Select Flower- Seeds and Flowering-Plants. 



A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF SELECT FLOWER-SEEDS AND 

 FLOWELIING-PLANTS SUITABLE FOR THE GARDEN. 



WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THEIR CULTIVATION. 

 No. I. 



Before " The American Journal of Horticulture " was announced to the 

 public, I assented to have my name placed on the list of contributors to 

 the work. I then expected to be able to furnish articles, occasionally, on 

 floriculture, or on some other branch of horticulture, and thus show my 

 interest in this new enterprise ; hoping to give some useful hints to those 

 who were seeking information on the subject in which I have been so 

 deeply and happily engaged for the last half-century. For various reasons, 

 I have not been able to perform what I had promised to the proprietors. 



Age, probably, had something to do in hindering the use of my pen. 

 We cannot stave off old age: it will come, and with it a disinclination to 

 make much effort, either of body or mind ; or, in the words of the wise 

 man, " the grasshopper is a burden," or little matters appear formidable. 



But now I have promised again ; and, if health is continued, I shall 

 endeavor to give, from time to time, articles for the Journal relative to the 

 cultivation of flowering-plants most suitable to ornament the flower-garden. 



In the first place, I shall give a select list of the most showy annuals, 

 perennials, and biennials that are named in most of the catalogues of 

 seedsmen and florists. These catalogues, or many of them, contain from 

 a thousand to two thousand varieties and species of flower-seeds and plants, 

 embracing ten times more than one in a thousand would ever think of 

 cultivating, even if they were all worthy of it. 



A novice takes up a modern catalogue, and, in looking over the long list, 

 is confused and perplexed, not knowing what to select or reject. Perhaps 

 he may think the plant which has the longest name will give him the finest 

 flowers. Suppose he should cast his eye upon a catalogue now before me 

 as I write : he would probably be astonished to know that he could have 

 the Ipomea grandijiora alba picta carminca foils argentis marmoratis for the 

 reasonable price of eighteen dollars for a hundred seeds ; or he might have 

 a hundred seeds of the novelty Ipomea hedcracea grandijiora atrocarminea 



