Floral Culture 
By MISS C. H. LIPP1NCOTT, Hudson, Wis. 
THE PIONEER. SEEDSWOMAN OF AMERICA. 
JANUARY 1910. 
Flower Seeds. 
There are no more satisfactory flowers in the gar- 
den than those grown from seed, especially the easily 
grown and brilliant flowered annuals. The beautiful 
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 with usually enough 
for one’s garden and some to spare. 
It is important to study the garden before selecting 
the flowers that are suitable for It. and the choice of 
flowers should comprehend the height of the plant, the 
time of blooming, and the annual or perennial class of 
the flower. Usually the tall plants go next to the 
house or the wall, with the shorter kinds in front and 
the low-growing varieties for the border. 
While the old-fashioned flowers are still popular, new 
and Improved varieties are always to be desired. 
It is usually best to sow the seed of annuals early In 
the year, and the seed should be on hand in January 
or February if possible. 
Many flowers can be planted in the fall for early 
blossoms in the spring. This is peculiarly so with 
Sweet Peas and Pansies. Some biennials and peren- 
nials can be sown In August or September, and made 
to bloom the following summer. This is especially 
true of such flowers as Hollyhocks and Foxgloves. 
It Is best in practically all instances to start the 
seed in boxes, preferably a box about 18x24 Indies 
and 4 inches deep, using very sandy soil that will not 
bake, and provide for drainage by boring some holes 
in the bottom of the box. It is best not to put any 
fertilizer in the seed-box, since it is only necessary to 
bring the plants to the third or fourth leaf, when they 
should be prtefted out and reset in another box, in 
which the soil should be loam mixed with leaf-mold. 
It is Important that the plant be of good size, strong 
and sturdy, when finally transplanted in the garden. 
If the seed bo sown directly in the garden, it should 
be sown in the spring after the soil is well worked 
and fertilized. A slight depression should be made 
with a stick, the seed sown, and then covered with 
sharp sand 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 spindly. It is a common mistake in 
the garden to leave the plants altogether too thick. 
Always keep the weeds out. 
With a little study of the garden and the colors and 
habits of the flowers, a beautiful garden can be bad 
from the use of flower seeds at very little cost. 
Annuals — Bloom first year from seed and plant dies 
after one season. 
Biennials — Bloom second year from seed and plant 
dies after second year. 
Perennials — Bloom second year from seed and plant 
lives and blooms for several years. 
Tender — Means plant will not stand the least frost. 
Half Hardy — Means plant will stand a little frost 
und needs protection. 
Hardy — Means plants will stand considerable frost. 
Please Read These Suggestions 
Carefully. 
THE SIZES OF PLANTS furnished by me are. in all 
instances, as large as can be advantageously forwarded 
by mail. The roses and greenhouse plants are strong, 
thrifty, well established stock from 2 inch pots. The 
shrubs and climbing plants are healthy, thrifty stock 
propagated the spring previous. 
GUARANTEE — We are often asked whether we guar- 
antee our plants to live. No, wo do not. This Is a 
matter which depends mostly upon the care and treat- 
ment they receive after reaching destination. But. ex- 
cept when ordered sent so early in the season as to be 
in danger of freezing, we will guarantee the plants to 
be packed so as to reach destination In good condition 
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We cannot, however, be responsible for injury by freez- 
ing if the plants are ordered to be sent too early, for 
even the most careful packing cannot always guard 
against that. 
THE SHIPPING SEASON — The climbing vines, ■ flow- 
ering shrubs and fruit plants must be sent out while in 
a dormant condition, that is, before they commence to 
leaf out. Orders for these items, therefore; should 
reach us by the middle of April at the latest. Orders 
for roses, and greenhouse plants can be filled up to the 
first of June. We will send out all plants during the 
first mild weather after receipt of the Aiders. unless 
special time is mentioned. 
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