DREER'S SELECT 



Hardy Perennial Plants. 



A BouDER OF Hardy Perennials. 



THIS class of plants, familiarly known as Old-fashioned Hardy Garden Flowers, has come into public favor in recent years 

 so rapidly as to astonish even the most sanguine enthusiast of these gems of the garden. Their popularity is not at all surprising 

 when we consider the many varied and pleasant changes which take place throughout the entire growing season in a well 

 arranged hardy border, in which every week, yes, almost every day, brings forth something fresh and new. Beginning in April, 

 early-flowering varieties open their flowers often before snow has entirely disappeared, continuing with constantly changing variety 

 through the summer until late in the fall, when severe freezing weather only will stop such persistent late bloomers as the Japanese 

 Windflowers, Pompone Chrysanthemums, Stokesias, etc. 



We are continually adding new, rare and desirable sorts to our list, which is admitted to be the most complete and up-to-date 

 collection in the country. 



Cultivation is of the simplest, beginning with any good garden soil for a foundation, which may be enriched with any good 

 fertilizer, such as well decomposed cow or sheep manure or bone meal, deeply dug, well jiulverized, in which the plants should 

 be set as early in the season as )5ossible, so as to enable them to become well rooted and established before hot, dry we.nther sets 

 in, keeping the ground well stirred, and where it is not convenient to water the beds during hoi, dry weather a mulch of loose 

 material, wliich will keep the soil from baking, will be found very beneficial. Short grass, the rakings of the lawn after cutting, 

 will be as good for this purpose as anything. 



A covering of manure should be applied in the fall; this may be forked into the soil early in spring, and, beyond this, little 

 care need be given, the occasional staking of a plant, the cutting off of decaying flowers, which will prolong the flowering season 

 of many species, and the dividing and replanting occasionally of such varieties that have become too large, being all that is 

 needed. 



Many not thoroughly familiar with this class of plants have an idea that nothing but a large field-grown clump will give satis- 

 factory returns the first season. This, as experience has taught us, is in most instances a mistake. A vigorous plant of proper 

 size will, in nearly every case, give quicker and better returns than the best so-called " field clumps." The majority of the stock 

 offered in this catalogue is pot-grown. This does not mean that the plants have been altogether pot-grown, but that they have 

 been field-grown and dug and potted up during the fall months, and such stock can be planted, even late in the spring, with 

 practically no loss, which, in the case of clumps, is often quite serious. The following letter from the well-known and successful 

 amateur, W. C. Egan, endorses our views on this matter: — 



Egandale, Ii,ls., April 9, 1907. 



Gentlemen — Your shipment of perennials arrived safely to day in most excellent order. It certainly is a pleasure, as well as 

 a profit, to receive plants from you. Your system of growing these in pots allows shipment \iithout disturbing the roots, thus 

 insuring uninterrupted growth and no loss in planting. 



Respectfully yours, 



"W. C. Egan. 



For customers who are not acquainted with the different varieties we offer the following "Introduction" collections, all in 

 good strong roots, that, when once planted, will, with very little care, keep the garden gay with flowers from the time frost leaves 

 the ground until late in autumn. 



Dreer's "Introduction" Collection of Hardy Perennial Plants. 



12 distinct species, our selection $1.50 I 50 distinct species and varieties, our selection. 



25 " " " " 2.75 I 100 " " " " " " . 



(173) 



.$5.00 

 . 9.00 



