SPECIAL NOTICE. 



Seeds of the best quality will often 'fail through improper treatment. Thus, a 

 small seed may be sown so deeply that the young plant cannot reach the surface. 

 More failures result from disregard of the conditions necessary to germination 

 than from inferiority of the seeds used. These conditions are : a proper tempera- 

 ture, sufficient moisture, and free access of air. Besides these, the soil must be in 

 proper condition, and present no physical obstacle to the growth of the young 

 plant. If heavy rains have compacted the surface of the soil, and the sun has 

 baked it to a hard crust, it will be impossible, even if all other conditions are favor- 

 able, for the seedling plants to force their way through it, and many perish from 

 this cause alone. Seeds differ greatly as to the temperature required for germina- 

 tion. Beets, Cress, Peas, etc., germinate rapidly at a temperature of 45° ; but if 

 Melons and other seeds of that family, Bush or Pole Beans, and other plants of 

 sub-tropical origin, are sown under the same conditions, they will be apt to decay, 

 as for their prompt germination they require a heat of at least 60°. For this 

 reason many seeds fail yearly from too early sowing. The second condition, proper 

 moisture, is likely to be violated by an excess rather than by too small a portion. 

 The proper amount is that which a well-drained soil will naturally hold. Free 

 access of air is all important, and this is interfered with by an excess of water in 

 the soil. In germination complex chemical changes take place in the seeds, in 

 which the air performs an important part. A portion of the seed is consumed, 

 carbonic acid gas being given off in changing the starch and other constituents of 

 the seed into nutriment to forward the growth of the germ or embryo plant, which 

 depends upon the contents of the seed until it has formed roots below the ground 

 and leaves above, and is able to sustain itself. Besides these conditions affecting 

 the germination of the seed, the young plants, after they have made their way to 

 the surface, are liable to various accidents ; a sudden current of very cold air, or a 

 continuous drying wind, may check their growth, or destroy them altogether. In 

 addition, there are numerous insects, both below and above ground, that may 

 attack the plants, some of them being so small that they often destroy a crop before 

 they are discovered. We may also mention the well-known tendency of many 

 vegetables to revert to their original types, notwithstanding the care of the seed- 

 grower ; the yellow-podded wax Beans becoming green, the yellow and white Celery 

 becoming more or less green, dwarf Peas becoming running sorts, etc. 



The vitality (that is, percentage of growth) can be tested easily before plant- 

 ing, but no one can tell from an examination of the seeds themselves whether they 

 are of a high grade pedigree strain or the veriest rubbish. 



It is necessary, therefore, that every planter must trust some seedsman. The 

 fact that more planters order direct from us — year after year — shows that 

 Steckler's Seeds have been proven trustworthy. Mistakes, however, may occur- 

 sometimes, and no honest seedsman can assume responsibility for more than the 

 price actually paid by the purchaser. The fact that we have always plainly 

 stated, where failure is due to any fault of the seed, we would promptly refund 

 the full price paid, should convince even new customers that we have absolute 

 confidence both in the quality of Steckler's Seeds and in the thorough system 

 of safeguards with which we surround their selecting, cleaning and packing. 



