Missouri Botanical Garden PETER H. RAVEN LIBRARY Pagination Note: Since many of the items lack a specific page number, the page number displayed online refers to the sequentially created number each item was given upon cataloging the materials. " Grnmcn e ARpPW ■ ^Eunmn Papers columns. During mis the next April, millions of little packages will have traveled through the mail, and find their resting place on the bosomof mother earth ; and here we find we are giving a hint unconsciously, but one which is a capital one to the seed sower, namely, to sow, the flower seeds on the surface, and not beneath it. Much of the ill luck with them comes from rotting in the ground. A rain comes after sowing, and if the seed has partly swelled, it easily rots by being a few hours under water. To avoid this, sow on the surface, and close the earth over with a trowel. It is even a benefit to make a little mound of a half-inch or so, before sowing. Then it will make no differ- ence if the rain continue for a week, the seeds will always be above the level , and never get Satu- rated. Another JitUe thing,, often, neglected by seed sowers, is to mark the place where the seeds are sown. A little stick set in will always be found useful, as all who have not done so will readily understand. In olden times this was give a list of these, as every these particulars on every it. been growing in the ground jw soil does wonders. Rich jints grow, buf they do not al- ways flower well with vigorous growth. If new soil cannot be had, a wheelbarrow of manure to about every fifty square feet will be enough. If the garden earth looks grey or yellow, rotten leaves— quite rotten leaves— will improve it. If heavy, add sand. If very sandy, add salt-about half a pint to fifty square feet. If very black or rich from previous year’s manurings, use a little lime, about a pint slacked to fifty square feet. Prune shrubs, roses and vines. Those which flower from young wood, cut in severely to make new growth vigorous. Tea, China, Bourbon and Noisette roses are of this class. What are called annual flowering Boses, as Prairie Queen and so on, requires lots of last year’s wood to make a good show of flowers Hence, with these thin out weak wood, and leave all the stronger! To make, handsome, shapely specimens of shrubs, cut them now into the forms you want, and keep them so by pulling out all shoots that /z-*r ^ ^ j/y / ^ ^ /?fty HEALTH DEPARTM 0 g 0 hi m g O < 5 H I K ^ K H M’?5^nRi Botanical Garden George Engelmamn Papers ! BOTAN ICAL cm copyright reserved garden < 2 ^ ~ ~ cm sr ?62 t if' m x F3 j m rM . gg*'' <4$r* g ^\m\ w n Si ! ^4 S 0> Tl V % \ 'fa*, AkO Missouri GEORGE ©OTAtHlC^ fctfSELlA^N GARDEN PAPERS 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Missouri Botanical cm copyright reserved garden SJ63 \ Missouri Botanical GardSH George engelmann Papers ■ 7 . 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 cm copyright reserved Missouri Botanical Garden 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Missouri Botanical cm copyright reserved Carden Botanical Garden giMl imwvw PAP-Eas ' cm P76S