M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH, 



65 



A DESCRIPTIVE LIST 



CHOICE FLOWER SEEDS 



WITH GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTIVATION 



MOST flowering plants will live in almost any soil, but to give them a fair chance to develop, some care 

 should be taken to make the ground suited to their needs. The soil best adapted for flowering plants 

 generally is a light, friable loam, containing a sufficient amount of sand to render it porous. Many 

 flowers are better if produced on plants of vigorous growth, hence a portion of the garden should be prepared 

 by deep digging, thorough pulverization and liberal enriching with large quantities of well-rotted manure. 

 Since some other varieties produce the largest and finest colored flowers when grown on rather light, poor 

 soil, a portion of the garden should not be enriched. 



Cultural directions are given on the packets, and we urge purchasers to study them carefully. While 

 some seeds need special treatment, the following general rules will apply to all. Make the surface of the soil 

 as fine, smooth and level as possible; do not plant when the ground is wet; cover each lot of seeds to a uni- 

 form depth, which should not be more than four to six times the diameter of the seed; press the soil firmly 

 over the seed; plant in rows so that the starting plants can be seen easily; thin out the young plants to prevent 

 crowding and keep entirely free from weeds. 



Very small seeds, such as Portulaca, Canterbury Bell, Foxglove, Petunia, etc., should be merely sprinkled 

 on the surface of the ground, after making it quite smooth with the back of the spade, and barely covered with 

 fine sifted, light, mellow soil and afterwards protected from the scorching sun and heavy rains by a cloth, mat 

 or some green branches stuck around them. If the weather, after sowing, should be dry, it will be necessary 

 to water the places, where the seeds are sown, with a fine spray, regularly, but slightly, every evening, as it 

 is essential that the seeds, during the process of germination, should be kept constantl)' moist. From a neglect 

 or oversight of this arise most of the failures. As the process of germination is shorter or longer in the 

 different kinds of seeds, the patience of the cultivator is often sorely tried with the seeds of a slowly germi- 

 nating character. 



Plants are usually divided into three classes. Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. Annuals are plants 

 which normally live but a single season. Biennials are plants living two years; particularly those which do 

 not bear flowers and fruit until the second season. Perennials tend to live from year to year. 



ALL FLOWER SEEDS SENT POSTPAID ON RECEIPT OF PRICE 



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



2.00 " " " " 2.35 



3.00 " " " " 3.60 



Send us $4.00 and select PACKETS to the value of $4.85 



5.00 " " " " 6.15 



10.00 " " " " 12.50 



These Rates apply only to Seeds in Packets, but not to Seeds by Weight. 

 No discount can be allowed on Flower Seeds by Weight. 

 Half ounces will not be supplied of kinds which sell for less than 30 cents per ounce. 



Acroclinium 



Ageratum 



(Everlasting) A very pretty, half hardy 

 annual producing white and rose colored, 

 double daisy-like flowers, about one and one-half inches in 

 diameter. Each flower-head is borne singly on a very long stem; 

 leaves small, narrow, alternate. These are ' Tmmortelles" so 

 desirable for wreaths and winter bouquets. 



Sow the seed in open ground early in spring, preferably in 

 light, well prepared soil, and cover with one-fourth inch of fine 

 soil firmly pressed down. Thin the young plants to four inches 

 apart. Height fifteen inches. 



Album. Pure white. Oz. 20c Pkt. 5c. 



Roseum. Light rose. Oz. SOc " 5c. 



Mixed. Oz.SOc " 5c. 



A beautiful, hardy annual of neat 

 bushy habit. The attractive feathery 

 _ flowers borne in dense clusters are 



very useful for bouquets. Vei'y desirable for outdoor bedding 

 and borders, being covered with bloom nearly all summer. 



Sow outdoors after danger from frost is over; or for earlier 

 blooming start under glass and transplant. Cover the seed with 

 one-eighth to one-fourth inch of fine soil firmly pressed down. 

 Mexicanum. Light blue; about two feet high. Oz. 30c. Pkt. 5c. 



Imperial Dwarf White. Height ten inches. Oz. SOc " 5c. 



Tom Thumb Dwarf Blue. Foredging " 5c. 



Mixed. Seeds of the above varieties mixed " 5c. 



A m The annual varieties can be grovm 



Jm |wvAAHW> very readily either outdoors or in 

 /^t I V 2%n II I I I the house and by cutting back the 

 J ^"'^^ ^■^ plants properly an almost constant 



succession of bloom may be had. Seed can be sown in open 

 ground very early in spring, or may also be sown outdoors in fall. 

 Sweet (Maritimum) This very hardy annual for borders, edg- 

 ing or massing in small beds, comes into bloom early in the 

 spring, covering itself with clusters or trusses of small, pure 

 white cruciform flowers. They have a peculiar delicate fra- 

 grance and are useful in small bouquets. Usually not over 



eight inches high but spreading. Oz. 25c Pkt. 5c. 



Little Gem (Maritimum Compactum, Carpet of Snow) A 

 beautiful white sort for edgings, borders and rock work. The 

 plants grow about six inches high, produce hundreds of flowers 

 and form a compact mass of bloom usually fifteen to eighteen 



inches across. Hardy annual. Oz. 40c Pkt. 5c. 



ANTIRRHINUM— (See Snapdragon) 

 "AQUILEQIA— (See Columbine) 



Amaranthus 



Anemone 



These plants afford brilliant 

 contrasts of color, being useful 

 for tall borders, groups and 

 foliage effects. The leaves and stems are of different shades 

 of red, blended usually with green; two to three feet high. 



Seed may be sown in open ground early in spring, covering 

 one-fourth inch deep; thin two to three feet apart. 



Melancholicus ruber. Deep coppery red foliage; very hardy an- 

 nual Pkt. 5c. 



Tricolor. A hardy annual with leaves of red, yellow and green; 

 well known as "Joseph's Coat." Especially brilliant if grown 

 in rather poor soU. Oz. 25c Pkt. 5c. 



Coronaria (Wind Flower) Among the 

 earliest of spring flowers. They are about 

 two inches across, with blue stamens, resemble the single poppy 

 in shape and come in several shades of color. The foliage is 

 deeply cut. 



Sow from April to August. Succeeds well in rich, light 

 loam, in a sunny situation. Plants taken up in the fall will 

 bloom well in pots in the winter. Hardy perennial; outdoors 

 about six inches high. Single Mixed Pkt. 5c. 



AuaI^Ic Among the earliest blooming plants. Very useful 



*** a.U18» for rock work, edgings, etc. Sow early in spring. 



Some winter protection is advisable. Hardy procumbent 

 perennial. 



Alpina. This sort has small pure white, cruciform flowers. 

 Leaves rather slender, somewhat clasping, small-toothed and 

 pubescent Pkt. 5c. 



The ornamental varieties of as- 

 paragus are highly valued for their 

 _ _ finely cut foliage. Both the climb- 



ing and trailing sorts are exceptionally attractive. 



Soak seed in warm water before planting. When the plants 

 are large enough to handle, transplant into rich, but open and 

 friable soil. 



Sprengeri (Emerald Feather) A most graceful house plant; 

 valuable for hanging baskets. Sprays three to four feet long; 



light green. Oz. 75c Pkt. 5c. 



Verticillatus. A beautiful climber with feathery foliage and 

 scarlet berries which are quite ornamental. Sow early in 

 spring. Hardy perennial; ten to fifteen feet high Pkt. 10c. 



Asparagus 



