A Border of Pink Geraniums Edged with Sweet Alyssum. 



We give close attention to this department, which is probably the largest in quantity and variety in this country, nearly one 

 thousand species and varieties being offered. 



Our Flower Seeds have a world-wide reputation, and we grow and save on our own grounds at Riverton more varieties than any 

 other American seedsman. Our constant aim is to secure the very best strains obtainable, both of home and foreign growth, and 

 we spare no pains or expense with this object in view. Our strains of Asters, Carnations, Pansy, Petunia, Verbena, Zinnia, etc., 

 are grown by the leading private gardeners and commercial florists, and are acknowledged to be superior in all respects. 



Success with Flower Seeds. 



We are convinced that many of the failures with flower seeds are due to lack of proper conditions; and while it would be impos- 

 sible in the space at our disposal in this catalogue to give explicit directions for each and every variety which we offer (but which is 

 given on each packet of flower seeds we sell), we feel sure that if the general directions given on this and the following page are 

 followed success will be the rule. These directions, we may say, are written for the latitude of Philadelphia. Customers living 

 in other sections can readily adapt them to their localities. 



For all flower seeds which should be started indoors, and this includes many of our best and brightest summer flowers, such as 

 Heliotrope, Celosia, Lobelia, Salvia, Vinca, Verbena, etc., the best plan is to sow in earthenware seed pans, pots or boxes (about 

 2 inches deep), which should be filled to the depth of an inch with broken pots, coal-ashes, or any rough material that will furnish 

 perfect drainage. The upper inch should be nicely sifted soil, composed, if possible, of about one-third each sand, leaf mould 

 and light garden loam. Press firmly and evenly, and water thoroughly the day before sowing. Sow the seeds thinly over the 

 surface, cover about one-eighth of an inch and pressing firmly; cover with a pane of glass or one or two thicknesses of newspaper, 

 to prevent the too rapid evaporation of the moisture, and keep in a temperature between 60° and 70°. Water carefully as 

 needed. The importance of uniform attention to this detail is one that can only be learned by experience and observation. To 

 omit a single watering, or too frequent, indiscriminate watering, usually leads to failure. Remove the glass or covering after the 

 seeds have germinated, and when the seedlings are large enough to handle they should be transplanted into similarly prepared 

 boxes an inch apart each way, or put into small pots and kept in same until time to plant out in the open ground. At all times 

 they should have an abundance of air; otherwise the young seedlings are liable to "damp off." 



For most of the ordinary annual flowers, such as Sweet Alys- 

 sum, Calliopsis, Calendula, Marigold, Mignonette, Nasturtium, 

 etc., the simplest method is to sow directly out of doors when 

 danger of frost is past in the space where they are intended to 

 flower. The ground should be dug and raked fine on the surface, 

 sowing the seeds evenly and thinly, either in lines or beds, 

 covering not over four times their size, and firming the soil over 

 them. Should they come up too thickly, as most of them are 

 likely to do, thin out so that the plants will stand from 4 to 12 

 inches apart, according to the variety. This jilan is also adapted 

 to many varieties usually started indoors, including Asters, Ver- 

 benas, Celosias, Stocks, Salvia, etc., etc.; but as a rule their 

 germination is more certain under glass, and as they begin to 

 flower so much earlier when started indoors, the extra trouble is 

 well repaid lor by their increased blooming period. 



We commend to the careful attention of our customers the 

 articles on the next page on 



How to Grow Annuals, by Prof. L. H. Bailey, of Cornell 

 University. 

 , ^ „ , „ „ ^ ^ How to Orow Perennials from Seed, -.ritten expressly 



ACox.oFRA.n,w,T„ LATHjHA^B^A G^^^^^ fur this book by Wm. Falconer, of Pittsburgh. 



The full worth of their monej to all is the broad principle in which we always deal, and we refer to our reputation as evidence thai 



we live up to the precept. 



(48) 



