at 



Flower Seed Department. 



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



fes. variety in this country. 



5JjK\ 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, Cineraria, Pansy, Petunia, Primula, "Verbena, etc., 



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 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 are followed 



uccess will be the rule. These directions, we may say, are written for the lati- 



if 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 

 Selling Flowers on the Sidewalk at Easter and brightest summer flowers, including Heliotrope, Celosia, Lobelia, Salvia, Vinca,Ver- 



IN PHlLADELeHIA. . 



oena, etc., the best plan is to sow m earthenware seed Fans, riouse r rames — see illus- 

 trations, etc. — 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 fiimly, 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 uni- 

 form attention to this detail is one that can only he 

 learned by experience and observation. To omit a 

 single watering, or a too frequent, indiscriminate water- 

 ing usually leadsto failure. Remove the glass, or cov- 

 ering, 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 keep 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 from 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 bloomin" 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 trans- 

 planted into their flowering position in early autumn or the following spring. Many varieties succeed best sown in autumn, in which 

 case they should be sown in a cold-frame, transferring them to their permanent quarters the following spring.' 



Square Seed Pans. 



6 in. 



8 " 

 10 " 

 12 " 



Each. 

 .$0 20 



25 



30 



. '35 



Dozen. 



$2 00 



2 50 



3 00 

 3 50 



House Frame. Each. 

 12 x 16 inches 75 



'Asters and Lavender," Coveni Garden Maukm, Lo 



Geraniums and other Flower:,, Paris. 



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. 



-(55) 



