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J. M. Thorburn & Co., 15 John St., New York. 



EXPLANATION OF THE FLOWER SEED 



CATALOGUE. 



We have endeavored to make our flower seed department as complete in detail and easy of reference as 



possible, and instead of the usual description, have adopted 

 a system of classification in columns, using simple abbrevia- 

 tions to denote the varying characteristics of the varieties in 

 regard to color,time of flowering, hardiness, etc. 



The first column gives the number, by which the different 

 varieties may be ordered, without writing out the whole name. 



The second column gives the botanical name, in Ro- 

 man characters, and the following additional information : 

 The asterisk (*) designates ornamental - leaved plants ; 



these plants are grown for their foliage. 

 The dash (—) designates the repetition of the name above 



it as applied to the variety to which the dash is prefixed. 

 in vars. designates in varieties, or in mixed colors. 

 fl. pi. designates flore pleno, or double flowered. 



The third column gives in figures the comparative time 

 of flowering. As it is impossible in our varied extent of 

 climate to state the exact month any plant may flower in, we 

 have adopted the simple plan of classing the different varie- 

 ties into early, intermediate and late flowering sorts. Thus : 



1 designates early — blooming in spring and early summer. 



2 " intermediate — blooming in midsummer. 



3 " late — blooming in late summer and autumn. 



The fourth column gives the duration or charac- 

 ter, and HARDINESS. 



A represents Annual — lasting but one year, and producing flowers and seed the same season. 

 B represents Biennial — lasting two years, and generally blooming during the second season. 

 P Perennial — lasting three or more years. 

 E " Evergreen — retaining foliage the entire year. 

 S Shrubs — plants of bushy habit. 



g " greenhouse plants — such as do best when kept under glass, 

 bu " bulbous plants — plants forming bulbs or bulbous roots. 

 . . designates, in every case, repetition. 

 But as a large number of Biennials and Perennials, if sown early, flower the first season, this distinguish- 

 ing mark (f) is affixed to such. 



The hardiness is denoted by the following abbreviations, but it should be understood that this is intended 

 to apply to the climate of the Middle Atlantic states, and further north or south these designations apply 

 only in a comparative way : 



h represents hardy — plants for open border. 



hh " half-hard^ — plants that require to be forwarded in pots or frames, 

 t tender — requiring protection. 

 The fifth column gives the color in full, except as abbreviated below : 



ap. for apetalous .... bff. for buff \ lav. for lavender scar, for scarlet. 



blk. " black car. " carmine ptd. " painted ispot. " spotted. 



br. " brown cr. " crimson pur. " purple stri. " striped. 



tri. " tricolor sul. " sulphur ] var. " variegated .... ver. " vermilion. 



The sixth column gives the height in feet to which the plants grow under ordinary cultivation ; iraii 

 signifies trailing ; cr. stands for creeping . 



The seventh column shows the price per packet at which the flower seeds will be delivered by mail 

 to any post office. 



The eighth column gives brief observations respecting the various classes of plants catalogued, with 

 special directions respecting their culture, where required. As these notes have been very carefully prepared, 

 their suggestions are worthy of attention. 



SWEET PEAS. 



See page 107 for complete list, with prices. 



