PETER HENDERSON & CO.— INTRODUCTORY. 3 



OUR PRICES. — We invite comparison of prices compared with condition of stock. If, for 

 example, a rose is offered at 10 or 15 cents, it will be well to know whether such plants, usually a few 

 inches high and of feeble growth, are not much dearer than a vigorous plant six times the size at 25 

 cents. The same rule applies to plants of all kinds. We give, however, usually a range of prices to 

 suit the wants of all purchasers. 



WE SELL NO CUTTINGS. — Every season we are applied to for cuttings— we sell no 

 cuttings, long experience having shown us that the plan is a bad one for both buyer and seller. 

 When cuttings are packed they generate a damp that is almost certain to destroy them before they 

 would root ; and to us who sell it would really be more troublesome to detach and pack cuttings than 

 to send plants. To such as want small plants at low rates, see Low Priced List on page 120. 



THE BEST DOZEN. — From both amateur and professional cultivators, we have complaints 

 that everywhere the practice is to grow too many varieties, so that the selection of the "best" from 

 catalogues is impossible even by those best qualified to do so ; to help such, we have this season 

 selected what in our judgment are the 12" best and most distinct " kinds, whether new or old — for 

 many of the sorts of ten and even twenty years ago are yet unequalled. " The best Dozen " embraces 

 Monthly and Hybrid Perpetual Roses, Double and Single Geraniums, Verbenas, Fuchsias, 

 Carnations, Large Flowering and Bouquet Dahlias, Large and Small Flowering Chrysanthemums, 

 Cannas, Crotons, Fancy Caladiums, Dracenas, Coleus, Lantanas, Ferns, etc. For descriptions 

 see Plant Department of this Catalogue. 



HOSES. — The popularity that Hoses have attained during the past ten years has induced 

 propagators in all parts of the world to vie with each other in producing improved sorts, so that 

 now the variety and perfection of form, color and fragrance is truly wonderful. Our aim in Roses, 

 as in all other plants, is to limit our collection to what are the most distinct and best kinds ; and by 

 what we term our " Cold System " of culture, we feel satisfied that our plants will rarely fail to give 

 satisfaction. In nearly all parts of the country the greater part of all the Roses sold are grown by 

 the forcing process in hot greenhouses. Our plan is to store the plants we offer in cold pits during 

 the winter and spring, so that when received by our customers they are in condition to grow with 

 vigor. 



TREATMENT OF PLANTS WHEN RECEIVED— When plants are sent by mail, 

 nearly all the soil is shaken off to lighten. If it is the season when they can be planted out doors, the 

 ground should be first well dug up and pulverized — the plants when set out should be well firmed 

 about the root, copiously watered once only when planted, shaded for two or three days when the 

 sun is out, no further watering should be done, but a mulch of moss, manure or leaves around the 

 roots would be beneficial. When received (by mail) at a season when they cannot be put out, they 

 should be placed at first in as small pots as possible, sparingly watered until they show signs of new 

 growth. If by express the plants are usually in such condition as require a size larger pot than they 

 have been growing in. 



SOIL is not of so much importance as is usually supposed. When practicable, about three parts 

 rotted sod from any good pasture land is best, to one part well rotted manure, but when that cannot 

 readily be obtained, the soil immediately underneath the sod mixed with manure will answer. 



DRAINAGE. — When plants are first potted, or are cramped in small pots, there is no necessity 

 for drainage ; but as the practice with amateurs is almost universal to overpot plants, as a measure 

 of safety, from one to two inches of broken charcoal or potshreds should be placed in the bottom of 

 all pots over six inches in diameter, and what is even of more importance than this " crocking" — so 

 called — is to have the plants set on a rough surface of gravel or fine cinders, so that a free escape of 

 water can take place. 



MOSS MULCHING. — This is a new practice we began in 1380. It consists in mixing the 

 common moss of the swamps or woods with about one-twentieth of its bulk of bone dust. This is 

 placed to the thickness of an inch or two on the top of the pot. Plants so treated quickly show 

 surprising health and vigor. During the season of 1880 we used it on over a million of potted plants, 

 embracing every species and variety we cultivate, with results that we never before saw equaled. It 

 cannot be too highly recommended, whether for the humble amateur growing a few window plants, 

 the gardener with his full appointed greenhouses, or the florist who grows to sell — to one and all we 

 advise it, as it not only lessens labor, saving a re-potting of plants frequently for twelve months, but 

 the vigor of growth, and productiveness of flower and coloring of foliage is perfectly astonishing. 



