FLOWER SEEDS ■ Becker t" s Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



BECKERT'S SELECT FLOWER SEEDS 



In the following pages we offer a carefully chosen list of Flower Seeds, in which no want of the flower-garden has been neglected, the 

 numerous varieties insuring a wide range of color, form, height, habit and season, thus permitting selection for any purpose. 



Please use the Order Sheet that is enclosed in catalogue; by so doing, the filling of orders is speeded, and the chance of errors 

 lessened. Order by number and name, or by number only. 



The Successful Flower-Garden from Seeds 



The growing of flowers from seeds is not difficult, provided a few simple facts are borne in mind. In the first place, please remember that 

 none of the flower seeds, with comparatively few exceptions, sprout as strongly as vegetable seeds. For this reason it pays to take par- 

 ticular pains in preparation of the soil, 



The Most Useful Annuals for 

 Beds and Borders 



Ageratum, blue. Alyssum, white. 



since even the smallest lump may cause 

 the tiny seedlings to be smothered. Most 

 people make the mistake of covering 

 seeds entirely too deeply. As a general 

 rule, remember that all fine seeds should 

 not be covered any more than just suffi- 

 ciently to keep them in place and to pre- 

 vent the wind from blowing them away 

 or the birds from eating them. 



Soil Preparation 



If possible, the ground where the flower- 

 garden is to be should be dug the preced- 

 ing fall, since the alternate freezing and 

 thawing during the winter will do a great 

 deal to put soil in mellow condition. In- 

 corporate lots of well-rotted manure, 

 compost, or humus, and, should the soil 

 be a heavy clay or of similar stiff character, 

 add lots of sand or ashes. 



Lay out your beds in straight rows 

 rather than by scattering seeds at random. 

 It is much easier, then, to discover the 

 seedlings, and it is but little trouble to 



"Seed-flat" 



at work. Start your n. 

 beds this way 



transplant them where they are wanted when they become large enough. 



Sowing Fine Seeds 



It pays, in connection with the more expensive varieties and 

 strains, to exercise particular care and to sow seeds in flat wooden 

 boxes, commonly called "seed-flats." These are made up of wooden 

 boards and may measure approximately 12 by 18 inches, with a depth 

 of 4 inches. This sort of flat is filled to within 34 inch of the top with 

 finely sifted soil, and the seeds are then sown in shallow furrows about 

 4 inches apart, with a label at the head of each row to indicate where 

 the seedlings should appear. At first these seed-flats should be kept 

 covered with glass or moist paper to prevent too rapid evaporation 

 of moisture. Give seedlings plenty of fresh air. 



Cultivate Patience 



In connection with many Biennials and Perennials we must urge 

 you to exercise patience. All Perennials, with the exception of a very 

 few, are of slow germination. We give herewith a selection of Annuals 

 and Perennials which, we are satisfied, cannot fail to give satisfactory 

 results, and which we can heartily recommend for the various purposes. 



Asters, all colors. Candytuft, several 

 colors. Celosias, mostly reds and yellows. 

 Dianthus, many colors. Dimorphotheca, 

 or Golden Orange Daisy, and its many 

 yellow hybrids. Eschscholtzia, or Calif- 

 ornia Poppies, in several colors. Hunne- 

 mannia, or Bush Eschscholtzia, the big 

 yellow Tulip Poppy. Dwarf French Mari- 

 gold. Dwarf Nasturtiums in many colors. 

 Petunias, colors and mixtures. Phlox 

 Drummondii, all colors. Portulaca, single 

 and double. Verbenas in many colors and 

 color combinations. 



The Most Useful Annuals for 

 Cut-Flowers 



Antirrhinum, or Snapdragon, in a won- 

 derful assortment of colors. Asters of all 

 kinds and colors. Calendula, or Pot Mari- 

 gold. Calliopsis in many colors. Celosia 

 Magnificent._ Centaurea cyanus of many kinds. Centaurea 

 Chrysanthemum, with many bicolor 



plumosa. 



imperialis and Sweet Sultan. 



flowers. Cosmos, both early- and late-flowering. Dianthus, or Pinks. 

 Everlastings for winter decorations. Helianthus, or Sunflowers, espe- 

 cially the Cucumerifolius type. Larkspur of several types, in many 

 shades. Mignonette, Nasturtiums, Nigella, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, 

 Sweet Peas, and Zinnias. 



Most Easily Grown Perennials or Old-Fashioned 

 Hardy Plants 



Aquilegia, or Columbine. Candytuft, gibraltarica and sem- 

 pervirens. Carnations. Centaurea americana and montana. Core- 

 opsis, or Harvest Moon. Delphinium. Dianthus, or Hardy Garden 

 Pinks. Scotch Pinks, and Feather Pinks. Digitalis, or Foxglove. 

 Gypsophila paniculata, or Baby's Breath. Lupinus. Platycodon, or 

 Chinese Bellflower. Hardy Phlox. Scabiosa, or Mourning Bride, 

 Japonica and Caucasica varieties. Stokesia Cyanea, or Cornflower 

 Aster. Viola cornuta. 



Note. — To quickly find any or all of the above flowers, consult 

 complete index on last page. 



Explanation of Abbreviations Used in the Descriptions 



HARDY ANNUALS, HA. These should be sown outside in April or May, 

 according to season, latitude, and condition of soil; or they may Be sown at a 

 somewhat earlier date in a hotbed or greenhouse, the combining of the two 

 methods being advisable, thereby providing for a succession of plantings if both 

 sowings prosper. Seed sown under glass will also produce earlier-blooming 

 plants than seed sown outdoors. 



HALF-HARDY ANNUALS, HHA, HALF-HARDY BIENNIALS, HHB, 

 and HALF-HARDY PERENNIALS, HHP. These may be sown indoors, as 

 above directed, from March to May, and outdoors after the middle of May. 

 Many of the Biennials and Perennials will bloom the first season if sown early. 



HARDY BIENNIALS, HB, and HARDY PERENNIALS, HP, can be 

 sown outdoors as soon as the soil is in good tillable condition. If sown early in- 

 doors, many of them will bloom the first season. Sowings made from July to 

 September will produce well-established plants for the next season. These 

 should be somewhat protected during the winter. Many seeds of Hardy 

 Biennials and Hardy Perennials are of very slow germination, and seeds of such 

 should not be condemned as bad if a quick germination does not show. 



TENDER ANNUALS, TA, TENDER BIENNIALS, TB, and TENDER 

 PERENNIALS, TP, can be sown in March in the green-house or in hotbeds in 



ALL FLOWER SEEDS IN PKTS., BY THE OZ., OR 



shallow boxes. Transplant to secure sturdy plants, which can then be planted 

 outdoors after danger of frost is over, about May 15. 



HHA, HHB, and HHP designate Half-Hardy Annuals, Biennials and 

 Perennials. 



HB and HP designate Hardy Biennials and Perennials. 

 TA and TP designate Tender Annuals and Perennials. 



Any species or variety to which no letters are affixed are to be considered as 

 Hardy Annuals. 



As a Matter of Record 



Cultivate the habit of keeping records of what you are doing in the garden. 

 Garden records consist of plans, planting notes, and individual wooden labels 

 with which each row should be marked. By means of these records it is pos- 

 sible to determine just which varieties of vegetables or flowers are best suited 

 to your locality. In connection with all rows of flower seeds, and espe- 

 cially where seeds are sown in seed-fiats, as illustrated above, we feel that 4-inch 

 wooden labels are amply large enough to mark the rows. On these labels should 

 be written the name of the variety and the date when the seeds were sown. 

 For the convenience of our customers we provide 4-inch painted wooden labels 

 for this purpose at 35 cts. per 100, postpaid. 



LB., ARE SENT POSTPAID AT CATALOGUE PRICES 



ORDER FLOWER SEEDS BY NUMBER and name. It is sufficient to order by number only 



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