Alphabetical List of Flower Seeds 
RAISING PLANTS FROM SEED 
Valuable Cultural Hints 
When sowing seeds in pots, pans, or trays, use a 
compost of sweet top soil, sand, and humus, or clean 
leaf-mold. Some growers substitute peat-moss for 
the humus, but I prefer the latter. No manure of 
any kind is required, and the mechanical condition 
should be such that if a handful is squeezed together, 
when just pleasantly moist, it falls apart readily 
upon the hand being opened. If the particles cling 
tenaciously together, it requires the addition of more 
humus and sand. The soil should be passed through 
a sieve having a half-inch mesh. Fill the pots or flats 
to within half an inch of the top with this compost 
and press it moderately and uniformly firm, making 
the surface perfectly level. For very fine "seeds, a 
surfacing Iayer of the same soil passed through a 
quarter-inch sieve will be required. Now water with 
a fine spray so that the whole body of soil is satur- 
ated. It will be found an excellent preventative of 
damping-off and other fungoid troubles if Semesan 
is used (normal strength) for this purpose. Allow to 
drain for an hour or so and then sow the seed. Sow 
thinly and barely cover with soil shaken through a 
piece of wire screening. Large seeds, as Lupins and 
Sweet Peas, should be covered to a depth of 1 inch, 
and minute seeds, as Lobelia, Begonias, etc., will not 
require covering. Place a piece of glass and a sheet 
of brown paper over each pot or flat and keep in a 
temperature of 60 degrees. Examine each morning, 
and as soon as germination is evident, remove the 
coverings and gradually expose the plants to full 
light. Water with care, never allowing the plants to 
suffer either for want of water or by being water- 
logged. When water is required, stand the seed-pot 
in a pail and allow the moisture to rise from below. 
When preparing a seed-bed in a frame, the soil 
should possess the qualities already described. Sand 
and humus may be freely used. The surface must be 
raked fine and level and the seed sown either broad- 
cast or in shallow drills, 3 to 4 inches apart. Cover 
the seed to its own depth, or slightly more, for sum- 
mer sowings. Press lightly with a flat piece of board 
and water well with a very fine spray. Keep the sash 
and shading material on until the shoots can be just 
discerned breaking through the surface, then remove 
the shading and admit ventilation on all favorable 
occasions. The ground where seed is to be sown in 
the open should be brought to a state of pulveriza- 
tion and the surface raked fie. So far as possible, 
sow either immediately before or after rains, so that 
the seed is insured sufficient moisture for germina- 
tion and early growth. Annuals may be sown where 
they are to flower, the young plants afterward being 
vigorously thinned out. Perennials are best sown in 
rows and later transplanted. 
Seedlings sown in pots and frames will require 
transplanting when the second pair of leaves develop. 
For many things, flats 3 to 4 inches deep are suit- 
able, using a compost similar to that advised for 
seed-sowing but in a little coarser state, or they may 
be transplanted to beds in frames. Allow 2 inches 
each way for this first move. Perennials and bien- 
nial seedlings will be transplanted into frames or in 
rows in the open ground allowing ample space for 
development. 
Hardy annuals may be sown when the trees are 
bursting into leaf, and in some cases in the fall. 
Half-hardy annuals may be sown so that sizable 
plants are available for planting out when danger of 
frost has passed, and later for succession. Hardy 
biennials are best sown in June or July and hardy 
perennials from June to September. Greenhouse 
plants are sown at various times according to re- 
quirements, and in this connection it may be men- 
tioned that many hardy annuals make excellent 
greenhouse plants if sown in September or in early 
spring. When seeds fail to germinate, my experience 
is that the fault is invariably with the person respon- 
sible for the sowing and after-care. No reputable 
seed-house disseminates untested seed. The most 
frequent causes of failure are too deep sowing and 
permitting the soil to become excessively dry or the 
reverse while germination is taking place. Either of 
these conditions is fatal to success. 
T. H. Everett, F.R.H.S., N.D.H. 
Late of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, England 
The following abbreviations are used throughout the Flower Seed Department 
HA., Hardy Annuals 
HHA., Half-Hardy Annuals 
TA., Tender Annuals 
HP., Hardy Perennials 
Ageratum HA 
Fine for bedding and useful for bouquets. Easily 
raised from seed, which is usually started in a hotbed 
or window and transferred to open ground in May. 
Little Blue Star. Beautiful mauve. Miniature. 
Pkt. 25 cts. 
Little Dorrit. 6 in. Azure-blue. 
Pkt. 45 cts.; oz. $1.25 
Mexicanum, Blue Perfection. Very fine, semi- 
dwarf. Pkt. 15 cts.; 4oz. 90 cts. 
Swanley Blue. 1 ft. Attractive in large beds. 
Pkt. 15 cts.; 4oz. $1.25 
Anchusa 
Italica, Dropmore Variety. HP. Strong, branch- 
ing habit, producing large, brilliant blue flowers 
in abundance. July. Pkt. 25 cts.; %4oz. $1.25 
HHP., Half-Hardy Perennials 
HB., Hardy Biennials 
HHB., Half-Hardy Biennials 
HC., Hardy Climbers 
GP., Greenhouse Plants 
GS., Greenhouse Shrubs 
GB., Greenhouse Bulbs 
Alyssum 
Unsurpassed for edging in long borders, blooming 
continuously all summer. 
Benthami (Sweet Alyssum). HA. Fragrant, white 
flowers. Pkt. 15 cts.; oz. $1.25 
Carpet of Snow. HA. Invaluable for edges. 
Pkt. 25 cts.; oz. $1.50 
Lilac Queen. HA. Unique shade. 
Pkt. 25 cts.; Loz. $2.50 
Little Gem. HA. Very small white flowers. 
Pkt. 15 cts.; oz. $1.50 
Violet Queen. HA. Especially dwarf compact 
form with honey-like odor. Very bright violet tint. 
Pkt. 25 cts.; oz. $2.50 
Saxatile compactum. HP. 1 ft. Yellow. June. 
Splendid for rockery. Pkt. 25 cts. 
FLOWER SEEDS ARE SCARCE— 
ORDER EARLY 

WILLIAM M. HUNT & CO., Inc., NEW YORK 19, N. Y. | 15 
