A Border of Pink Gbraniums Edged with Sweet Alyssum. 



We give close attention to this department, which is probably the largest in quantity and variety in this country, over 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 two pages 

 are followed that 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 firm and evenly, and water thoroughly the day before sowing. Sow the seeds thinly over the surface, 

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

 vent 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 ger- 

 minated, 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 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 to many varieties usually started indoors, including 

 Asters, Verbenas, 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 for by their increased blooming period. 



We commend to the careful attention of our customers the 

 articles on the succeeding pages on 



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

 University. 

 A Coo, Frame with L*t„ Shade, the Wav We Germinate How *.<> OtOW Perennials from Seed, written expressly 

 Flower Seeds in Summer. lor this book by Wm. Falconer, of Pittsburg. 



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



live up to the precept. (55 ) 



