Perhaps many well versed in floriculture will think that this article is not worth the paper on which it is printed - that it states facts as familiar to them as household words, and which they learned among their first lessons in this branch of horticulture. To such we say, this article is not intended for your benefit, yet we hope you may glean some things that will repay perusal. But you must remember there is now felt an awakening interest on the subject of floriculture, wide and extended as our almost boundless country. Hundreds - yes, thousands, and tens of thousands, are acquiring taste on this subject, and thirst for knowledge as the panting hart for the running brook. These begin to see beauty in waving trees and woodland flowers, where before they saw no comeliness. As taste becomes cultivated and refined, beauty is created on every side - the mossy dell, the thorny rose, the simplest flower that adorns the meadow, speak a new and beautiful language, and tell of a new and beautiful world. Enthusiasm is enkindled - every means is taken to explore this new creation. Of the nature and extent of this feeling we have some opportunity to learn. To it do we ascribe the increased demand for horticultural reading, and the largely increased circulation of this journal.

And this increase is not principally among professional horticulturists, and farmers, who are turning their attention to horticulture as a business, but among amateurs, merchants and mechanics, who are beginning to devote their spare moments to this beautiful and healthful employment - and particularly the ladies, who ever have been and ever will be lovers of the beautiful. Ladies are the natural patrons of flowers, the world over. And sometimes when we have seen the wealthy farmer, with his hundreds of broad acres, begrudging wife and daughters a few rods of ground for the cultivation of flowers, complaining that the "hired man9' lost a whole day in spading it up, we have " said in our haste," man is too coarse, too much like his ox, ever to love flowers. We pity the man who has traveled far on the journey of life without stopping to do them homage.

One lady writes - "Give us the best and simplest directions for cultivating the finest of our common flowers, particularly annuals; such as are within our reach. While we love to read of the beautiful and costly flowers that year after year make their appearance in the floral world, do not forget the wants of those who live far away in the west, and far from places where such things can be obtained, and yet who love flowers as ardently as those who are more favorably situated for its gratification".

This hint we shall remember, as it accords with our own feelings. We love flowers - we almost worship these children of the field. We love to enter the conservatory and there behold the dazzling array of beauty, gathered from every land and every clime, - but we love equally well to enter the little cottage garden and witness how taste can render lovely the humble abode of poverty. How beautiful is the cottage embowered in vines and roses. It is decorated with nature's own drapery; the rich green of the foliage - the brilliant blossoms - the delightful fragrance - all combine to render this an enchanted spot. The poet must have had such a " home" in view when he sung - '•An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;

And I sigh for my lonely thatched cottage again".

Strip from the cottage the honeysuckles, the running roses, the jasmines, and it is a poor affair - old, rough, and unsightly. All can afford to surround their homes with flowers; no one can afford to have a barren and desolate home.

But we started to talk of Annuals and their Cultivation, and must confine ourselves to the subject.

The first work is the selection of the ground and its preparation. A warm and sheltered position should be chosen, if possible, as on the south side of a fence; but care must be taken to select a place on which water will not stand. The ground should be deeply dug and well pulverized. If not rich, well rotted manure should be dug in. If the ground is clayey, and liable to become hard by the beating of the rain and the drying sun, some light mold from the woods should be added, or some sandy loam, or mold from an old pasture; one of which can be procured in almost any neighborhood.

After the ground is prepared the seed may be sown; but, a little caution is necessary not to sow seed too thick, as beginners generally make this error. As there is some difficulty in sowing the finer seed evenly, they may be mixed with three or four times the quantity of sand or ashes. They may be then lightly covered with fine mold, sifted over them - the smaller the seed, the lighter the covering. It is better to cover too lightly than too heavily. You have now nothing to do but to wait patiently till they "come up." Be sure and destroy all weeds as fast as they make their appearance. If your plants are too thick, which they are very apt to be, transplant them to other beds, or along the borders of the paths, choosing some showery day for this work. But be sure and remove them before the plants in the bed become crowded, or they will become injured - taking out the smallest and weak-est plants. In removing plants, they should be taken up carefully, with a ball of earth attached, disturbing the roots as little as possible. This is better done when the ground is moist They will generally need no further care except to keep the weeds destroyed and the ground in a mellow condition. Those who have the convenience can raise a few plants in the hot-bed for early blooming.

In this section of the country seed should not be sown in the open ground before the first of May. As we have given simple directions for cultivation with each kind described, nothing further will be necessary in this place, except to say that some attention should be paid in planting to the hoight of plants, so that the larger do not hide those of a smaller growth. A little taste is also necessary in the arrangement of colors to produce a good effect; this will be learned by observation and experience. We only intend to throw out a few hints and leave the matter for the present to the good sense and cultivated tastes of our readers.

We give engravings and descriptions of nine of the best and easiest grown annuals, and will give others next month.