LOWER SEED 



DEPARTMENT. 



We give close attenlion tu ihis Utpartmeiu, which is pioL)al)ly tlie largest in 

 quaatily and variety in tins cuuiury. 



Our constant aim is to secure the very best strains obtainable, both of home 

 and foreign growth, and we spare no puins or expense with this object in view. 

 Our strains of Asters, Carnations, Cineraria, Pansy, Petunia Primula Veibena 

 etc., are grown by the leading private gardeners and commercial florists of the' 

 United States and Canada, 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 iippossible in the space at our dis- 

 posal 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 below are followed that success will 

 be the rule. l"hese directions, we may say, are written for the latitude of Phila- 

 delphia. Customers living in other sections can readily adapt them to their 

 localities. 

 For all (lower seels which should be st.irted indoors, and this 

 includes m\ay of our best and brightest summer flowers, includ- 

 ing Heliotrope, Celodr, Lobelia, Salvia, Vinca, Verbena, etc., 

 the bsit plan is to sow in-.e-irtheu .vare seed pans, house frame- — 

 see offer at foot of page —r: boxes (about 2 in ches deep), which 

 should be filled to the depth of an inch with broken pits, coal 

 a^hes, or any rough m iterial that will furnish perfect drainage. 

 The upper inch should be nicely sifted soil, composed, if possi 

 ble, of about oae-third each sand, leaf mould and light garden 

 lo.im. Press firai and evenly, and water thoroughly the day be- 

 f)re SDwing. So at the seels thinly over the surface, coverinij 

 about oue-eighth of an inch an I pressing firmly ; cover with a 

 pane of gla-;s or one or tvvj thicknesses of newspaper, to prevent 

 the too ripil eviporation of the moisture, and keep in a temjier- 

 ature between 6:)' an 1 70^ Water carefully as needed. The 

 importance of unifjr.n attention to this detail is one that can onh 

 be learned by experience an 1 observation. To omit a single 

 watering, or toD frequent, indiscri minale watering, usually leads i.i 

 failure. Remove the glass or covering after the seeds hav 

 garininated, an I when the seedlings are large enough to hand k 

 they shjull be transplanted into similarly prepared boxes an inch 

 apirt each way, or put into smill 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 mD;t of th; ordinary annual Flowers, such as Sweet Alyssum, 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 plan is also adapted 

 ito many varieties usually started indoors, including Asters. Verbenas, Celosias, Stocks, Salvia, etc., etc.; but as a rule their germina- 

 tion is more certain under glass, and as they begin to flower so much earlier when started indoors, the extra trouble is well repaid 



for by their increased blooming period. 



The seeds of most Hardy Perennials may be sown at any 

 time from January to October. Early sowing should be made 

 indoors in boxes in the same manner as described above, or 

 they may be sown out of doors in .spring after the frost has gone 

 and transplanted into their flowering position in early autumn 

 or the following sirring. Many varieties succeed best sown 

 in autumn, in which case they should be sown in a cold-frame, 

 transrerring them to their permanent quarters the following 

 sprin<j. 



All Produced Fkom Dreer's Seeds. 



A bCKNE IN Paris, Flower Market. 



Square Seed Pans. 



Each. Dozen. 



6 in $0 20 $2 00 



House Frames. 8 " 25 2 50 



12 inches wide bv 16 inches 10" 30 3 00 



long, ^1.00 'each. 12" 35 3 50 



The full worth of their money to all Is the broad principle in which we always deal, and we refer to our reputation as evidence that we 



live up to the precept. 



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