70 D. M. FERRY & CD'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



Culture. — Notice in the description of the varieties the soil best suited to the sort. Fill shallow boxes to 

 within one-half inch of the top with light, friable earth, the composition of which is suited to the wants of the par- 

 ticular plant. The earth should be in such a condition of moisture that when pressed together in the hand it will 

 form a ball which will retain its shape, but which will fall into fine earth again upon being pinched or struck. Press 

 this down evenly and firmly, making the surface as smooth as possible, and then form grooves with a short, thin 

 board in the same way as directed for hardy annuals, taking great pains that the grooves are not too deep. Drop 

 in the seed and cover with earth, which should be pressed evenly and firmly over the seed. Now water thoroughly, 

 but carefully, so as not to wash out the seed, and keep in a warm place in full light, but not where the sun will 

 shine directly upon them so as to dry off the surface too rapidly and necessitate too frequent watering. Watch them 

 carefully, watering as seldom as possible, but keeping the soil always moist and never wet. As soon as the plants 

 begin to appear, place in full sunlight and give plenty of air, taking great care that the plants never suffer from a 

 want of sufficient water or from an excess of it. When the plants have made three or four leaves, or begin to crowd 

 each other, remove to other boxes or pots, and set in the open ground as soon as danger of frost is over. Most of 

 the varieties of both hardy and half-hardy annuals mature so rapidly that better results will be obtained if several 

 sowings at different dates are made, thus securing a succession of bloom. 



Tender, or Green-HOUSe Annuals are such as, being natives of hot climates, not only require 

 a longer season, but also need to be protected from the cold winds and rains which are so frequent in our climate, 

 and so cannot be set out of doors except during the hot months. 



Culture. — This is much the same as that for half-hardy annuals except that the seeds are often so fine that 

 they cannot safely be covered with earth, but are simply pressed into the soil and the utmost pains must be taken 

 that they do not become too dry, nor are over watered. A single hour of bright sunshine will often so dry the 

 surface as to kill the seeds which are just starting, and on the other hand a slight excess of water will cause them 

 to rot, and it is to mistakes or neglect in watering that nine-tenths of the failures with this class of seeds are due. 



Hardy Biennials and Perennials are such plants as do not bloom, or blossom imperfectly, 

 the first season, but live through winter with little or no protection, and come into full bloom the second season, 

 after which the biennials die, while the perennials continue to live and bloom from year to year. This class includes 

 many of our finest flowering plants, yet they are often neglected because not blooming the first year from seed: but 

 this long waiting for bloom may in many cases be avoided by treating the seed as half-hardy annuals and starting 

 them sufficiently early to form large, strong plants by the time they can be set out in the spring. When this is not 

 done they may be sown in beds as directed for hardy annuals, and the plants set out in the fall at suitable distances. 



Half-Hardy and Tender Perennials are such as must be kept over winter in the cellar or 

 green-house. The seeds may be treated like half-hardy or tender annuals. 



Nine-tenths of the failures in flower culture come from improper treatment of the seeds and young plants, and 

 we urge every purchaser of our seeds to study carefully the cultural directions printed on each package, and keep 

 in mind the following golden rules for sowing flower seeds: 



Make the surface as fine and smooth as possible. 



Do not plant any of the seeds when the ground is at all wet. 



Cover each lot of seed to a uniform depth, which should never be more than three or four times the diameter 

 of the seed. 



Press the soil firmly over the seed. 



Plant in rows so that the young plants can be easily seen, and pull up all weeds which spring up between the 

 rows the day they appear, but do not pull plants out of the row until you are sure they are weeds. 







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THE FOLLOWING LIBERAL INDUCEMENTS 



To Clubs, or those who wish to purchase FLOWER SEEDS in quantity. These low rates 

 apply only to Seeds in Packets, but the seeds will be sent by mail, post-paid. 



Send us $1.00, and select PACKETS to the value of $1.15. 



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Send us $10.00, and select PACKETS to the value of $12.50. 



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