52 
D. M. FERRY & CO’S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
A SELECT DESCRIPTIVE LIST 
- OF - 
Choice Flower Seeds. 
who do not meet with the success they exjiected in the culture of a general list of Flowers, attribute the difficulty 
\ I 1 solely to the seeds, overlooking the important fact that nearly the entire range of Flower Seeds requires careful and 
1 particular treatment, and the further fact that the treatment and conditions which with one variety will produce the 
most satisfactory results, may utterly blight another. 
To insure success, the conditions and requirements of the several species as to soil, moisture, heat, light, etc., should be 
studied and then observed in culture. We feel sure that the pleasuAe resulting from a large and varied collection of Flowers 
will amply compensate for the time and care given to the subject. 
SKLKt.'TION OF VA KIETI FS.— Success in flower culture depends quite largely upon a judicious selection of varieties. 
Every sort we offer is, under certain conditions, attractive and desirable, but some of them, while exceedingly beautiful under 
favorable circumstances, will be most unsatisfactory and little better than weeds under others: we therefore urge our friends 
to study carefully the following pages before ordering, that they may select the sorts best suited to their wants. 
THE SOI L. Another great object to be considered is the soil in which flower seeds are to be sown. The soil best adapted 
to flowering plants generally, is a light, friable loam, containing a sufficient amount of sand to render it porous. A great many 
varieties will lice in almost any kind of soil, except it be extremely dry, calcareous, or of a stiff, heavy character; still, to give 
them a fair chance for development, some little pains should be taken in adding to the soil, as much as possible, what may be 
wanting in it. Most flowers are better if produced on plants of vigorous growth, so the greater portion of the garden should 
be prepared by deep digging, thorough pulverization, and liberal enriching with large quantities of well rotted manure. On tin* 
other hand, some sorts do best on very poor soil, so a portion of the garden should be left without enriching at all. As the pro¬ 
cess of germination is shorter or longer in the different kinds of seeds, the patience of the cultivator is often sorely tried with 
seeds of a slowly germinating character; the patience of a devoted florist, however, is never exhausted in these manipulations, 
and the certainty of his final success repays him fully for the trouble. 
Nine-tenths of the failures in flower culture come from improper treatment of the seeds and young plants, and we urge 
every purchaser of our seeds to study carefully the cultural directions printed on each package, and keep in mind tne 
following golden rules for sowing flower seeds: 
Make the surface as fine and smooth as possible. 
Do not plant any of the seeds when the ground is at all wet. 
Cover each lot of seeds to a uniform depth, which should never be more than three or four times the diameter of the seeds. 
Press the soil (irmly over the seeds. 
Plant in rows so that the young plants can be easily seen, and pull up all weeds which spring up between the rows the day 
they appear, but do not pull plants out of the row until you are sure they are weeds. 
WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING LIBERAL INDUCEMENTS 
TO CLUBS, OR THOSE WHO WISH TO PURCHASE FLOWER SEEDS IN QUANTITY. 
These Low Kates Apply only to Seeds in Packets, but the Seeds will be Sent by Mail, Post-Paid. 
SEND US SI.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $1.15. 
SEND US $2.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $2.85. 
SEND US $3.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $8.60. 
SEND US $4.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $4.85. 
SEND US $5.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $6.15. 
SEND US $10.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $12.50. 
SEND US $20.00 AND SELECT PACKETS TO THE VALUE OF $26.00. 
All Flower Seeds Sent Free by Mail on Receipt of Price. 
KPThe Figures at the Right Opposite Each Variety Denote the "Price, in Cents, Per Packet. 
ABORRA VilliI)TFLORA.—A rapid growing, climb¬ 
ing, half hardy, tuberous rooted perennial gourd, whose 
dark green foliage and bright scarlet fruit form a strik 
ing contrast. Height fifteen feet.10 
ABRONIA.—Handsome trailers with Verbena like flowers, 
which succeed best in sandy soil. Half hardy annuals. 
Umbellata, rosy-lilac flowers. 10 
Arenaria, yellow, sweet scented. 10 
Mixed, the above varieties. 10 
ABUTILON (Flowering Maple).—Very 
popular, perennial, green-house shrub, 
with bell shaped, drooping flowers, 
which vary in color from pure white and 
yellow to deep orange and crimson 
streaked with yellow, and are borne in 
great profusion the entire year. Well 
adapted for house culture and for bed¬ 
ding out doors. 
Finest mixed. 25 
AC HOCLINIUM (Everlasting).—Very 
pretty, half hardy annual, with rose and 
white daisy like flowers. These are “Im¬ 
mortelles” which bloom in August and 
September, and are fine for winter bou- 
quets and wreaths. I [eight one foot. 
Album, pure white. 5 
Roseum, light rose. 5 
“ double. 10 
Mixed. 5 
ADLUMIA Cl It llHOS A (Mountain 
Fringe, Wood Fringe, Alleghany 
^ ine). — A beautiful and graceful climb¬ 
er and profuse bloomer. Hardy bien¬ 
nial; height 15 ft. White and pink.10 
ADONIS AUTUMN ALLS (Adonis Flower, Pheas- 
ant’fl Eye). A handsome, hardy, herbaceous annual, 
one foot high, having finely cut dark green foliage, in 
which are set the intense blood red flowers, giving the 
plant a veiy striking appearance. 5 
AG ACANTHUS UMBELLATUS (African Lily).— 
Bears large heads of beautiful blue flowers on stems 
three feet high; will flower in two years from seed; 
one-half hardy perennial . 15 
'BRA VlRIDIFLORA 
