DREER'S SELECT LIST OF 



SEEDS OF HARDY PERENNIALS 



It seems appropriate in a book devoted to hardy perennials to include a list of those varieties of which we can sui)ply seed. 

 Many varieties of hardy plants are difificult to germinate. We confine our offer to those sorts from which the average amateur is 

 likely to get results. The following cultural notes are contributed by Mr. \Vm. Falconer, of Pittsburgh, one of tlie most success- 

 ful growers of hardy perennials: 



Hardy perennials are easily grown from seed. In many cases they are a little slower than annuals, but with intelligent care 

 they are successfully raised, and from seed is an excellent way to get up a big stock of perennials in a short time. Many peren- 

 nials, if sown in spring, bloom the first year from seed as freely as annuals. Others wait a year; that is, if sown tliis year they 

 don't bloom until next year. 



The seeds may be sown in spring or in summer. In spring the sowings may be made in the window, the hot bed, the cold 

 frame, the greenhouse or in the open <;round out of doors. In the window prepare pots or flower-pans or small, shallow wooden 

 boxes or flats; fill to one-third their deplh with fine broken cinders or broken pots, and over this place a thin layer of moss, 

 chopped straw or rough sittings from the soil to keep the dirt from clogging the drainage, then fill up to within one-half or three- 

 quarters inches of the brim with fine, free, mellow soil, with thin layer of very fine soil over it. Tamp the pot on table to firm 

 the soil a little. Now sow the seed evenly, and shake a very little fine soil over it; press it all over with the back of the hand 

 or a board, then water gently through a fine spray or rose; this done strew a little fine earth over all. In the case of very fine 

 seeds covering only enough to hide the seed is plenty, but Pinks, Gaillardias and other rougher seeded sorts one-eighth inch deep 

 of covering may be given. Keep the seed pots in a warm, sunny window, but shaded with a thin curtain from drying sunshine. 

 A sheet of paper laid over the pot at this time prevents over-drying, but when the sunshine passes, take off the Jiaper, else damp 

 or mold will set in. A. pane of glass laid over the pots or flats until germination appears is an excellent preservative of the moist- 

 ure in the soil, but always tilt it up at one side one-eighth of an inch or more. When the seedlings come up, give them more 

 light by keeping them close to the gla>s, and before they overcrowd one another or become spindly transplant them into other 

 pots or flats, three-quarters or one inch apart from one anotlier, according to their size and strength. As the weather gets mild, 

 by placing the seedlings in a cool and airier pl.tce, as on the porch or a sheltered place out of doors, they become fairly inured to 

 the open weather, and when they are large enough for final transplanting set them out in the garden. 



The amateur may have more success and less bother growing hardy perennials from seeds sown in the open ground than in any 

 other way, Prepare a bed in a nice, warm, sheltered spot in the garden, preferably not very sunny; let the surface of the bed be 

 raised four or fine inches above ttie general level, and the soil be a mellow, free, fine earth on the surface. Draw shallow rows 

 across the surface of the bed, three to four inches apart, and here sow the seed, keeping the varieties of one kind or nature as 

 much together as practicable; cover the seeds thinly, press the whole surface gently, water moderately, then dust a little fine, 

 loose soil over all. If the weather is sunny or windy, shade with papers or a few branches, but remove these in the evening. 

 When the seedlings come up fhin them out to stiffen those that are left, and when they are two or three inches high, they are fit 

 for transplanting into permanent quarters. All this should be done in early spring, say March, April or May, or in warmer locali- 

 ties a month earlier. 



Again, in July or August perennials are very easily raised out of doors, and much in the same way as above. • Transplant these 

 seedlings in late August or early September to get well-rooted stocky jilants before winter sets in. 



ALPHABETICAL LIST OF HARDY PERENNIAL SEEDS 



In ordering it is only necessary to give the numbers 



Height Time of Price. 



Color. Inches. Flowering-. Location. Per Pkt. 



'Achillea (Milfoil, or Yarrow). 



1021 Ptarmica, "The Pearl" white 6-8 April-May sunny Vi oz., 25 cts. $0.05 



Aeonitum (Monk's Hood, or Wolfsbane). 



1031 Napellus dark blue 3G-60 Aug-Sept shady 14 oz., 40 cts, ,10 



Adlumla (Mountain Fringe, Allegheny Vine, or 

 Climbing Fumitory), 



1051 Cirrhosa flesli-pink climber ,Tune-July sun or partial shade .15 



Agrostemma (Rose of Heaven, Mullein Pink), 



1000 Coronaria crimson - 24-30 June-.TuIy sunny '4 oz,, 15 cts. .05 



' Al.vssum (Mad Wort). 



1104 Saxatile Compactuni yellow 12 May sunny V4 oz., 30 cts. .10 



AmpeloiLsis (Boston_ or Japanese Ivy). 



1131 Veitchi or. foliage climber sun or pai-lial shade 1 oz., 40 cts, .10 



Aiichiisa (Alkanet or Bugloss). 



1138 Italica Dropmore Variety blue 36-GO May-.Iuly sunny 14 oz., 50 cts. .15 



■Anemone (Windflower). 



1140 Coronaria Mixed various 12 .\pril-May sunny .05 



1146 St. Brigid various 12 April-May sunny .15 



Anthemis (Marguerite). 



J150 Tinotoria Kelwayi goIden-yellow 24 June-Oct sunny 'A-oz.. 30 cts. .10 



'Antirrhinum (Snapdragon). 



n(;0 Majns or Tall Mixed various 30 July-Nov sunny Vi oz., 20 cts. .05 



1102 I.arge-flg. Half-Dwarf Daphne blush-pink is July-Nov sunny .10 



'103 " " " " - Defiance russet-i-ed IS July-Nov sunny .10 



1164 " " " " Golden Queen .. yellow IS July-Nov sunny .10 



1105 " " " " Firehrand rich red IS July-Nov sunny .10 



1106 " " " " Rose ({ueen .... rose IS July-Nov sunny .10 



1107 " " " " Mont Blanc .... white IS July-Nov sunny .10 



"70 " " " " Mixed various IS .luly-Nov sunny Va oz. 25 ct.s. .10 



1171 Giant Scarlet sca'rlet 3(1 July-Nov sunny ' .10 



'172 " White white 30 July-Nov sunny .10 



1173 " Yellow yellow 30 July-Nov sunny .10 



1174 " Garnet garnet 30 Julv-Nov sunny .10 



1175 " Pink pink 30 July-Nov sunny .10 



1176 " Kose J rose 30 July-Nov sunny .10 



1180 " Mixed various 30 July-Nov sunny % oz., 25 cts. .10 



A<niilegia (Columbine). 



1181 Calif ornica hjbrida various 24-3G May-June sunny % oz., 50 cts. .10 



1183 Chrysantha yellow 24-30 June sunny Vs oz., 30 cts. .10 



118* " alba white 24-36 June sunnv % oz., 50 cts. .10 



1185 Cocrulea blue 24-30 June sunny Va oz„ 30 cts. .10 



'!*<> " hybrida various 24-30 June sunnv % oz., 50 cts. .10 



1187 Flabellata nana alba white 15 June sunnv Vs oz., 25 cts. .10 



1195 Helena; blue and white 24 June sunny .15 



1196 Truncata scarlet and yellow 24-30 May-June sunnv .10 



1197 Nivea Grandiflora white 24-36 June sunny 14 oz., 25 cts. .05 



1198 Vulgaris violet-blue 24-36 May- June sunny Vi oz., 25 cts, ,05 



1200 Veitch's Long-Spurred Hyl)rids various 24-36 May-June suniiy - .15 



1207 Double Mixed various 24-36 May-June sunny 1 oz., 50 cts. .05 



1210 Single Mixed various 24-36 May-June "sunny 1 oz., 40 cts. .05 



(21) . 



