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 Seedsmen. Our constant aim is to secure the very best strains obtainable, and spare no pains or expense with this 

 object in view. Our strains of Asters, Carnations, 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 

 impossible 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 below aie 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 (his includes many of our best and brightest summer flowers, such as 

 Heliotrope, Celosia, Lobelia, Salvia, Vinca, Verbenas, etc., the best plan is to sow in earthenware seed pans, 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 of 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-eight of an inch and pressing firmly; cover with a pane of glass or one or two thicknesses of newspa- 

 per 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, as soon as 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, cov- 

 ering 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 stard from 4 to 12 

 inches apart according to the variety. This plan 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 ylass, and as they begin to 

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

 well repaid for by their increased blooming period. 



We will be pleased to send our customers on request a leaflet 

 containing the following valuable cultural hints: 



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



How to Grow Perennials from Seed, written expressly for 

 u-i by Wm. Falconer, of Pittsburg. 



A Cold Frame with Lath Shade, A Good Place to Germinatk 

 Flower Seeds in During the Summer 



The full worth of their money to all is the broad principle in which we always deal and we refer to our reputation as < idence that 



we live up to the precept (49) 



