32 



BECKERT SEED AND BULB COMPANY 



YOUR FLOWER GARDEN 



There are two big classes of flowers: Annuals which bloom the 

 same season seeds are planted and Biennials and Perennials, which 

 for the most part do not bloom until the following year after sowing 

 seeds. (Biennials bloom the second season and then die; Perennials 

 continue to bloom each year for an indefinite period). 



Perennials, as a whole, have a longer blooming period but there 

 are so many places where the annuals fit in and fill out that their 

 importance in the general garden scheme cannot be overlooked. 

 Therefore the well balanced garden will have a border of perennials, 

 possibly interspersed with annuals, to fill out during the Summer 

 months, one or more beds of annuals for mass effect and in a less 

 conspicuous place a bed of annual flowers for cutting purposes. 

 We give below a comparison of annuals and perennials which will 

 aid you in making your selection. 



ANNUALS 



1 Bloom in a short time from sow- 

 ing. 



2 Annuals must be planted yearly. 



3 Period of bloom possible from 

 annuals is roughly five months. 



4 Most varieties of annuals bloom 

 over a period of from 6 to 8 

 weeks. 



5 Annuals give their best display 

 from July 15th until frost. 



6 Annual seeds are usually low 

 priced but must be bought yearly. 



7 Annuals are very free blooming 

 and when picked usually send out 

 new flowering spikes. 



8 Many annuals are quite fragrant. 



9 The range of colors is very large, 

 even in the same species. 



10 For giving quick effect, annuals 

 are unsurpassed. 



PERENNIALS 



1 Bloom second year from sowing. 



2 Perennials come up each year. 



3 Period of bloom possible from 

 perennials, including bulbous 

 p ants is nine months. 



4 The blooming period of most of 

 the individual perennials is short, 

 usually 2 to 3 weeks. 



5 May and June see the perennials 

 at their best with another display 

 in late Fall even after frost. 



6 Perennial seeds are more expen- 

 sive than the annuals, but need 

 only be bought once. 



7 Perennials are not so free bloom- 

 ing as annuals and with few ex- 

 ceptions, do not send out another 

 crop when picked. 



8 Few of the popular perennials are 

 fragrant. 



9 The range of colors is limited, es- 

 pecially in the same species. 



10 Perennials will not give a quick ef- 

 fect, but are of a permanent nature. 



TIME TO SOW. Sow hardy annuals outdoors as soon as the 

 ground can be worked. The tender annuals can be started indoors 

 in March or April or outdoors after danger from frost is past. Bien- 

 nials and Perennials, which do not bloom the first aeason, are gen- 

 erally sown in a seed bed in June, July or August, and transplanted 

 in late Summer to the places where they are to bloom the following 

 season. Perennials which bloom the first season should be sown in 

 a box indoors in February or March, and transplanted to the garden 

 late in May. 



SOIZi AND PREPARATION. Flowers can be successfully grown 

 in practically all soils. Some good fertilizer, such as Vigoro, Pul- 

 verized Sheep Manure, or Bone Meal should be dug in and thoroughly 

 mixed with the soil when it is prepared for planting. The surface 

 should be made as fine and level as possible. 



PlfANTING. The first thing to remember in planting flower seeds 

 is not to plant them too deeply. The very fine seeds such as Petunia, 

 Snapdragon, etc., should be scattered on the surface and pressed into 

 the soil with a flat board. Sow larger seeds in shallow drills. 



TRANSPLANTING AND THINNING OUT. With but a few ex- 

 ceptions, notaltlv Poppies, young flower plants may readily be trans- 

 planted, so that they may be started in a hotbed or cold frame, or 

 even in boxes in a sunny window, for later transplanting to the place 

 where plants are to bloom. 



As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle they should 

 be transplanted or thinned out to prevent overcrowding. Set plants 

 slightly deeper than they were before lifting and be sure to firm 

 the soil around the roots. A eood rule for spacing plants in the 

 garden is to set them apart half their full grown height. 



Explanation of Symbols 



AHH. 



Immediately following the names of the different flowers will be 

 found the letters AH, PH, etc. These are to be Interpreted as 

 follows: 



AH. Annual hardy. Sow seed outdoors as soon as ground can be 

 worked. 



Annual half hardy. Sow early indoors or outdoors after 

 May first. 



Biennial hardy. Requires very little Winter protection. 

 Biennial half hardy. Pest to' winter in a cold frame. 

 Biennial tender. For greenhouse use. 



Perennial hardy. Requires very little winter protection. 

 Perennial half hardy. Best to winter in a cold frame. 

 Perennial tender. For greenhouse use. 



BT. 



PHH. 

 PT. 



REARRANGBMBNT OF PIiOWBR SEBDS 



For greater convenience in ordering we have grouped the Hardy 

 Perennials and Biennial Flower Seeds on pages 51 to 59 inclusive. 



