DREER'S GARDEN CALENDAR, 



REMARKS ON THE FAILURE OF SEEDS, 



FROM a conviction that the Seedsman's fair reputation is often unjusuy aefamed, through 

 the failure of seeds, we would with brevity state some of the causes: 



That some cultivators, through ignorance or forgetfulness of the fact that the products of 

 a garden, being natives of various soils and climates, require peculiar management, sow 

 the seeds in the ground at an improper season. To aid such we have prepared brief directions, 

 founded on practical experience in the vicinit>' of Philadelphia, where gardening operations 

 are generally commenced early in March. These directions may, however, be applied to all 

 other parts of the United States, by a minute observance of the difference in temperature. 



Thus, to the North, the directions for March will apply to April ; and at the South to January', 

 Februar}- cr whatever season gardening operations may commence in the respective States. 

 The early and most hardy species and varieties should not be planted until the ground can be 

 brought into good condition, as some species of plants, that in an advanced stage of growth will 

 stand a hard winter, are often cut off by a very slight frost while young, especially if exposed to 

 the sun after a frosty night. 



That some species of seed, such as Beans, Beet, Cabbage, Lettuce, Radish, Salsify, Turnip, 

 etc., being from their nature apt to vegetate quickly, are often destroyed while germinating 

 through variableness of the weather, and some are liable to be devoured by insects in forty- 

 eight hours after they are sown, and before a plant is seen above the ground, unless a suitable 

 remedy is applied in time to annoy the insects. 



Tiiat some species, such as Carrots, Celen,-, Leek, Onion, Parsley, Parsn p. Spinach, etc., 

 being naturally of tardy growth, taking (in unfavorable seasons) from two to three or four weeks 

 to \egetate, are apt to perish through incrustation of the soil, or ether untoward and unaccount- 

 able circumstances, which cannot always be controlled. 



That the failures often occur through Seeds being deposited too deeply in the ground, or 

 left too near the surface. Sometimes, for the want of a sufficiency of seed in a given spot, 

 solitar)' plants will perish, they not having sufficient strength to open the pores of the earth, and 

 ver)- frequently injudicious management in over manuring and improperly preparing the soil ^iU 

 cause defeat. 



That in some sowings of- seed made during dry weather with a drought following, a totai 

 failure often occurs from neglecting to firmly press or roll in the Seeds, so when they germinate 

 the action of the heat and drought may not affect the germ. We are satisfied that thousands 

 of pounds of Turnip, late Cabbage and other summer-sown Seeds are annually lost from this 

 neglect. Obser\'e never to tread or roll in the Seeds when the ground is wet. 



For instructions on these and all other subjects of Gardening, the reader is referred to 

 ''American Gardeners Assistant," "Gardening for Profit," or other works on this subject to be 

 found in our " t'armer's and Gardeners Librar}-," in this catalogue, which we mail post-paid 

 on receipt of price. 



Do not raise Egg Plants, etc., in the same hot-bed frame with Cabbage, and other half-hardy 

 plants that require air every mild day ; by such management one or the other must suffer for 

 want of suitable aliment — heat being the principal food of tender plants, and air that of the 

 more hardy varieties. 



THE SEED TESTS, 



For the protection of the planter and the benefit of the seller, are made thoroughly before the 

 selling sea.=:on at our extensive green-house establishment, where each variety is subjected to the 

 most critical trials, which places us in a position to determine the germinating power, or what is 

 more important, the purity of the stock to be sent out. 



The well-arranged trial grounds at the Riverton Farm devoted to the summer's trials of all 

 .new and old varieties, furnish material for comparison of the relative merits of these introduc- 

 tions over existing sorts, and where we are enabled to quickly ascenain, to our customers' 

 interest, what sorts to recommend and which to discard. 



Here, also, the standard varieties are tested to secure the very best strain of its kind, and 

 growers' reputations are sustained or condemned according to results. 



larket Gardeners., reqciring large qnaitities of Seed, vili be fomisbed with speeial priees gd applicatidL 



