D. M. Ferry & Co-s Descriptive Catalogue. 55 



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

 cover with eartli 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 

 themsoas 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 

 Tiardy 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. 



Xender, 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 sur- 

 face 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 the 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 but 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 seeds 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 at suitable distances in the fall. 



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 eacii 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. 



<^ 



V9 6A( 



¥ 



E offer the following liberal inducements to 

 Clubs, or those 'wishing 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 

 2.00, " " " '' 2.35 



3.00, 



4.00, 



I " 5.00, 



" (0.00, 



'' 20.00, 



I All Flower Seeds sent free by mail on receipt of price. 



<^^ ^ g.^^ 





3.60 





4.85 





6.15 





12.50 





26.00 



