Tait’s Flower and Bulb Catalog 
Is Issued Every August, and 
Contains a Selected List o£ 
PERENNIAL FLOWER SEEDS 
HYACINTHS GIANT NARCISSUS 
CROCUS DARWIN TULIPS PEONIES 
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Gardeners in the Southern States who have been suc¬ 
cessful with vegetables, roses, shrubs or bulbous plants, 
often make a serious mistake when they begin the culti¬ 
vation of flowers from seed. Instead of ascertaining the 
kinds best suited to the climate of the Southern States 
they are apt to make a selection at random from some 
comprehensive list which describes the flowers as they 
are in their perfection. Meeting with failure for this 
reason, they become discouraged, and perhaps abandon 
what might have become one of the most intense of their 
pleasures. In the arrangement of this list it has not been 
our endeavor to secure variety at the expense of discrim¬ 
ination, but it will be found to contain most of those which 
are of real value in the South. 
General Directions For Sowing Flower Seed 
Sowings in the Open Ground 
HARDY—The varieties designated as Hardy may be 
sown as early as the 10th of March, unless the season is 
backward. 
HALF-HARDY—Those which are Half-Hardy should 
not be risked until the ground becomes warm under the 
surface; about the middle of April in ordinary years. 
TENDER—A few are marked Tender, and they may be 
sown during May. 
In sowing flower seed a very common mistake is made in 
covering them too deeply. The seeds are, as a rule, extremely 
small, many almost as fine as dust, and a safe rule is to 
cover them their respective thickness. This is best done 
by simply pressing them into the soil, which must be 
finely pulverized, with the palm of the hand or a board. 
Some varieties have seeds large enough to produce a 
vigorous root, and such may be covered from one-quarter 
to one-half inch according to their size. 
Never fail to press the earth firmly over the seeds, and 
a piece of bagging laid on the bed will prevent excessive 
evaporation or damage from washing rains while the 
seeds are germinating. As a general rule, it is unwise to 
water the earth in which seeds have been sown until 
the plants appear. If, however, the earth is watered, it 
should be done with a very fine hose that will make a mist. 
Hardy Annuals may be sown where they are to bloom, 
but, unless otherwise cautioned, it is always preferable 
to transplant. 
The height which each variety may be expected to 
attain is included in the description as a guide to the 
most effective arrangement when different kinds are 
placed in the same bed or border. The taller flowers 
should be placed in the rear to avoid the choking of the 
smaller and less vigorous kinds. 
Indoor Sowings 
For those who have neither greenhouse nor conserva¬ 
tory, and desire early flowers, we advise shallow boxes 
filled with rich, loamy soil, and placed in a warm window 
as the best method of starting flower seeds. The boxes 
should be covered with panes of glass until the seeds have 
germinated, to prevent evaporation. As the plants grow, 
give plenty of air and sunlight and avoid excessive water¬ 
ing. When large enough to handle, transplant into new 
boxes or pots, so as to have strong plants ready to go 
in the garden when danger from frost is past. 
ANNUALS—Attain full growth from seed, flower and die in 
one year. 
BIENNIALS—Grow from seed one year, bloom and die the 
next. Some varieties bloom the first season when sown ear.y. 
PERENNIALS—Last for several years, b.'ooming annually after 
the first season, though some varieties will bloom the first year 
if sown early. 
See Flowers That People Are Talking About, Page 64 
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