DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF SEEDS. 
67 
From Seeds. 
REMARKS ON SOWING AND CULTURE. 
We have heard it remarked that the position of a person or a nation in the scale of refinement and civ¬ 
ilization may be judged by his or their love of two things, viz: Music and Flowers. 
The use and growth of flowers, especially, marks the progress of individuals and nations, the greatest 
nations of the earth being those with whom the love of Floriculture most prevails. To the lover of 
flowers, what can be more interesting than to sow the seed, water, and otherwise care for the growth 
and development of the plant, and at last, enjoy the expansion of the flowers? What does the sense of 
proprietorship of the purchaser of flowers, compare to that of the grower of them? The latter feels that 
they are verily his own, the results of his fostering care. Among the flowers which may be grown with 
a minimum amount of care and expense are those varieties which reproduce themselves from seeds. 
These are classed as Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, and these are subdivided into Hardy, Half 
Hardy and Tender varieties of each class. Hardy Annuals are those plants which may be sown in the 
open air. They grow, flower, produce seed and then die. Half Hardy Annuals are those varieties 
which require an even temperature of at least 60 degrees to germinate the seed, and will not stand 
frost; consequently, they must not be sown in the open ground during the fall or winter months, and 
not in spring till April. A good rule for those to follow who wish to sow this class is to wait for the 
proper weather and season in which to sow Corn, Melon or Pumpkin seeds. These being Half Hardy 
Annual vegetable seeds, it follows that Half Hardy Annual flower seeds may be sown without risk at the 
same time. 
Tender Annuals are those that require greenhouse protection, as Calceolaria, etc., the seeds are 
usually very fine, and it requires skill and care to raise them. 
Hardy Biennials are those that flower the second year from sowing the seed and then die. 
Hardy Perennials are among the finest of our border plants. They do not usually flower till the 
second year after sowing, but may be relied upon to produce larger clumps of flowers year by year for 
many years. Half Hardy Perennials are those which require some protection during the coldest weather 
as they will not stand frost. Tender Perennials are those species that require greenhouse or other pro¬ 
tection during the greater part of the year, as they are, generally speaking, natives of tropical countries. 
The best time to sow Hardy Annuals is in the fall months, as they will make much stronger plants, 
and flower much more abundantly when wintered over. They may be sown in any finely prepared shady 
border, and transplanted when large enough, to where they are to flower. Do not cover the seeds too 
deep. A good rule is to cover each seed its own depth with soil, at the same time taking care to water 
carefully. Never water so much that the soil gets "soggy,” i.e., saturated; nor never let the top 
get dry. Most varieties will germinate within ten days. 
They may also be sown at any time during the spring months for summer blooming, care being taken 
to shade the young plants, after transplanting, in hot weather. 
Half Hardy Annuals may be sown in April out of doors, or in boxes in March or earlier. If in boxes 
they should be covered, or removed under cover during the night time, aud during heavy rains. 
Those who have hot beds may sow the seed in February and grow the plants in 3-inch pots, for planting 
