D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 



71 



A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF 



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 uniform 

 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. 



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 



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



Acroclinium 



(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 "Immortelles'" 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. 10c. 



Roseum. Light rose. Oz. 20c " 10c. 



Mixed. Seeds of the above varieties mixed. Oz. 20c.. " 10c. 



4 - A beautiful, hardy annual of neat 



Z\ QTAV^TIII'T^ bushy habit. The attractive feathery 

 ^^5 ***«*»**** flowers borne in dense clusters are 



very useful for bouquets. Very 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. 10c. 

 Imperial Dwarf White. Height ten inches. Oz. 50c. . . " 10c. 



Tom Thumb Dwarf Blue. Foredging " 10c. 



Mixed. Seeds of the above varieties mixed " 10c. 



Alyssum 



The annual varieties can be grown 

 very readily either outdoors or in 

 the house and by cutting back the 

 plants properly an almost constant 

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

 ground very ea,rly 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. 80c Pkt. 10c. 



Little Gem {Maritimum Compactuni, Carpet of Snoiv) 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. 50c Pkt. 10c. 



1L £.!«. These plants afford brilliant 



Z\ lYl PI l^a\ ¥1 1 ill 1 ^ 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 



annual Pkt. lOc 



Tricolor. A hardy annual with leaves of red, 

 yellow and green; well known as "Joseph's 

 Coat.'" Especially brilliant if grown in rather 

 poor soil. Oz. 30c Pkt. 10c. 



^Xn^mnn^ Coronaria {Wind Floicer) 

 '**'**^***^**^ 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. 

 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. 10c. 



ANTIRRHINUM— (-See Snapdragon) 

 AQUILEQIA— ('See Columbine) 

 A«*ol%^Q Among the earliest blooming 

 ■**■* <*Wlo plants. Very useful for rock 

 work, edgings, etc. Sow early in spring. Some 

 winter protection is advisable. Hardy pro- 

 cumbent perennial. 



Alpina. This sort has small pure white, cruci- 

 form flowers. Leaves rather slender and some- 

 what clasping . . Pkt. IGc. 



The ornamental va- 

 rieties of asparagus 

 _ _ are highly valued for 



their finely cut foliage. 



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. 10c. 



Verticillatus. A beautiful climber with feathery 

 foliage and scarlet berries which are quite 

 ornamental. Sow early in spring. Hardy peren- 

 nial; ten to fifteen feet high Pkt. 10c. 



wiieiu v^idojjiiig 



Asparagus 



