CLASSIFICATION AND NAMES OP FLOWERS. 



The flowering plants of our gardens, besides shrubs, trees, &c., are HERBACEOUS PEREN- 

 NIALS, BIENNIALS, ANNUALS and BULBOUS. 



HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS are plants which die down to the ground every autumn, but tha 

 roots continue to live, and new branches and flower stems are thrown up for many years. Some 

 continue indefinitely, but others die after three or four years, like the Sweet William ; but if the 

 roots are divided every year, they will continue to live and increase. These are called Imperfect 

 Perennials. 



BIENNIALS are those that flower the second season after the seed is sown, and then die, unless 

 particular care is taken to preserve them, by dividing the roots, or retarding the flowering at 

 the usual time by removing the buds. Some of these classes flower the same season under favor- 

 able circumstances, as when the seed is sown early. 



ANNUALS flower the first season, perfect their seeds, and then die. Some varieties that are 

 grown as Annuals in a Northern climate, are either Perennials or Biennials in their Southern 

 home, where there are no severe frosts. Annuals flower in a few weeks or months after being 

 planted, and can be depended upon for a brilliant show. Annuals are classed as hardy ; half- 

 hardy and tender. Hardy Annuals are those that, like the Larkspur, Candytuft, &c., may be 

 sown in the autumn or very early in the spring, in the open ground. The half-hardy varie- 

 ties will not endure frost, and should not be sown in the open ground until danger from frost 

 is over. The Balsam and the Marigolds belong to this class. The tender Annuals generally 

 require starting in a green-house or hot-bed to bring them to perfection, and should not be 

 set in the open ground until the weather is quite warm. The Cypress Vine and the Sensitive 

 Plant belong to this class; but, fortunately, very few of our fine Annuals. Some of them do 

 tolerably well if sown in the open ground the latter part of May, but very great success is not to 

 be expected in this way. It must be admitted, however, that these distinctions are not well 

 defined, and it is difficult to say where some kinds belong. In a climate sufficiently South, of 

 course, those kinds we describe as tender are perfectly hardy. 



BULBS are divided into Hardy, Holland and Tender. The Hardy includes all that will bear 

 a Northern winter. Holland, those exclusively grown in Holland, like Hyacinths, Crocuses, 

 Tulips, &c. Tender, those, like the Gladioli and Tuberose, that will not bear freezing, and 

 therefore must be planted in the spring. 



We make a rather different division in this work, and one which, we think, will be found 

 quite convenient. 



1st. ALL KINDS that PRODUCE FLOWERS the same SEASON the SEED is SOWN, are arranged in 

 one Department, under the heading of ANNUALS. This Department includes the following sub- 

 divisions : Climbers, Everlastings and Ornamental Grasses. 



ad. Under the name of PERENNIALS, all plants produced from seed that bloom the second 

 season after planting. 



jd. GREENHOUSE, describing the leading plants grown from seeds adapted to Greenhouse 

 culture. 



4th. BULBS AND PLANTS. This Department has two divisions : Tender Bulbs and Tubers, 

 embracing all those tender bulbs, like the Dahlia, Gladiolus, Tuberose, &c., that will not bear 

 frost, and consequently must be planted only in the spring in a Northern climate. Hardy Plants 

 and Bulbs, embracing all the Lilies, Paeonies, and other things that will endure our winters, and 

 consequently can be planted either in the fall or spring. 



5th. HOLLAND BULBS. This Department embraces Hyacinths, Tulips, and all other Bulbs 

 known as Holland Bulbs, and these must be planted in the autumn. 



To aid in a inore general understanding of the subject we give a GLOSSARY, explaining and 

 illustrating the botanical terms in most common use, and also a PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY of 

 BOTANICAL NAMES, which will serve as a guide to their proper pronunciation, and give much 

 information regarding their origin and meaning. 



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