52 



D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



OF 



Choice Imported Flower Seeds. 



nANY who do not meet with the success they expected in the culture of a general list of Flowers, attribute the difflculty 

 solely to the seeds, overlooking the important fact that nearly the entire range of Flower Seeds requires careful and 

 particular treatment, and the further fact that the treatment and conditions which with one variety will produce the 

 most satisfactory results, may utterly blight another. 

 To insure success, the conditions and requirements of the several species as to soil, moisture, heat, light, etc., should be 

 studied and then observed in culture. We feel sure that the pleasure resulting from a large and varied collection of Flowers 

 will amply compensate for the time and care given to the subject. 



SELECTION OF VARIETIES.— Success in flower culture depends quite largely upon a judicious selection of varieties. 

 Every sort we offer is, under certain conditions, attractive and desirable, but some of them, while exceedingly beautiful under 

 favorable circumstances, will be most unsatisfactory and little better than weeds under others; we therefore urge our friends 

 to study carefully the following pages before ordering, that they may select the sorts best suited to their wants. 



THE SOIL.— Another great object to be considered is the soil in which flower seeds are to be sown. The soil best adapted 

 to flowering plants generally, is a light, friable loam, containing a sufficient amount of sand to render it porous. A great 

 many varieties will live in almost any kind of soil, except it be extremely dry, calcareous, or of a stiff, heavy character; still, 

 to give them a fair chance for development, some little pains should be taken in adding to the soil, as much as possible, what 

 may be wanting in it. Most flowers are better if produced on plants of vigorous growth, so the greater portion of the garden 

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

 On the other hand, some sorts do best on very poor soil, so a portion of the garden should be left without enriching at all. 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 seeds of a slowly germinating character; the patience of a devoted florist, however, is never exhausted in these 

 manipulations, and the certainty of his final success repays him fully for the trouble. 



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 each 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 seeds to a uniform depth, which should never be more than three or four times the diameter of the seeds. 



Press the soil firmly over the seeds. 



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. 



WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING LIBERAL INDUCEMENTS 

 TO CLUBS, OR THOSE WHO WISH TO PURCHASE FLOWER SEEDS IN QUANTITY. 



These Low Kates Apply only to Seeds in Packets, but the Seeds will be Sent by Mail, Post-Paid. 



SEND US $1.00, AND SELECT PACv.ETS TO THE VALUE OF $1.15. 



SEND US $2.00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $2.35. 



SEND US $3.00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $3 60. 



SEND US $4 00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $4 85. 



SEND US $5 00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $6.15. 



SEND US $10.00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF 12 50. 



SEND US $20 00, AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $26.00. 

 All Flower Seeds Sent Free by Mail on Receipt of Price. 



^P~The Figures at the Right Opposite Each Variety Denote the Price, in Cents, Per Packet. 



ABOBRA.. 



A rapid growing, climbing, half hardy, tuberous rooted 



fierennial gourd, whose dark green foliage and bright scarlet 

 ruit form a striking contrast. Height fifteen feet. 

 Abobra viridiflora 10 



ABKONIA. 



A charming trailer with fragrant verbena like flowers, in 

 bloom the entire summer. Half hardy annual. 



Abronia umbellata, delicate lilac, white centre 10 



" arenaria, waxy yellow, fragrant 10 



" mixed, above mixed 10 



ABUTIILON— (Flowering Maple). 



Very popular, perennial, green-house shrub, with bell 

 shaped, drooping flowers, which vary in color from pure 

 white and yellow to deep orange and crimson streaked with 

 yellow, and are borne in great profusion the entire year. 

 Well adapted for house culture and for bedding out doors. 

 Abutilon, finest mixed . . , 25 



ACROCI.INIUM— (Everlasting). 



Very pretty, half-hardy annual, -with rose and white daisy 

 like flowers. These are " Immortelles " which bloom in 

 August and September, and are fine for winter bouquets and 

 wreaths. Height one foot. 



Acrolinium album, pure white . 5 



" roseum, light rose . . 5 



" " double 10 



" mixed 5 



ACROCLINIUM RoscuM. 



ADLUMIA. 



This is sometimes known as Mountain Fringe, Wood Fringe 

 and Alleghany Vine. A beautiful and graceful climber and 

 profuse bloomer. Hardy biennial ; height fifteen feet. 

 Adlumia cirrhosa, white and pink 10 



