^•CULTIVATION^ 



Flowering plants are from various parts of the world, temperate and tropical, and their 

 habits are as various. Some are found on mountains, others in rich moist va'le\s, and again on 

 arid plains. It follows that their treatment must be very dissimilar, and that it is not in the 

 province of a catalogue to give any lengthened cultural directions. We will only offer a few 

 general remarks on seed growing. '^ 



In this latitude (Washington) nearly all the Hardy Annuals can be sown in April — say 

 from first to middle — considering the season and the condition of the ground; whilst the moie 

 tender varieties — natives of warm climates — should not be committed to tbe ground before the 

 middle of May. Such tender plants as Double Zinnias, Clianthus, Dampierii, Cypress Vine, 

 etc., should not be sown before the latter season, as they are natives- of warm climates; and when 

 sown early, and the ground is cold, they frequently perish. When this occurs, the blame is, of 

 course, placed on the seedsman; when, had they been sown in proper season, success was certain. 

 Hardy Perennials — The common and large-seeded kinds may be sown in the open bor- 

 ders any time in April, but the rare and more delicate species will succeed with greater certainty 

 if raised in a close frame, with or without bottom heat. Thus treated, nearly all will flower the 

 first season if sown early or planted out the early part of May. All those with very small seeds 

 should be sown under glass. Amateurs will do well to bear in mind that though many Perennial 

 seeds vegetate as quickly as those of Annuals, there are some others which usually remain dor- 

 mant for weeks, and even months. To this class belong the Cyclamens, Pseonies, Fraxinella, 

 etc. Our native Perennials are best sown in autumn, or as soon as gathered, and they will then 

 vegetate the following spring. As this is not always practicable, the plan of steeping the seeds 

 before sowing, for twenty -four hours may be adopted with great advantage in many cases. 

 Half-hardy Perennials require the same treatment as hardy Perennials, differing only in their 

 need of winter protection. 



Greenhouse and hot-house seeds need a moist, warm temperature, such as the propagatingr- 

 house or hot-bed frame. All seeds sown in frames or houses require shading, in bright weather, 

 during the middle of the day, especially as spring advances. For all seeds sown in pots, under 

 glass, a compost composed of well-decomposed leaf mould, sand and sandy loam, will answer 

 very well Sow very thinly; cover the seeds with about their own thickness of soil. After 

 the germination has once commenced, the surface of the soil should on no account be allowed to 

 become dry. Very small seeds, such as Mimulus, Lobelia, Calceolaria, etc., should not be cov- 

 ered with soil, but be sprinkled thinly on the soil, which should be previously watered from a 

 fine hose. Chinese Primula germinates best when covered with a layer of damp moss. The 

 seed often fails to grow from being too deeply covered with soil, and many other failures are 

 attributable to the same cause. A writer in the "Garden London" makes the following remarks 

 on the germination of seeds: "I have, at the present time, two kinds of shrub seeds just appear- 

 ing above ground, that have been sown, as nearly as possible, two years. In the ordinary course 

 of affairs, many people, not understanding their nature, would have thrown them away at least 

 eighteen months ago and blamed their seedsman for sending them bad seeds. Primula japonica, 

 if kept till spring, or until it has become thoroughly dry, will not germinate, for at least a year, 

 and sometimes two, and the same holds good in the case of man v hardy plants. 

 ALL FLOWER SEED SENT BT MAIL., POSTAGE FREE. 

 For the convenience of persons unacquainted with plants, we have for some years put up the 

 following collections, which are varied to suit different latitudes, among which are speds of our 

 own finest strain, which cannot be excelled. They have invariably given the greatest satisfaction. 



COLLECTIONS OF FLOWER SEEDS. 

 ioo P'k'gs Choice Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, including many new and rare varieties, $4.00 

 50 do do do do do 2 00 



25 do do do do do 1.00 



12 do do do do do ^o 



The varieties contained in the above collection are invariably our own selection. Pur- 

 chasers preferring to make their selection will be allowed a liberal discount in proportion to 

 their order. See 



INDUCEMENTS TO PURCHASERS. 



Purchasers remitting $1.00 may select Flower Seeds at catalogue prices amounting to $1.20 



do do 2.00 do do do 2.^ 



do do 3.00 do do do 3.7^ 



do do 4.00 do do do 5.00 



do do 5.00 do do do 6.2^ 



do do 10.00 do do do 14.00 



These discounts are allowed on Flower Seeds only — not on Vegetables, Plants, etc 



