FLOWER SEEDS 



Beckert's Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St., N. S., Pittsburgh, T\i. 



Flowers Are Needed to Make the Garden Truly Serve 

 the Home — Grow Some of These: 



While we have a wholesome respect for the benefits derived from the vegetable-garden, we feel that no home-maiden is complete without a 

 flower-bed. This flower-bed need not take very much space. As a matter of fact, the garden corners, where vegetables would be hard to cul- 

 tivate, may fittingly be devoted to llowers. While on pages 43 to 70 we give a very 

 complete list of flowers for all purposes, we cannot refrain from calling your attention 

 ' to a few easily grown specialties which are bound to set your garden ablaze with 

 color at small expense and with very little work. 



Chinese Woolflower (Celosia Childsii) 



This latest development of that brilliant group of annuals, known as the Plumed 

 Celosia, has by now thoroughly proven its worth as a highly ornamental plant for 

 both garden and pots or tubs. A well-developed specimen ol this will stand 2 to 2J4 

 feet tall and will be literally covered with magnificent, dark crimson, ball-shaped 

 flowers, the si/e of a man's two fists. These plumes, which top each central branch, 

 an- surrounded by many lateral branches, each of which in turn carries a smaller 

 plume. The w hole plant is exceedingly showy and lends itself readily to porch deco- 

 rations, since it may be easily transplanted, even after being fully developed, if it 

 is just lifted with a large lump of soil. 



Seeds are sown early in April, either in the house or under glass outdoors, and the 

 seedlings should be transplanted when 3 to 4 inches tall, to stand 2 feet apart each 

 way. A bed of these is a truly magnificent sight, especially when surrounded with 

 sweet alyssum or candytuft. Single specimens are also very effective at the ends of 

 paths or borders. Pkt. 15 cts., 2 pkts. 25 cts. 



Flowers for the Children's Garden 



There is surely a little corner in your garden where you can grow a bright bunch 

 of "posies" that would not only help you decorate your own home but also enable 

 you to give some to your friends. Here is what we will mail for 25 cts. postpaid : 



1 packet each of: Sweet Alyssum, Golden Wave Calliopsis, Mammoth Early- 

 flowering Cosmos, Bui bank's Crimson California Poppies, Beckert's Fancy Giant 



Mixed Nasturtiums. Finest Mixed Sweet Peas. ^ , • / u-u •• /t-u- vr/ \a 



Celosia Childsii (Chinese Woolrlower) 



Beckert's "All American" Aster Collection 



Fourteen Separate Sorts, in Seven 

 Classes and Different Colors 



$1.00 



The outbreak of the great European conflict found America dependent to a large extent on Europe for Aster seeds. With that source of 

 supply cut off almost entirely for the past three years, American growers got busy and have accomplished really remarkable results during 

 the short time that they have been at it. This past season there were grown in various parts of this country nearly 300 acres of Asters for seeds — 



a really remarkable showing made by the American Aster seed industry today. With 

 all this vast expansion in a short time, the Aster-growers have succeeded in developing 

 splendid strains, so that today we can enjoy as beautiful Asters as ever came from 

 Europe from seeds grown in our own country. 



We tested a comprehensive collection of these Asters in our trial-grounds this past 

 summer, a small glimpse of which you get below. We did this to convince ourselves 

 of the quality of these Asters and want you to enjoy them as we did. We will mail, 

 postpaid, 1 pkt. each of 14 splendid kinds for $1. 



P. S. — Should you be fond of specific classes and colors of different varieties please 

 refer to pages 45 and 46. 



A Garden Full of Flowers for 

 One Dollar, Postpaid 



Among the nearly 1,200 varieties of flowers which we list in this catalogue, there 

 are a dozen or more classes the seeds of which are of such strong vitality and their 

 plants make such small demands in the way of soil and care that they will literally 

 grow for anybody, and they will grow in any place where the sun shines a few hours 

 each day. Those of our customers who have had "no luck" with flowers from seeds 

 should give these a trial. We feel absolutely sure that with these classes you will suc- 

 ceed, even under trying conditions of soil and season. We like to think of them as the 

 most dependable flowers grown and here is why: Last summer, with its discouraging 

 features of prolonged droughts, followed by torrential rains and hard-packed soil, 

 brought us a first-class opportunity to study the dependable qualities of flowers in our 

 trial-grounds. Of the many annuals which we grew, some stood out head and shoulders 

 above the rest in that they grew and bloomed in spite of contrary weather and poor soil. 

 The principal ones were: Candytuft, Celosia, Cosmos, Dimorphotheca, Dolichos or 

 Hyacinth Bean, Eschscholtzias, Godetias, Kochia, Marigold, Nigella, Petunia, 

 Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Verbena, Vinca, and Zinnias. All grew and bloomed most freely 



Snprial Offpr We w ^ mail one P acket °f each, our choice of varieties, 16 

 Ljpcuai imici . paclcets a u j f or $ 1; postpaid. This provides a constant supply 

 A small portion of our Aster trials of flowers until frost. ORDER AS THE "DEPENDABLE" COLLECTION. 



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