of vegetables or flow- 

 ers grown from stock 

 seeds supplied from 

 the Riverton Estab- 

 lishment. Thus, the 

 most potent soils 

 together with the 

 greatest experience, 

 are both placed 

 under contribution for 

 the benefit of the 

 buyer. 



These varied seeds 

 are procured from ex- 

 perts engaged in growing 

 for the best markets 

 and are sent to regions 

 in which the climate 

 conditions have been 

 found to produce the 

 highest results. 



FLOWER SEEDS. 



The growth of this part of the 

 business has kept pace with 

 the other branches, and where 

 ounces were needed a few 

 years ago, pounds are now 

 necessary to supply the ever 

 increasing demand. Our con- 

 stant aim is to procure the 

 very best strains obtainable, 

 both of home and foreign 

 growth, and the question of 

 quality is never lost sight of 



PRESENT STORE AND WAREHOUSE 

 714 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA 



by one of price. Ten years ago, Europe furnished nine-tenths of all the 

 Flower Seeds used, but we now have grown for us, by specialists in this 

 country and in our own grounds at Riverton, nearly one-half of the entire 

 quantity used, and many seeds which were imported a decade since, 

 notably Sweet Peas, Verbena, Canna, etc., etc., are now exported in large 

 quantities. In the trial grounds at Riverton, during the past season, over 

 four hundred different species were tested, which included all of the 

 European novelties. This is done each season to guard against the 

 possibility of inferior varieties finding their way into our list. 



Under this head is included the Spring flowering or Dutch and 

 BULBS. French Bulbs, Bermuda, Japanese and other Liliums, the Sacred 



Narcissus from far-off China, Lilies of the Valley from Ger- 

 many, Black Callas from the Holy Land, and the host of Summer flower- 

 ing sorts grown in this and other countries, each variety being brought 

 from places where they grow to their highest perfection. The number sent 

 out each year is steadily increasing, and from the few thousands which 

 were sufficient for our wants sixty years ago, it required over three millions 

 to fill our orders in the past season, which were made up of three-quarters 

 of a million each of Hyacinths and Tulips, three hundred thousand each 

 of Lilies and Narcissus and one and one-quarter millions of miscellaneous 

 bulbs, such as Crocus, Snowdrops, Scillas, Amaryllis, etc., etc. Many 

 factors have contributed to this vast increase, the low price at which they 

 are now sold being one of the foremost, bringing the choicest varieties 

 within the means of the humblest flower-lover. As an instance of the 

 great reduction in cost, we recall that when Lilium Auratum (The Japanese 

 Golden Banded Lily) was first offered in 1865, it sold at $5.00 per bulb, 

 whereas, the same peerless variety is 

 now offered in our 1898 Catalogue . 

 at six cents. The export trade in 

 Bulbs is steadily growing, and 

 nearly half a million of American 

 grown Bulbs are now sent to Europe 

 annually. 



