8o 
II. G. Hastings & Co., Seedsmen, Atlanta. Georgia. 
Hastings* Mixed Klower Garden. iSee Pa^e S7) 
FLOWER 
Seeds an d Bulbs 
Only such Varieties as 
are adapted to planting 
in all of the Southern 
States. You can ^et 
some Flower Seeds 
Free. Read Pa^e 29 
carefully. 
Fiheral Premiums 
For 50 cents you may select Flower Seeds to the amount of 75 cents. F'or $1.00 yon may select Flower Seeds to the 
amount of $1.50. For $2.00 you may select Flower Seeds to the amount of $3.00. This does not include Bulbs, Roots, 
Plants, or Special Collections. 
HASTINGS’ FLOWER SEEDS 
Have no superiors and few equals. We use just as much care in the pro¬ 
duction of the finest strains of flower seeds as we do in vegetable seeds. 
We do this because it pays us to. Our business experience is that our best 
advertisement is a satisfied customer, and our special high grade strains 
of seed are bound to make every one who plants satisfied. The increase 
of our sales of flower seed for the past four years has been enormous. Our 
customers have found that the quality of the seed and the size and brilli¬ 
ancy of the bloom from our special strains of flower seeds surpass any¬ 
thing they have ever had. Very little flower seed is grown in the United 
States, and we imi)ort ours direct from the largest and best flower seed 
growers ot Germany and France, where the greatest attention is paid to 
the production of the finest strains of flowers. We spare no trouble nor 
expense to get the very best for our customers—the finest varieties of all 
flowers adapted to planting in the South. Our list of flower seeds is small 
compared with that of many 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. 
Vou 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 other seedsmen. 
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 occa¬ 
sionally. Our packets contain good seed and plenty of it. We do not put 
in 6 or 7 Sweet Peas, or 12 or lo Poppy Seed; as fine as dust and call it a 
packet. Our business is not conducted on that basis. We charge a rea- 
.■-onable price, just what the goods are worth, and give you value received 
for every cent you send us. and then add to your order a liberal number 
ol extra seeds. 
Flower seed is now one of the strong features of our business, and we 
lead-in that just as we do in vegetable seed. Hastings’ seeds of all va- 
rietles are Successful Seeds. 
AGERATUM 
BIATE and WHITE 
A favorite garden flower 
for bedding and borders in 
the South. Native of Mexico 
and easily withstands heat of 
our long summers, They 
bloom all summer, and if seed 
is sown in the fall they make 
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, sur¬ 
mounted with clusters of 
small, tassel-like flowers. 
Of quick growth, and profuse 
bloomers. Blue, 5 cents; 
white, 6 cents, per packet. 
Aeeraiiiiu 
12 GLADIOLI 25c 
HOW TO SOW FLOWER SEEDS 
With few exceptions flower seeds are very small, and sowing them by 
the inexperienced often results in failure, either partial or complete ,be- 
cause a few simple rules are not followed out. There is nothing myste¬ 
rious 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 negro farm hand or laborer. It must receive careful attention. 
By observing closely the following rules for sowing flower seed you will 
have little cause for complaint of failure. 
rpt A mellow loam, which is a medium earth between the ex- 
X lie ikjOll tremes of clay and sand, enriched with a compost 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 may be a little elevated in the middle, 
that the water may run off, and that the plants may show off to better 
advantage. 
HIotiPItiA Qau#] Make the surface as fine and smooth as pos 
X laiiling lllC kjCctl sible. Dover each sort of seed to a depth 
proportionate to its size; the finest, 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. 
Procure a bit of lath (it would be better if planed smooth) about 2 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 1.5 or 20 of the smaller seeds to the space one plant is to 
occupy when grown. Cover the seed by pressing the earth over it, then 
turn your lath flatwise and press the soil down firmly. On light, sandy 
soils flower seeds should be covered twice the depth that they shouid be 
in stiff or heavy clay soils. 
in Ttrkvoc Almost all flowers will stand transplanting. 
kjOWlllg J.U XJUAtts Many of them grow better for having been 
transplanted. In sections liable to late spring frosts, or where drouth 
comes in spring, it is advisable to sow seed in shallow boxes which can 
be placed in a warm, sunny window or on a porch. This is always ad¬ 
visable 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, but not soaking wet. If 
surface of soil shows tendency to cake or crust, scratch it lightly to break 
the crust. Small seeds can not force their way through a crusted surface. 
As soon as the plants reach a height of 2 or 3 inches they may be trans¬ 
planted to open ground, taking as much earth from the box as possible 
with each plant, so as not to disturb the roots more than is necessary. 
SWEET ALYSSUM 
Free flowering annual, of quick growth, 
beginning to bloom in early sprineand con¬ 
tinuing for along time. Excellent for bor¬ 
ders for flower beds, as it is of close, com¬ 
pact growth and even in height. Sow seed 
thinly, in shallow drills where plants are to 
stand. Grows 3 to 10 inches high. Packet, 
5 cents; ounce, 25 cents. 
Alyssum—Little Gem 
Plants very dwarf, spreading and uniform 
in growth, 3 to 4 Inches high. Plants begin 
blooming when 2 inches high and continue 
long through the season. Plants are literally 
covered with the small spikes of fragrant 
bloom, as many as 400 clusters having been 
reduced on a single plant. Fine for bor¬ 
ers. Packet, 6 cents; ounce, 20 cents; 
ounce, 35 cents 
