102 Richard Frotscher's Almanac and Garden Manual 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



The following list of Flower seeds is not very lar^e, but it 

 coutains all which is desirable and which will do well in the 

 Southern climate. I import them from one of the most cel^-brated 

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

 very few or no flower seeds laised in this country, and Northern 

 houses, which publish large lists and catalogues, get them from 

 just the same sources as myself; but they, on an average, s<-ll 

 much higher than I do. Some varieties which are biennial in 

 Euroj)e or North, flower here th • first season; in fact, if they do 

 not, tht^y generally do not flower at all, as they usually are 

 destroyed by the continued long heat of suoimer. Some kinds 

 grow quicker here and come to greater perfection than in a more 

 Northern latitude. 



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

 table seeds. The ground should be well pulverized and light 

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

 finer varieties are better sown in boxe^ or s^ed pans, where they 

 can be better h^indled and protr cted from hard rains or cold 

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

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

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

 out disturbiUj^ the plants, Avhen large enough. Some have very 

 fine seeds which the mere j)ressiDg of the hand « r spade to the 

 soil will cover; others may be covered oue fourth of an inch, 

 accordiug to their size. Watering should be done carefully, and 

 if not done with a syringe, 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 talhr 

 varieties 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 

 doz^n, except a few rare or costly kinds, where the price is noted. 

 All flower seeds in packages are m iled free of postage to the 

 purchaser. Where there is more than one color, 1 generally im- 

 port them mixed, as I find that most of my cust 'mers do not wish 

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

 all the colors. One p.(ckage of Asters, Zinnia, Phlox, Chinese 

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

 contain an equal mixture of the bt st colors. 



