74 



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 refer- 

 ence as possible, and instead of the usual description, have adopted a 

 system of classification in columns, using simple abbreviations to denote 

 the various 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 Roman charac- 

 ters, and the following additional information : 



The asterisk (*) designates ornamental-leaved plants ; these plants are 



grown for their fcliage. 

 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.pl. designates flore pleno, or double-flowered. 



The third column presents 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 sim- 

 ple plan of classing the different varieties into early, intermediate and 

 /ate-f\o\vering 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 character, 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 represents Perennial — lasting three or more years. 

 E Evergr een — retaining foliage the entire year. 



S " Shrubs — plants of bushy habit. gig 

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



glass. jjj] 

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

 . . designates, in every case, repetition. gj 

 But as a large number of Biennials and Perennials, if sowr. IjJ 

 early, flower the first season, this distinguishing 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 des- 

 ignations apply only in a comparative way : 



h represents hardy— plants for open border. 



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

 t tender — requiring protection. 



calliopsis lanceolata. (See page 81.) 



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



ap. 

 blk. 

 br. 

 tri. 



for apetalous . 

 " black . . . 

 " brown . . 

 " tricolor . . 



bff. for buff. . , 

 car. " carmine 

 cr. " crimson 

 sul. " sulphur 



lav. for lavender . 

 ptd. " painted 

 pur. " purple . . 

 var. " variegated 



scar, for scarlet. 



spot. 



stri. 



ver. 



spotted, 

 striped, 

 vermilion. 



trai. 



be delivered bv mail 



The Sixth column gives the height in feet to which the plants grow under ordinary cultivation 



signifies trailing ; er. stands for creeping. 



The seventh column shows the price per packet at which the flower seeds wi] 

 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 care- 

 fully prepared, their suggestions are worthy of attention. 



