76 
H. G. Hastings Co., Seedsmen, Atlanta, Georgia. 
Hastings’ “Home Beautiful” Flower Seeds 
Only Tarieties adapted to planting in Southern States. Read front inside coTer page, for Free Flower Seed Offer. 
L.IBFRAL> PREMIUMS — In addition to the free flower seed offer on the front inside cover page, with an order for 50 cents' worth of 
Flower Seeds Only, you may select 25 cents’ worth of Flower Seed Extra. For .$1.00 you may have 50 cents’ worth extra, and for $2.00 you 
naay have $1.00 worth extra. This offer does NOT include Bulbs, Roots, Plants or the Special 25- and 50-cent flower seed collections on 
page 6. Read carefully and please don’t confuse it with vegetable or fleld seeds. This Special Offer is for Flower Seeds Only. 
HASTINGS’ FLOWER SEEDS H O W TO SO W F LO W ER S E EDS 
Have no superiors and few equals. We use just as much care in 
the production of the finest strains of flower seeds as we do in vege- 
table seeds. We do this because it pays us. Our business experi- 
ence has shown us that our best advertisement is a satisfied cus- 
tomer, and our special high grade strains of seed are bound to make 
every one who plants them satisfied. The increase of our sales of 
flower seed in the past ten years has been enormous. Our cus- 
tomers find that the quality of our seed and the size and brilliancy 
of the bloom from our special strains of flower seeds surpass any- 
thing they have ever had. Until recently little flower seed was 
grown in the United States, and we import much of ours direct from 
the largest and best flower seed growers of France, where great 
attention has been paid to the production of the finest strains of 
flowers. We spare no trouble or expense to get the very best for 
our customers — the finest varieties of all flowers adapted to plant- 
ing in the South. Our list of flower seed is small compared with 
that of several Northern seedsmen. The reason for this is that there 
are comparatively few flowers grown from seed that do well in the 
South, and our list contains nothing but what is adapted to the 
South. You may depend upon the fact that you can plant any 
variety in this list with the assurance that with proper treatment 
and favorable seasons you will succeed. 
Our packets of flower seeds are larger than those of most seeds- 
men. There are enough seeds in Hastings’ packets to give plenty 
of plants of each kind. We have no 1, 2 or 3-cent packets such as 
are offered occasionally. Our packets contain good seed and plenty 
of it. We do not put in 6 or 7 sweet peas, or 12 or 15 poppy seed, 
as fine as dust, and call it a packet. Our business is not conducted 
on that basis. We charge you a reasonable price, just what the 
goods are worth, and give you value received for every cent you 
send us, and then add to your order our free offer as shown on 
first inside page of cover. 
Flower seed is now one of the leading features of our business, 
and we lead in that just as we do in vegetable seed. Hastings’ 
Seeds of all varieties are Successful Seeds. 
AGERATUM-Blue and White if; 
bedding and borders in the South. Native of Mexico and easily 
withstands heat of our summers. It blooms all summer, also if 
seed is sown in the fall it makes splendid box or pot plants for 
winter. Sow seed in open ground in April, or earlier in boxes for 
transplanting. Plants grow 1% to 2 feet high, with light green 
foliage, surmounted by clusters of small, tassel-like flowers. Pro- 
fuse bloomers of quick growth. Ageratum, Blue (No. 702), 5 cents; 
Ageratum, White (No. 703), 5 cents per packet. 'Ageratum, Blue 
and White Mixed (No. 701), 5 cents per packet. 
The Soil 
Hastings’ Ageratum Mexicanum 
With few exceptions flower seeds are very small, and sowing them 
by the inexperienced often results in failure, either partial or com- 
plete, because a few simple rules are not followed. There is noth- 
ing mysterious about success with flowers. It requires care and a 
little common sense. With these failure is almost impossible. It is 
work that can not be left to a farm hand or laborer. It must re- 
ceive your careful personal attention. By observing closely the 
following rules for sowing flower seed you will have little cause 
for complaint or failure. 
A mellow loam, which is a medium earth between 
the extremes of clay and sand, enriched by a com- 
post of rotten manure and leaf mold, is adapted to the generality 
of flowering plants. Previous to planting flower beds or borders 
care must be taken that they are so arranged that the ground is a 
little elevated in the middle, allowing the water to run off, also 
showing off the plants to better advantage. 
DlantSttcy tliA QaaH Make the surface as fine and smooth 
r lailClllg Elie as possible. Cover each sort of seed 
to a depth proportionate to its size; seed like portulaca, petunias, 
etc., should be merely sprinkled on the surface of the ground, and 
barely covered with finely sifted, light mellow soil; press the soil 
down firmly over the seed with a brick or a short piece of board. 
For larger seed the depth should be regulated according to the size 
of the seed, those the size of a pinhead % inch deep, and those the 
size of a pea % of an inch or more. Get a bit of lath (it would be 
better if planed smooth) about two feet long, press the edge down 
into the soil evenly, so as to make a groove as deep as the seed is 
to be planted, scatter the seed along this, allowing 4 or 5 of the 
larger to 15 or 20 of the smaller seeds to the space one plant is to 
occupy when grown. Cover the seed by pressing; turn your lath 
flatwise and press the soil down firmly. On light, sandy soils flower 
seed should be covered twice the depth that they should be in stiff 
or heavy clay soils. 
Sn Davaa Almost all flowers will stand trans- 
■■■ OEJAtJa planting. Many of them grow better 
for having been transplanted. In sections liable to late spring 
frosts or where drought comes in spring, it is advisable to sow 
seed in shallow boxes which can be placed in a warm, sunny win- 
dow or on a porch. This is always advisable with the expensive 
seed, and those of a tropical nature, such as coleus, salvia, etc. 
These need a warm soil to start the seed. Sow the same as in open 
ground, and keep the soil moist, bnt not soaking wet. If surface of 
soil shows tendency to cake or crust, scratch it lightly to break the 
crust. Small seeds cannot force their way through a crusted sur- 
face. As soon as the plants reach a height of 2 or 3 inches they may 
be transplant^ to open ground, taking as much earth from the box as possible with 
each plant, so as not to disturb the roots more than necessary. 
CtAfE'fFT ill VCCirim Free flowering annual of quick growth, beginning 
®WW tt I ML I to bloom in early spring and continuing for a long 
/IIa 1I\A \ time. Excellent for borders of flower beds, as it is of close, compact 
^llQi lU*!; growth and even in height. Sow seed thinly, in shallow drills where 
plants are to stand. Grows 5 to 10 inches high. The small illustration below gives 
you an idea of the type of flowering plant, showing how well suited it is for showy 
borders of beds or along walks. Packet, 5 cents; ounce, 50 cents. 
II I Plants very dwarf, spreading and uniform in 
MiySSUlTl*"LilHI0 IrGITI growth, 3 to 4 inches high. Plants begin bloom- 
/II A TORN ing when two inches high and continue along through the season. 
^nOt fUu; Plants are literally covered with small spikes of fragrant bloom, as 
many as 400 clusters having been produced on a single plant. Fine for borders. 
Packet, 6 cents ounce, 35 cents ; ounce, 60 cents. 
AKiifilAM More commonly known as “Flowering Maple. Splendid bedding 
MDUlllOn pi.Tnt for partly shaded locations or for pot culture, for porches or 
indoors. Our Royal Prize strain is of 
the finest mixed colors. Varied in form 
and color of flower, leaf and growth. 
Easily grown from seed, which should 
be sown in boxes in March and April. 
Abutilon, Mixed Colors (No. 722) — 
Packet, 10 cents. 
Aristolochia 
(Dutchman’s Pipe) (No. 724) — A splen- 
did climber of tropical origin, well 
adapted for porches, trellises or ar- 
bors in the Central and Lower South. 
Leaves dark green and plants of rapid 
growth when planted in good loamy 
soil or one that has been well manured. 
It needs plenty of sunshine. The best 
variety for this section (Elegans) is 
odorless. Flowers three inches across, 
purple and white blotched. Plant seed 
where plants are to stand about May 
1st. Packet, 10 cents. 
Sweet Alyssum for Borders 
