Beckert's Seed Store 



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, 

 remember that none of the flower seeds, with comparatively few exceptions, sprout as strongly as vegetable seeds. For this 

 reason it pays to take particular pains in preparation of the soil, since even the smallest lump may cause the tiny seed- 

 lings 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 sufficiently to keep them in place and to prevent the wind 

 from blowing them away or the birds from eating them. 



Preparing the Soil and Sowing 



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 well-rotted manure, 

 peat moss, or humus, and, should the soil be a heavy clay or 

 of similar stiff character, add 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 

 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 % 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 

 on this page a selection of Annuals and Perennials which, 

 will give satisfactory results, and which we can heartily 

 recommend for the various purposes. 



Abbreviations Used in Flower Descriptions 



HA. Hardy Annuals. 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 in shallow boxes indoors, the combining of the 

 two methods being advisable, thereby providing for a succes- 

 sion of plantings. Seed sown under glass will also produce 

 earlier-blooming plants than seed sown outdoors. 



HHA. Half -Hard > Annuals. These may be sown 



HHB. Half-Hardy Biennials. I indoors as above direct- 

 HHP. Half-Hardy Perennials. ' ed from March to May, 

 and outdoors after the middle of May. Some of the Biennials 

 and Perennials will bloom the first season if sown early 

 indoors. 



HB. Hardy Biennials. Can be sown outdoors as 



HP. Hardy Perennials. I soon as the soil is in good 



tillable condition. If sown early indoors, some will bloom 

 the first season. Sowings made from July to September will 

 produce well-established plant3 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. 



TA. Tender Annuals. I These can be sown in March 



TB. Tender Biennials. I in the greenhouse or in hot- 



TP. Tender Perennials. I beds or in shallow boxes In- 



doors. Transplant later to secure sturdy plants, which can be 

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



Flowers for Special Purposes 



Annual Flowers for Cutting 



Agrostemma 

 Antirrhinum 

 Arctotis 

 Aster 



Blue Lace Flower 

 Calendula 

 Calliopsis 

 Centaurea 



Chrysanthemum 



Cosmos 



Everlastings 



Gaillardia 



Gypsophila 



Larkspur 



Lupinus 



Marigold 



Nasturtium 



Poppy 



Rudbeckia 



Salpiglossis 



Scabiosa 



Schizanthus 



Sweet Pea 



Zinnia 



Annuals 



Alyssum 

 Lobelia 



Marigold, Dwarf 

 Nemesia 

 Pansy 

 Portulaca 



Saponaria Vaccaria 

 Verbena 



Dwarf for Edging 



Perennials 



Anemone 



Arabis 



Aubretia 



Bellis Perennis 



Campanula Carpatica 



Cerastium 



Iberis Gibraltarica 



Viola 



Rock Garden Favorites 



Achillea 

 Aconitum 

 Adonis Vernalis 

 Anemone 

 Anthemis 

 Aquilegia 

 Bellis Perennis 

 Coreopsis 



Popular Hardy Perennials 



Delphinium Pentstemon 



Dianthus 



Digitalis 



Gaillardia 



Helenium 



Heuchera 



Hibiscus 



Iberis Gibraltarica 



Phlox 



Physostegia 



Pappy 

 Pyrethrum 

 Sweet Rocket 

 Thalictrum 

 Trollius 



For Semi-Shaded Locations 



Annuals 



Alyssum, Carpet of Snow 

 Antirrhinum, Rock Hybrids 

 Brachycome, Iberidifolia 

 Candytuft, Little Prince • 

 Hunnemannia fumariaef olia 

 Marigold, Signati Pumila 

 Mesembryanthemum 

 Nemesia Strumosa 

 Phlox, Dwarf Cecily 

 Portulaca, Mixed 

 Viscaria, Dwarf Mixed 

 Zinnia, Mexicana Hybrids 



Perennials 



Alyssum, Saxatile 

 Arabis alpina 

 Campanula Carpatica 

 Cerastium tomentosum 

 Cheiranthus, Allioni 

 Dianthus, Rock Hybrids 

 Geum, Lady Stratheden 

 Heuchera Sanguinea 

 Iberis, Sempervirens 

 Poppy, Iceland 

 Primula, Elatior 

 Saponaria, Ocymoides 



Anchusa Italica 



Aquilegia 



Balsam 



Bellis Perennis 



Campanula 



Centaurea 



Clarkia 



Coleus (Foliage) 



Geum 



Godetia 



Lupinus 



Mignonette 



Myosotis 

 Pansy 

 Platycodon 

 Sweet William 



For Winter Bouquets 



Acroclinium Nemesia 



Ammobium Physalis 



Eulalia Rhodanthe 



Gomphrena Salvia, Farinacea 



Gypsophila, Paniculata Statice 



Helichrysum Xeranthemum 



Flower, Vegetable and Grass Seeds up to 5 pounds delivered free 



