^iug.j CHE FLOWER GARDEN. i)2S 



having the name carefully written on a wooden or paper label, 

 and put into the bag for greater certainty. Upon tlie outside 

 of each bag the name should also be written, for the greater 

 convenience of ascertaining the different sorts. Those which 

 are in smaller packages should have their generic and specific 

 name also written upon the outer side of each packet. As 

 they are collected, and when sufficiently dried, they should 

 be laid by in the seed- room, or other dry place, till the 

 season of sowing; however, they should be occasionally ex- 

 amined, to see that none have been laid by in a damp state, 

 which, if not detected, would soon destroy the vegetative 

 powers of the seeds. 



The saving of flower-seeds is seldom carried to any extent 

 in the gardens of private individuals, neither would any re- 

 turn be adequate to the expense and trouble of collecting and 

 curing, as the generality of them can always be purchased 

 much cheaper than they can be grown and saved. We here, 

 however, allude to such kinds, as are either curious, rare, or 

 interesting to the owner or manager of the garden ; indeed, 

 the cultivator, who is high in the fancy of cultivating rare or 

 curious specimens, or of promulgating many varieties of cer- 

 tain species, will always find ample employment at this season. 

 The production of hybrids or mules is a favorite pursuit of 

 many ; and this is attained by bringing the fertilizing dust of 

 one plant in contact with the feminine pollen of another. 

 The progeny thus produced often, in some species, participate 

 of the characters of both, and those seed-vessels which may 

 have been thus operated on, should be distinctly marked when 

 gathered, and their future merits ascertained. 



