liietipt!?! List of Floww Seeds. 



ALL FLOWER SEEDS FORWARDED FREE BY MAIL. 



TIME OF SOWING, etc. 



HARDY ANNUALS may be sown in the open border from April to June. Before 

 sowing, which should be done on a fiue, dry day, carefully prepare the soil, and, in 

 covering, regulate the thickness by the size of the seeds. Small seeds should be very 

 lightly covered. Success in growing annuals depends in a great measure upon their 

 being properly thinned to regular distances, so as to give plenty of room for the full 

 development of each plant. This, in too many instances, is entirely neglected ; hence 

 the dissatisfaction so often expressed as to their use. 



HALF-HARDY AND TENDER ANNUALS may be sown in March and April in 

 shallow boxes, and placed on a slight hot-bed, and, when strong enough, pricked out 

 into a cool frame near the glass, where they may get hardened and well established for 

 transplanting into their blooming quarters in May, or potted off singly for green-house 

 or conservatory decoration. Under ordinary circumstances, most of the varieties will 

 bloom freely if sown in the open ground about the middle of May. 



BIENNIALS AND PERENNIALS.— The more select and tender varieties for 

 summer and autumn blooming may be sown in a gentle heat in March and April, and 

 treated in the manner recommended for half-hardy annuals. The hardy kinds may be 

 sown in the open border from April to August, in prepared beds, and when strong 

 enough potted off singly, or transplanted to the open ground, where they are intended 

 to bloom the following year. During the winter, protect the plants with, a light 

 covering of leaves or coarse manure. 



The following points should be observed in sowing seeds of all kinds : — "Sowing 

 should never be done upon soil in a very wet condition ; if it is necessary, for any 

 special reason, to sow when the soil is very wet, a half an inch depth should be scraped 

 off and replaced with dry soil. A3 a general rule, the surface should be rather dry 

 than wet. Seeds should never be sown too deep— this is a fertile cause of failure with 

 inexperienced gardeners. A depth of about twice the average diameter of the seeds 

 themselves is a good general principle to follow in this respect ; this will bring the 

 majority of seeds but just under the surface, and some of the very finest will not be 

 actually covered at all, but just sprinkled over the surface, and a little pressure applied. 

 This is quite sufficient. As a rule, the more thinly the seeds are strewn the better. 

 If seeds are sown in dry weather, water must be given from a fine rose water-pot, and, 

 unless rain comes must be followed up regularly every day or two, as it is certain to be 

 fatal to seeds just sprouted, if absolute drought should overtake them. It is obvious 

 that moist and rainy weather is the best for seed sowing. If the water-pot is used it 

 must be done with judgement — an excess of moisture is as harmful as too little, and 

 will produce decay. The seedsman repeatedly gets the blame for the non-growth of 

 seeds, when the failure is entirely attributable to neglect of the above precautions. 

 Watering in summer should be performed in the evening ; but when slight frosts are 

 feared, earlier in the day, so that it may be fairly drained away before night. 



ABOBRA. perpkt. 



Abobra Viridifiora. Avery elegant and beautiful climbing gourd with small finely 



divided foliage and oval shaped, vivid scarlet fruits. Half-hardy perennial 10 



ABRONIA. 



Extremely pretty creeping plants, with verbena-like heads of sweet scented flowers, 

 very effective in beds, rock-work, or hanging baskets ; succeed in any light, 

 rich soil. Half-hardy annuals. 



Abronia Arenaria. Pure waxy yellow, deliciously scented, i f fc 10 



TJmbellata. Rosy lilac, i f t 10 



ABUTILON. 



Greenhouse Shrubs, remarkable for their fine foliage and A^ariously colored flowers, 

 blooming in abundance, during the winter and spring months ; many of the 

 varieties will succeed well if plunged in the flower border during Summer. 



Abutilon. Fine mixed varieties, 2 to 6 ft 25 



ACACIA. 



These very graceful and highly ornamental plan ts,after rendering the greenhouse and 

 conservatory beautiful in Spring with their charming blossoms, may be usefully 

 employed in decorating the out-of-door garden, where their fine foliage and 

 habits could not fail to attract notice. They may be placed about lawn and 

 shrubbery borders, plunging the pots to keep the soiL moist, and regularly 

 watered. Previous to sowing, soak the seeds in warm water several hours. 

 Greenhouse Shrubs. 



Acacia. Fine mixed variet ies 25 



