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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC AND 



HUNGARIAN MILLET. — This Millet 

 makes a valuable crop on rich soil, es- 

 pecially on low lands. It is considered 

 very nutritious. It is important in buy- 

 ing- Millet, as well as other seeds, to get 

 the true seed. Sow in this climate from 

 the latter part of April to the end of July, 

 at the rate of 1 bushel to the acre. 



JERUSALEM CORN.— This belongs to 

 the non-saccharine Sorghums. Grows 

 about three feet high. Makes one large 

 head on main stalk and several smaller 

 heads on side shoots, often as many as 

 eight heads on one stalk. The grain is 

 pure white and nearly flat. Ten pounds 

 will plant an acre. 



JOHNSON GRASS. — (Sorghum Hala- 

 pense. ) Perennial and has cane-like roots, 



or, more properly, underground stems, from 

 the size of a goose quill to that of the 

 little finger. These roots are tender, and 

 hogs are fond of and thrive on them in 

 winter. One to one and a half bushels oi 

 a good sample of this seed is sufficient for 

 one acre of land. The leaf, stalk and 

 panicle of this grass resemble those of 

 other sorghums. It grows on any land 

 where corn will grow, and, like the latter, 

 the better the land the heavier the crop. 

 On rich land the culms obtain a size of 

 over half an inch in diameter, and a height 

 of seven feet. It should be cut while 

 tender, and then all live stock are fond of 

 it, for a few weeks are enough to render 

 it so coarse and hard that animals refuse 

 it or eat it sparingly. When once planted 

 it cannot be eradicated. 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



The following list of Flower Seeds is not very large, but it contains all which are 

 desirable and which will do well in the Southern climate. We import them from one of the 

 most celebrated growers in Prussia, and they are of the best quality. There are very 

 few or no flower seeds raised in this country, and Northern houses, which publish large 

 lists and catalogues, get them from just the same source as ourselves; but they, on the 

 average, sell them much higher than we do. Some varieties, which are biennial in 

 Europe or North, flower here the first season; in fact, if they do not they generally do 

 not flower at all, as they usually are destroyed by the continued long heat of summer. 

 Some kinds grow quicker here and come to a greater perfection than in a more northern 

 latitude. 



Flower seeds require a little more care in sowing than the vegetable seeds. The 

 ground should be well pulverized and light enough not to bake after a rain. Some of the 

 more delicate and finer varieties are better sown in boxes or seed pans, where they ean b^ 

 handled and protected from hard rains or cold weather; the other kinds do not transplant 

 well, and are better sown at once where they are to remain, or a few seeds may be sown 

 in small pots to facilitate transplanting into the garden without disturbing the plants, 

 when large enough. Some have very fine seeds, which the mere pressing of the hand or 

 spade to the soil will cover; others may be covered one-fourth of an inch, according to 

 their size. Watering should be done carefully, and if not done with a syringe, a watering 

 pot, where the holes of the spout are very fine, should be used. 



By setting the plants out, or sowing the seeds in the border, consideration should be 

 taken of the height so that the taller varieties may be in the middle and the dwarf kinds 

 on the edge of the bed. 



The seeds are put up in 5c. and 10c. packages; 15 and 24 packages for one dollar, 

 except a few rare or costly kinds, where the price is noted. All flower seeds in packages 

 are mailed free of postage to the purchaser. Where there is more than one color, we 

 generally- import them mixed, as we find that most of our customers do not wish to 

 purchase six packages or more of one variety to get all colors. One package of Asters, 

 Zinnia, Phlox, Chinese Pink, German Stocks, Petunia, Portulaca, and others, will always 

 contains an equal mixture of the best colors. 



AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS— Love Lies 



Bleeding. — Long red racemes with blood 

 red flowers. Very graceful; three feet 

 high. 



ASTER — Queen Margaret, German 

 Quilled. — Perfect double quilled flower, of 

 all shades, from white to dark purple crim- 

 son. One and a half feet high. Sow frorr 

 December till March. 



AMARANTHUS T R I C O L O R — Three- 

 colored Amaranth. — Very showy; cultivated 

 on account of its leaves, which are green, 

 yellow and red. Two to three feet high. 



AMARANTHUS BICOLOR— Two-colored 



Amaranth. — Crimson and green variegated 

 foliage; good for edging. Two feet high. 



AMARANTHUS ATROFURFUREUS.— 



Is covered with long drooping spikes of 

 purple flowers; four feet. 



ASTER — Semple's Branching". — Beautiful 

 for cut flowers. The branching habit is 

 accompanied with great vigor of growth 

 and profusion of bloom. The flowers are 

 large double, with graceful wavy petals, 

 borne on long stiff stems, and the colors 

 are clear and handsome. Excellent for 

 cutting, 2 feet. December till March. 



Althea Rosea. 



ROSEA — Hollyhock. — This 

 flower has been much improved and is very 

 easily cultivated. Can be sown from Octo- 

 ber till April. Very hardy; from four to 

 six feet high. 



All of Our Seeds are Tested Before Placing Them on Sale. 



