16 



INTRODUCTION 



TO THE 



CATALOGUE OF ANNUAL FLOWER SEED. 



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 useful 

 and interesting, a classification and definition of the various 

 species and varieties embraced in the annexed Catalogue, 

 are attempted to be given. Precision, however, in the per- 

 formance of this task is impracticable, as it must be evident 

 that the vegetable family, having been collected from every 

 variety of climate and soil, will differ as to height, colour, 

 time of blossoming, and in many other essential points, when 

 cultivated out of their natural Element. 



Some seed germinate in two or three days after having 

 been deposited in the earth ; others will not exhibit signs of 

 vegetation in as many weeks. These and other distinguish- 

 ing features arise, in a great measure, from their having 

 originated in various 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 waim climates and light soils 

 require artificial culture in cool seasons and unpropitious 

 climates, in order to theiy being accommodated with their 



