Flower Seed Department 



In the first two-page Catalogue which 

 the founder issued in 1S38, seventy 

 )-ears ago, appeared the fol- 



lowing statement : "The increasing interest manifested in the cultivation of 

 flowers, and the demand for new varieties of Flcnver Seeds, have induced 

 the proprietor to give particular attention to this branch of his business, 

 and no pains have been spared to render the collection as extensive 

 and varied as any to be found in this country. ' ' This has been ^ 

 the kejTiote of this department ever since, and that our efforts 

 to supply only the choicest strains and stocks have been appre- 

 ciated by the flower-loving public is amply confirmed by the 

 steady growth of the department. Each year has marked 

 an increase over the previous season, until at the present 

 time we have as customers over 

 one-half of all the commercial 

 florists in the United States and 

 Canada — a most critical clientele, 

 besides thousands of amateurs and 

 private gardeners, whose trade it 

 is possible to hold only by supph-- 

 ing the very best grade of seeds at 

 fair prices. 



Many of our strains of Flower 

 Seeds have a world-wide reputa- 

 tion, notably our Double Fringed 

 Petunias, w'hich have been a spec- 

 ialty with us for over half a centurj-, 

 and e\ery seed of which is saved at 

 our own nurseries. Among other 

 items which receive special attention 

 may be mentioned Asters, Ciner- 

 arias, Cyclamens, Nasturtiums, 

 Pansies, Phlox, Poppies, Primulas, 

 Salvias, Stocks, Sweet Peas, Ver- 

 benas, Zinnias, etc. Many of these 

 are grown by ourselves while others 

 are grown for us, under contract, 

 by noted specialists in this country and in Europe. 

 Seeds of the various Hardy Perennials are, to a 

 great extent, saved at our own Nurseries at Riverton, 

 N. J, Over one hundred and twenty-five varieties 

 having been saved during the season of 1907. The 

 gathering, cleaning, etc., being done by careful men, 

 insuring a much higher degree of purity and 



View ofonrFlcniK!' 

 Seed Trial 

 Grounds showing 

 our Artist making 

 sketches direct 

 fro?)i nature 



A vie-v of an acre of our celebrated 

 Fringed Petunias "with the men 

 engaged in hybridizing thejlowers 



A field of our Asters being 

 grown especially for seed, 

 no flowers are cut for sale 



vitality than is possible to procure from outside sources. 



Frequent journeys are made to the grounds of hybridizers 

 and specialists in this country and in Europe for the 

 purpose of seeing and securing the latest and best 

 new and standard varieties, and hundreds of 

 sorts are tested annually in our own experi- 

 mental grounds with a view to oft'ering 



only the choicest, and eliminating worthless varieties or sorts which 

 do not succeed in our climate. 

 Seventy years ago our list of Flower Seeds comprised less 

 than three hundred sorts, to-day over twelve hundred species 

 and varieties are offered in the fifty-six pages of this cata- 

 logue devoted to this department, probably the most com- 

 plete and select list ever brought together. 

 Being ourselves large producers of flowering and orna- 

 mental plants, which are raised from Seeds, we are able 

 to appreciate to the fullest extent the value and import- 

 ance of high grade stocks of strong vitality. This places 

 us in a peculiarly strong position to 

 Partial view of the take care of the needs of those who 

 Flower Seed Order want the best that can be had in 

 , Department Flower Seeds. 



