Plant Department 



Entrance to Our Rivervikw Nursery, Riverton, N J. 



IW SPECIAL NOTICE. — All orders, unless instructions are received to the contrary, are executed 

 and forwarded upon receipt. Customers placing orders for stock to be reserved and sent later must 

 distinctly specify this at the time of ordering. 



PLANTS BY MAIL.— Small plants will be sent free by 

 mail when so desired. The greater part or all of the soil is 

 removed from the roots, which are carefully packed in damp 

 moss. We cannot forward bulky plants, such as Azaleas, 

 Camellias, large Roses, Shrubs and similar stock by mail. 



PLANTS BY EXPRESS.— We do not deliver plants free 

 by express, the purchaser paying the charges. We strongly 

 urge this method of transportation, as it enables us not only to 

 give better values in the form of larger and finer plants, but we 

 also always add liberal "extras" to help defray charges, and 

 unless instructed to the contrary, all orders are for- 

 warded by express. 



STEAMBOAT LINES.— Fast lines of boats connect Phila- 

 delphia with Baltimore, Boston, Fall River, Providence, Nor- 

 folk, Richmond, Savannah, Troy and Albany. This forms a 

 convenient, cheap and safe method of transportation, except 

 during severe cold weather. 



PLANTS BY RAIL.— Shrubs, Hedge Plants and other 

 dormant stock can be forwarded safely by fast freight lines, 

 even to very distant points, at low rates. 



PACKING FREE. — We make absolutely no charge for 

 boxes or packing, or delivery to any express, freight or steam- 

 ship line in Philadelphia. 



SAFE ARRIVAL GUARANTEED.— We guarantee the 

 safe arrival of all plants to any part in the U. S. or Canada 

 when sent by express. If forwarded in any other man- 

 ner they are entirely at the risk of the purchaser. 



FOREIGN SHIPMENTS.— We are constantly making 

 shipments of Seeds, Plants, Bulbs, etc., to Europe, Cuba, the 

 U. S. possessions in the East, etc., and by our system of 

 packing it is unusual for the goods to reach their destination in 

 anything but the best condition. 



Miscellaneous Hints and Suggestions for the Amateur Florist. 



Soil for Pot Plants. — Almost all plants that can be grown 

 in the house will do well in any good soil that is not too heavy 

 to allow water to run through it readily. A soil prepared after 

 the following formula will answer all needs: One part ordinary 

 loam; one part leafmold or turfy matter. Mix these together and 

 add enough sharp sand to make the whole so friable that it will 

 fall apart readily after squeezing it in the hand. 



(The "turfy matter," advised as a substitute for leafmold is 

 obtained by turning over sod and scraping away that portion of 

 it which is full of grass-roots. This gives you a light, spongy 

 soil, rich in vegetable matter, and almost as valuable as genuine 

 leafmold from the woods. ) A sprinkling of bonemeal can be 

 added to give richness, if thought advisable. 



Repotting. — Every pot more than three inches across ought 

 to have something in the way of drainage before filling it with 

 soil. Young plants will require shifting to pots of larger size as 

 their root system develops. In repotting any plant, large or 

 small, disturb the roots as little as possible. Slip it out of its old 

 pot, put it into the new one and fill in about it with fresh soil. 

 Water well after you have the plant in its new pot to settle the 

 soil you have added. 



Fertilizers.— Our Peerless Plant Food, Bonemeal or Sheep 

 Manure are thoroughly reliable plant foods, but use whatever 



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fertilizer you make choice of with great caution. Don't think 

 that because a little is good a great deal must be better. Never 

 use any fertilizer on a plant that is standing still. Wait until it 

 begins to grow. So long as plants grow well, be content to let 

 well enough alone. 



Watering. — -We are often asked to give a rule for watering 

 plants. There can be no hard-and-fast rule because conditions 

 differ so widely; but it is always safe to wait until the surface of 

 the soil has a dry appearance. Then apply enough water to 

 thoroughly saturate all the soil in the pot, after which wait until 

 the surface takes on a dry look again before applying more. 



Insects. — The insect most frequently met with among house- 

 plants is the aphis or green plant-louse. Nikoteen is one of the 

 best weapons to fight this enemy. Keep a supply of it on hand, 

 and make use of it whenever you discover an aphis. Keep water 

 constantly evaporating on stove and register in winter. Do any 

 and everything that will help to keep the atmosphere of the 

 room moist, but depend upon showering as a general treatment. 



Airing Your Plants. — Give the plants in your window 

 fresh air on every pleasant day. Open a door or window at 

 some distance from them, and let the cold air from out of doors 

 mix with the warm air of the room before it reaches them. This 

 is very necessary, especially in winter. 



