C. C. MORSE & CO. SKJEDS— SAIN FRANCISCO, CAUF. 
FLOWER SEEDS 
There are no more satisfactory flowers than those grown from seed, especially the easily grown and brilliant flowered annuals. The beinH 
ful shrubs and lilies, of course, have their place, but are far more expensive than a paper of seed which will furnish a large number of 
plants wilh usually enough for one's garden and some to spare. . , , , . . . 
Aim to have your garden one artistic unit, with some flowers in bloom at all seasons, with colors which harmonize, and with plants i 
size grading from the dv/arf borders, to the bedding annuals, and then to the taller plants which usually should stand next to the house or 
other confines of the garden or lawn. A garden carefully thought out and planned gives very much more pleasure than a haphazard ont 
A perfect garden could not be made from seed alone; the grounds must have some shrubbery for its permanent character. We are con 
nected with The Vallance Nursery of Oakland, Cal., who will supply every need for private grounds of all dimensions; see our list of treei 
and shrubs in the succeeding pages of this guide. On the other hand, no garden would be pretty or satisfactory which did not have a g 00( ? 
number of flowers from our flower seed list most carefully chosen and placed in the garden. 
There is doubt with many as to the best time to plant the different flower seed. There is a new book by Prof. E. J. Wickson entitled 
California Flower Gardens, which is very fine; Price $1.50, or postpaid $1.60. This is written especially for California. One Eastern 
book will be found very useful, with its explicit directions, namely, "The Practical Garden Book," by Prof. L. H. Bailey, which we W jjj 
mail postpaid for $1.10. 
WHEN TO PLANT FLOWER SEED 
In describing many of the different flowers we have u«ed the terms "annual," "hardy annual," "tender annual," 
"perennial," "tender perennial," etc. These may have seemed to yon tiresome descriptions, but properly under- 
stood they tell much about planting. The dates in the following brackets will vary with the time that heavy 
frosts come in different places. While they show the best months for San Francisco, planting may be extended 
much later in all cases. 
TENDER, or Greenhouse, means the plant will not stand the least frost. All such must be planted late in 
spring (May) or in a greenhouse. 
HALF HARDY means the plant will stand any light frost, but needs protection against very cold weather. 
These should be planted in the spring (March and April), not in the fall. 
HARDY means the plant will stand considerable frost, or practically all we have on the Pacific Coast. These 
may be planted in the fall or in the spring (October to May). If sown in the fall they will come into bloom 
earlier than if sown in the spring, even if the plants do not make much progress during the cold weather. 
ANNUALS are plants that bloom the first year from seed, and the plant dies after one season. Tender annuals 
must be sown in spring (April to June) and hardy annuals may be sown in either spring or fall (October to May). 
BIENNIALS are plants that bloom the second year from seed, and the plant dies after the second year. In 
California many of these will bloom the first year if sown early. Sow under same conditions as perennials. 
PERENNIALS are plants that bloom the second year from seed, and the plant lives and blooms during succes- 
sive years. If sown in early spring (February to April 15) many perennials will bloom the first year from seed. 
Tender and half-hardy perennials are best sown in spring after frost is over (April 15 to June). Hardy peren- 
nials are best sown in the late summer and early fall (July to October) for next year's flowers. 
HOW TO SOW FLOWER SEEDS 
The success from sowing seeds depends upon three things, the right amount of water, of air, and of heal, which means practically have 
your soil right as to moisture and texture, your seed sown at a proper depth and where the sunshine can furnish the heat. Soil that 
is hard and going to bake is not right to start seeds in. Take such soil in the fall and spade in manure or leaf mould and let it rot 
for several months, and then work up fine. In spring add to a heavy, that is clayey soil, peat or decayed leaf mould, and sand 
(sharp, fresh-water sand), so that there is one-third loam, one-third sand, and one-third leaf mould. This makes an excellent soil for start- 
ing fine seeds. For potting add a small amount of old sheep or cow manun. 
SEEDS IN THE OPEN 
Seeds of hardy annuals are sown directly in the bed where they are to remain, or they may be sown in boxes and transplanted. Hay* 
the ground well worked up and mixed with peat or leaf mould (both may be secured from us) if needed. The soil should be well 
moistened, not wet and soggy, and not, by any means, dry when the seeds are sown. Put all medium-sized seeds at a depth of one-quarter 
to one-half inch. Sweet Peas should go deeper. Very fine seeds should be pressed into the soil and a little sand or dry sphagnum moss 
sifted over them. Water more frequently if the seed is close to the surface and if necessary protect with cheesecloth while watering. Al- 
ways press or firm the soil after sowing any seed. These seeds are best sown in the open, so as not to be transplanted. Eschscholtzia, 
Nasturtium, Poppy, also very many others, may be profitably so sown. If the seed be sown directly in the garden, it should be sown in the 
spring after the soil is well worked and when in moist condition. A slight depression should be made with a stick, the seed sown, and 
then covered with sandy loam about twice the depth of the diameter of the seed. The sand will prevent the crusting over of the soil after 
watering. 
When up, the plants must be thinned from two to twelve inches, depending on the variety, otherwise they will be weak and spindling. 
It is a common mistake in the garden to leave plants altogether too thick. Always keep the weeds out. 
SEEDS IN BOXES 
Always use care in getting a good loam as described above. Use no manure in any seed bed. Boxes 4 inches deep and 18x24 inchel 
is the usual size. See that good drainage is provided by boring holes in the bottom; fill with the fine prepared soil, which should be moist, 
but not wet enough to stick together when squeezed with the hand. Sow the seed about one-quarter inch deep except fine seeds. Water so 
as to keep the soil always just moist. Water carefully and regularly. A pane of glass over the box adds more heat, protects from draughts, 
prevents drying out, and is not necessary except for difficult seeds. Tfce box should be in the sunlight. When the plants are in third or 
fourth leaf they should be pricked out and reset in another box with plenty of room, for it is important that the plant be of good size, 
strong and sturdy, when finally transplanted in the garden. 
Special care is required by the seeds of tuberous begonias, calceolarias, gloxinias, petunias and primulas, which are fine and delicate 
seeds. Fill a good-sized flower pot first with some crock or coarse drainage material, then with a little moss or peat, and mainly with pre- 
pared soil as described above. Firm the soil, which is of course moist, sow the seeds on the surface, press it in, and sift a light layer of 
sphagnum moss over the seeds. Do not water this pot, but put it in a box filled with sphagnum moss on all sides and keep this moss wet. 
The moisture will seep through the sides of the pot in sufficient quantity to germinate the seed. Cover the pot with a pane of glass, which 
remove gradually later from the young plants. Surrounding by wet mui is also a good expedient to keep moisture even for seeds which 
require a long time to germinate. 
Another mistake in sowing flower, as well as other 9eeds, is covering too deep. As a general rule, cover only 
to the depth of the thickness of the seeds; or, with medium-sized seeds, like Balsam, Zinnias, etc., one-quarter 
to one-half inch is the proper depth. Such fine seeds as Portulacas, Nicotiana, etc., need only to be pressed into the 
soil with a piece of board or the palm of the hand. Always press the earth down firmly after sowing all flower 
seeds, else there is danger of their drying up before the roots can get firm hold of the soil. Seeds of the hardier 
annuals may be sown where they are to grow; but, often, it is preferable to transplant. When the seedlings are 
first set out they should be watered frequently and should be protected from too much sunlight and from heavy 
rains. Provide some support for all such annuals as require it. 
On account of the long, dry summers in California, it is necessary to apply water very often. Most of our gar- 
dens suffer for want of sufficient water. Where possible, it should be applied to the roots only. Do not over- 
but water frequently enough and with such a quantity that it reaches the roots. 
With a little study of the garden and the colors and habits of the flowers, a garden as beautiful as those at tin* 
BbcpQiitsOS can be had from the use of MORSE'S SPLENDID FLOWER SEEDS at very Ifttfc cost. 
