full upon them. Be careful as to moisture: they must

never be wet, never dry, and the water must not be slopped about

carelessly. It is a good rule to immerse the pots or pans in a vessel

containing soft water, slightly tepid. When the seedlings begin to

appear, give a little air and lay sheets of paper tenderly over them

during the hour or two at midday when the sun may be shining brightly.

But keep them from the first as 'hard' as possible with plenty of light

and air, always taking care that they are neither roasted, nor blown

away by the cruel east wind, nor nipped at night by a killing frost. A

few old mats or light loppings of trees laid over the frame from sundown

to sunrise will be sufficient protection at those trying times; and when

spring frosts are making havoc with the tender sprouting leaf and bloom

in every part of the garden those little things will be safe under their

glass cover, and slight experience will show that a common frame may

become a miniature hot-house in the hands of one who has learned to make

failure the stepping-stone to success. We must not omit to mention that

the owner of such a garden, or, indeed, of any garden, will be prudent

to take advantage of the first fine weather to sow in the open ground

whatever flower or vegetable seeds should be sown at that season. The

frame garden can be reserved, if needful, for wet weather, because it is

of the utmost importance to sow a good breadth of seeds in the open

ground as early as possible in the month of March.



Turning from this small example to the great garden, it will be obvious

that to those who always have heavy work on hand the advantages of this

transference, of labour from the old system to the new are immense. Both

to employers and gardeners the advantages are of importance; the

propagation of bedders by cuttings, and of florists' flowers by suckers

and divisions and layers and pipings, will not, of course, be completely

abolished; but for all ordinary purposes the ends in view may be

accomplished more simply, more expeditiously, and more cheaply than

heretofore. The pits hitherto appropriated to bedders, and the like, may

to a great extent be liberated, and there will be no difficulty in

finding for them more profitable occupants. While Mushrooms and early

Potatoes and winter salads are in request, it will be a gain to many a

garden to have reduced the summer display of flowers to a simple system

of seed-sowing, at an expense that may be described as merely nominal.



Before dealing specifically with certain flowers, it may be advisable to

say a few words generally concerning the culture of Annuals--Hardy,

Half-hardy, and Tender--and also on hardy Biennials and Perennials.



Annuals.--Although the most popular kinds of annuals are largely

employed in the embellishment of flower gardens, they are adapted for

many uses to which they may with advantage be more frequently applied. A

few misconceptions prevail as to the relative merits of this class of

plants. By some they are regarded as 'weedy' and 'short-lived.' Their

very cheapness, and the relatively small amount of skill required in

their cultivation, tend in some degree to detract from their value in

public estimation. We will not be so rash as to say that a more extended

use of annuals would render unnecessary the cultivation of what are

especially known as 'bedding plants'; but there is something to be said

on behalf of annuals that may be worth the consideration of all who are

interested in the development of freshness, variety, and richness of

colour in the flower garden. In the first place, these plants come into

flower within a comparatively short period of time from the sowing of

the seed, and it is a matter of considerable importance that a large

proportion of the best continue beautiful until the very close of the

season. Sometimes in the autumn Geraniums become literally washed out,

while Tom Thumb Nasturtiums may be ablaze with colour, and continue so

when the Geraniums are housed for the winter. A large number of showy

and long-lasting annuals are adapted for employment in bedding, and by a

little management those that do not last the season out may be replaced

by others for succession; thus affording the advantage of increased

variety, and making no demand for glass and fuel to keep them through

the winter as do the ordinary bedders. We have had great and glorious

sheets of Candytufts, snow-white, rich crimson, and bright carmine; and

when they began to wane they were removed, and the ground planted with

Asters, and very soon there was another display, so fresh and bright and

various that no greenhouse bedders could surpass them. Great hungry

banks, that would have swallowed many pounds' worth of greenhouse plants

to cover them, have been made delightfully gay at a very trifling cost

by sowing upon them Tropaeolums, Tom Thumb Nasturtiums, Bartonia aurea,

the dwarf varieties of Lupinus, Virginian Stock, Collinsia bicolor,

Convolvuluses, Candytufts, Eschscholtzias, Poppies, and Clarkias; and

damp, half-shady borders have been delicately tessellated by means of

Forget-me-nots, Venus' Looking-glass, Pansies, the Rosy Oxalis,

Nemophilas, Godetias, Silenes, Coreopsis, and Scabious.



For the more important positions in the flower garden we have choice of

many really sumptuous subjects, such as Stocks, Asters, Balsams,

Drummond's Phlox, Lobelias, the lovely new varieties of Antirrhinums,

Dianthus, Portulacas, Zinnias, tall Stock-flowered Larkspurs, Nemesias,

and many other flowers equally beautiful and lasting. We do not hope by

these brief remarks to change the prevailing fashion--indeed, we have no

particular wish that way--but we feel bound to observe that it is

sufficient for the beauty of the garden that the greenhouse bedders

should be confined to the parterre proper. It is waste of space and

opportunity to place them in the borders everywhere, as is too commonly

done. In sunny borders, annual and perennial herbaceous plants are far

more appropriate.



Some time since, while walking over a large garden, we left the rich

colouring of the geometric beds to discover what should make the

wondrous glow of crimson on a border far away; and to our surprise it

proved to be a clump of the Indian Pink, which had been sown as an

annual with other annuals, and was there shining in the midst of a

constellation of the loveliest flowers of all forms and hues, the

result simply of sowing a few packets of seed. No one can despise the

Wallflower in the spring, and the heavenly-blue flowers of Nemophila

insignis in early summer will tempt many a one to walk in the garden

who would care little for sheets of scarlet and yellow that in full

sunshine make the eyes ache to look upon them. It must be remembered,

too, that among annuals are found many most richly-scented flowers;

others, like the everlastings and the grasses, are valuable to dry for

winter use for employment in bouquets, and garlands in Christmas

decorations; and the Sweet Peas, and Tropaeolum canariense, and

climbing Convolvulus may be employed to cover arbours and trellises with

the best effect possible, and may even be allowed to hang in festoons

about the sunny parts of rockeries, or trail over the ground to make

genuine bedding effects. Another important matter must have mention

here, and we commend it to the consideration of gardeners who are

severely taxed to secure extensive displays of flowers during the summer

season. It is that a number of plants of highly ornamental character,

usually treated as perennials, are really more effective, besides

occasioning less labour to produce them, when cultivated as annuals. The

Dianthus and its several splendid varieties do better as annuals than

biennials. For all the ordinary purposes of display, Lobelias may be as

well grown from seed as from cuttings, and in every garden will be found

proof of the small amount of care they require; for we find stray,

self-sown plants in pots of Geraniums and other places, and these, if

left alone, become perfect bushes, and are a mass of flowers all the

summer. Many annuals commonly reputed to be tender and usually raised in

heat do very well indeed on a more rough and ready method. In proof of

this, sow Perilla nankinensis in the first week of May where it is

required, and in the month of July you will probably be convinced that

Perilla does not always need careful nursing in heated houses through

the spring. Even the really tender Castor-oil Plant will thrive if sown

in the open ground the first week in May. Having no check, as plants put

out from pots must have, the growth will be regular and sturdy, and

attain magnificent dimensions.



Perhaps the most effective way of growing annuals is to arrange them in

harmonious blendings or contrasts of colour. The wide choice of

varieties available admits of an almost endless number of combinations,

and the following tables, classified according to colour, will no doubt

afford some serviceable suggestions, although these by no means exhaust

the list. The height is indicated in feet and Climbers as 'Cl.'