G^Beckerti Seed Store 



The Successful Flower Garden From 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 

 lor 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 growing of flowers from seeds is not difficult, pro- 

 vided 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 vege- 

 table seeds. For this reason it pays to take particular pains 

 in preparation of the soil, 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 gen- 

 eral rule, remember that all fine seeds should not be covered 

 any more than just sufficiently to keep them in place and to 

 prevent 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 preceding fall, since the alternate freezing 

 and thawing during the winter will do a great deal to put 

 soil in mellow condition. Incorporate 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 scat- 

 tering seeds at random. It is much easier, then, to discover 

 the seedlings, and it is but little trouble to transplant them 

 iwhere 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 y 2 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 in- 

 dicate 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. 



The Most Useful Annuals for Beds and Borders 



Ageratum, blue. Alyssum, white. Asters, all colors. Candy- 

 tuft, several colors. Celosias, mostly reds and yellows. 

 Dianthus, many colors. Dimorphotheca, or Golden Orange 

 Daisy, and its many yellow hybrids. Eschscholtzia, or Cali- 

 fornia Poppies, in several colors. Hunnemannia, or Bush 

 Eschscholtzia, the big yellow Tulip Poppy. Dwarf French 

 Marigold. Dwarf Nasturtiums in many colors. Petunias, 

 colors and mixtures. Phlox Drummondii, all colors. Portu- 

 laca, single and double. Verbenas in many colors and color 

 combinations. 



The Most Useful Annuals for Cut Flowers 



Antirrhinum, or Snapdragon, in a wonderful assortment of 

 colors. Asters of all kinds and colors. Calendula, or Pot 

 Marigold. Calliopsis in many colors. Celosia plumosa. Mag- 

 nificent. Centaurea cyanus of many kinds. Centaurea im- 

 perialis and Sweet Sultan. Chrysanthemum, with many bi- 

 color flowers. Cosmos, both early- and late-flowering. Dian- 

 thus, or Pinks. Everlastings for winter decorations. Heli- 

 anthus, or Sunflowers, especially the Cucumerif olius 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. 

 Coreopsis, 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. 



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 plant- 

 ings if both sowings prosper. Seed sown under glass will 

 also produce earlier-blooming plants than seed sown out- 

 doors. 



HALF-HARDY ANNUALS, HHA, HALF-HARDY BIEN- 

 NIALS, 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 indoors, 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 

 greenhouse or in hotbeds in shallow boxes. Transplant to 

 secure sturdy plants, which can be placed 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. 



Cultivate the habit of keeping records of what you are do- 

 ing 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 possible 

 to determine just which varieties of vegetables or flowers 

 are best suited to your locality. In connection with all rows 

 of flower seeds, and especially where seeds are sown in seed- 

 flats, 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 

 45 cts. per 100, postpaid. 



All Flower Seeds are Sent Postpaid at Catalogue Prices 



ORDER FLOWER SEEDS BY NUMBER 



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