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INTRODUCTION TO THE CATALOGUE or 

 ANNUAL FLOWER SEEDS, 



To raise your flowers, various arts combine ; 

 Study these well, and fancy's flight decline. 

 If you would have a vivid, vigorous breed, 

 Of every kind, examine well the seed: 

 Learn to what ELEMENTS your plants belong,' 

 What is their constitution, weak or strong ; 

 Be their physician, careful of their lives, 

 And see that every species daily thrives ; 

 These love much AIR, these on much HEAT rely, 

 These without genial MOISTURE, droop and die. 

 Supply the wants of each, and they will pay 

 For all your care through each succeeding day. 



WITH a view to render this work more generally interest- 

 ing, a classification and definition of the various species and 

 varieties embraced in the annexed Catalogue, is attempted. 

 Precision, however, in the performance of this task is im- 

 practicable, as it must be conceded that the vegetable fa- 

 mily, having been collected from all the varied climates and 

 soils, will differ as to height, complexion, time of blossoming, 

 and in many other essential points, when cultivated out of 

 their natural element. 



Some seeds germinate in two or three days after being 

 deposited in the earth ; other species will not exhibit signs 

 of vegetation under as many weeks. These and other dis- 

 tinguishing features arise, in a great measure, from their 

 having originated in diverse soils and climates. Natives 

 of cool or temperate climates and moist soils, are generally 

 tardy in germinating when cultivated in a warm climate and 

 dry soil, for want of a due share of their most essential 

 aliment, MOISTURE ; and natives of warm climates and 

 light soils, require artificial culture in cool seasons, and 

 unpropitious climates, in order to their being accommo- 

 dated with their natural and most important aliment, HEAT. 

 AIR is also a more necessary aliment to some species than 

 to others, but these three elements collectively, constitute 



