GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 93 



BROOM CORN. 



Can be planted the same as corn; put the hills closer together in the row. Six quarts 

 will plant an acre. 



JOHNSON GRASS. 



Sorghum Halapense. 



This has been called Cuba grass, Egyptian grass, Means grass, Alabama and Guinea 

 grass. It seems pretty well agreed now, however, to call it Johnson grass, and leave the 

 name Guinea grass for the "Panicum jumentorum," to which it properly belongs. i% 

 bushels per acre. 



Note — Great care must be taken not to sow this grass near cultivated lands. If done 

 so, it should not be allowed to go to seed, as the wind will blow them off from the stalks, 

 and when it gets among cane or other crops it causes a great deal of trouble. It is almost 

 impossible to get it out of the land. 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



The following list of Flower seeds is not very large, but it contains all which is desir- 

 able and which will do well in the Southern climate. We import them from one of the 

 most celebrated growers in Prussia, and they are of the best quality. There are very few 

 or no flower seeds raised in this country, and Northern houses, which publish large lists 

 and catalogues, get them from just the same source as ourselves; but they, on an average, 

 sell much higher than we do, Some varieties, which are biennial in Europe or North, 

 flower here the first season; in fact, if thty do not they generally do not flower at all, as 

 they usually are destroyed by the continued long heat of summer. Some kinds grow 

 quicker here and come to a greater perfection than in a more Northern latitude. 



Flower seeds require a little more care in sowing than the vegetable 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 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 without 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, according 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 taller varieties may be in the middle and the dwarf kinds 

 on the edge of the bed. 



The seeds are put up in 5c. and 10c. packrges, 15 and 20 packages for one dollar, ex- 

 cept a few rare ©r costly kinds, where the o price is noted. All flower seeds in packages are 

 mailed free of postage to the purchaser. Where there is more than one color we gener- 

 ally import them mixed, as we find that most of our customers do not wish 10 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. 



Althea Rosea. Hollyhock. This flower 

 has been much improved of late years, and 

 is very easily cultivated. Can be sown from 

 October till April. Very hardy; from four 

 to six feet high. 



Alyssum Marititnum. Sweet Alyssum. 

 Very free flowering plants, about 6 inches 

 high, with white flowers; very fragrant.. 

 Sow from October till April. 



Antirhinum majus- Snapdragon. 

 Choice mixed. Showy plant of various col- 

 ors. About two feet high. Should be sown 

 early if perfect flowers are desired. Sow 

 from October till March. 



Aster. Trufant's Paeony-fiowered Per- 

 fection. Large double paeony-shaped flow- 

 ers, of fine mixed colors, one of the best Trufant's PajoBy^Flowered Aster. 



When in Doubt Consult Steckler. 



