NASTUIiTllTAIS. 
Explanation of the Flower Seed Catalogue. 
We have endeavoi-ed to make our flower seed department as complete in detail and easy of reference as pos- 
sible, and, instead of the usual description, have adopted a system of classification in columns, using simple 
abbreviations to denote the various characteristics of the vai'ieties in regard to color, tinae of flowering, 
liardiness, etc. 
The first column gives the nujiber, hy which the different varieties may be ordered, without writing out 
the whole name. 
The second column gives the botaxical name, in Roman characters, and the following additional 
information : 
The asterisk (*) designates oryutmental-lmved plants ; these plants are grown for their foliage. 
The dash (— ) designates the repetition of the name above it as applied to \A\e variety to which the dash is prefixed 
in vars. designates in varieties, or in mixed colors. 
fl. pi. designates (lore plena, or double-flowered. 
The third column presents in figures the comparative time op 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 varieties into early, intertnediate and /o/c-flowering sorts. Thus : 
1 designates eari!?/— blooming in spring and early summer. 2 designates mi!cmiedi«,«e— blooming in midsummer 
3 designates te^c— blooming in late summer and autumn. 
The fourth column gives the duration or character, and hardine.ss. 
A represents Anmml — lasting but one year, and producing 
flowers and seed the same season. 
J5 represents 7j>te;miai — lasting two years, and generally 
blooming during the second season. 
P represents i'o-oiHiaY— lasting three or more years. 
E " .Bi)C)-(7r('e?i.— retaining foliage the entire year. 
But as a large number of Biennials and I'erennials, if sown early, flower the first s'ea.son,' tliis distinguishing 
mark (t) is aflixod to such. ' fe * b 
The hardiness is denoted by the following abbreviations, but ifc should be understood that this is intended to 
apply to the chmatc of the Middle Atlantic states, and further north or south these designations apnlv onlv in a 
comparative way : o i i . j > <>. 
h represents Aardj/-plants for open border, hh represents half-hardy— pUrxtn that require to be forwarded in pots or frames 
t represents ^('jirfo — requiring protection. 
The fifth column gives the color in full, except as abbreviated below: 
S represents S/trttfts— plants of busliy habit, 
g ' greenhmine j>lants—sn<:h as do best when kept 
tinder glass. 
bu bulbous plants— vaunts forming bulbs or bullions 
roots. 
designates, in every ease, repetition. 
ap. for apetalous 
blk. black 
br. " brown 
tri. " tricolor . . 
bff. for buff 
car. " carmine, 
cr. " crimson . 
sul. " sulphur . 
lav. for lavender 
ptd. " painted . 
pur. " purple. 
scar, for scarlet, 
spot. " spotted, 
stri. " striped. 
, , . v.ariegated I ver. " vermilion. 
rhe sixth column gives the height in feet to which the plants grow under ordinary cultivation • trai si-ni- 
nea trailing ; cr. stands for c-reeptwr/. ■"u . t/itt. si^^ni 
post'^office^**"*^ column shows the price per packet at which the flower seeds will be delivered by mail to any 
The eighth column gives brief observations respecting the various clas.ses of plants catalogued with snecial 
directions respecting their culture, where required. As these notes have been very carefully prepai'k their su^ 
gestiona are worthy of attention. >-«^""j i^iepaiea, inen sug- 
