For the Southern States. 



101 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



The following list of Flower seeds is not very large, but it 

 contains all which is desirable and which will do well in the South- 

 ern climate. I import them from one of the most celebrated grow- 

 ers in Prussia, and they are of the best quality. There are very 

 few or no flower seeds raised in this country, and I^orthern houses, 

 which publish large lists and catalogues, get them from just the 

 same sources as myself; but they, on an average, sell much higher 

 than I do. Some varieties which are biennal in Europe or I^orth, 

 flower here the first season; in fact, if they do not, they generally 

 do not flower at all, as they usually are destroyed by the contin- 

 ued long heat of summer. Some kinds grow quicker here and 

 come to greater perfection than in a more Korthern latitude. 



Flower seeds require a little more care in sowing than vege- 

 table seeds. The ground should be well pulverized and light en- 

 ough not to bake after a rain. Some of the more delicate and 

 finer varieties are better sown in boxes or seed pans, where they 

 can be better handled and protected from hard rains or cold 

 weather; the other kinds do not transplant well and are better 

 sown at once where they are to remain, or a few seeds may be 

 sown in small pots to facilitate transplanting into the garden with- 

 out disturbing the plants, when large enough. Some have very 

 fine seeds which the mere pressing of the hand or spade to the 

 soil will cover; others may be covered one-fourth of an inch, ac- 

 cording to their size. Watering should be done carefully, and if 

 not done with the springe, a watering pot where the holes of the 

 spout are very fine should be used. 



By setting the plants out, or sowing the seeds in the border, 

 consideration should be taken of the height, so that the taller va- 

 rieties may be in the middle and the dwarf kinds on the edge of 

 the bed. 



The seeds are put up at ten cents a package, one dollar per 

 dozen, except a few rare or costly kinds, where the price is noted. 

 All Flower seeds in packages are mailed free of postage to the 

 purchaser. Where there is more than one color, I generally im- 

 port them mixed, as I find that most of my customers do not wish 

 to purchase six packages or more of one variety, in order to get 

 all the colors. One package of Asters, Zinnia, Phlox, Chinese 

 Pink, German Stocks, Petunia, Portulaca and others, will always 

 contain an equal mixture of the best colors. 



