GERMAIN’S HIGH-GRADE FLOWER SEEDS 
A FEW CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS 
HE use and growth of flowers, especially, 
marks the progress of individuals and 
nations, the greatest nations of the earth 
being those with whom the love of flori¬ 
culture most prevails. To the lover of 
flowers, what can be more interesting than 
to sow the seed, water and otherwise care 
for the growth and development of the 
plant, and at last enjoy the expansion of the flower? 
What does the sense of proprietorship of the purchaser 
of flowers compare to that of the grower of them? The 
latter feels that they are verily his own, the results 
of his fostering care. Among the flowers which may 
be grown with a minimum amount of care and expense 
are those varieties which reproduce themselves from seeds. 
They are classed as Annuals, Biennials and Perennials, 
and these are subdivided into Hardy, Half-hardy and 
Tender varieties of each class. 
Hardy Annuals are those plants which may be sown 
in the open air. They grow, flower, produce seed and 
then die. 
Half-Hardy Annuals are those varieties which require 
an even temperature of at least 60 degrees to germinate 
the seed, and will not stand frost; consequently they 
must not be sown in the open ground during the fall 
or winter months, and not in spring till April. A good 
rule for those to follow who wish to sow this class is 
to wait for the proper weather and season in which to 
sow corn, melon or pumpkin seeds. 
Tender Annuals are thgse that require,, greenhouse 
protection, as Calceolaria, etc.; the seeds are usually 
very fine, and it requires skill and care to raise them. 
Hardy Perennials are those that flower in the second 
year from sowing the seed and then die. 
Hardy Perennials are among the finest of our border 
plants. They do'not usually flower till the second year 
after sowing, but may be relied upon to produce larger 
clumps of flowers year by year for many years. 
Half-Hardy Perennials are those which require some 
protection during the coldest weather, as they will not 
stand frost. 
Tender Perennials are those species that require 
greenhouse or other protection during the greater part 
of the year, as they are, generally speaking, natives of 
tropical countries. 
The best time to sow Hardy Annuals is in the fall 
months, as they will make much stronger plants and 
flower much more abundantly when wintered over. They 
may be sown in any finely-prepared shady border, and 
transplanted when large enough, to where they are to 
flower. Do not cover the seeds too deep. A good rule 
is to cover each seed its own depth with soil, at the 
same time taking care to water carefully. Never water 
so much that the soil gets “soggy,” i. e., saturated; nor 
ever let the top get dry. Most varieties will germinate 
within ten days. 
They may also be sown at any time during - the spring 
months for summer blooming, care being taken to shade 
the young plants after transplanting, in hot weather. 
Half-hardy Annuals may be sown in April out-of- 
doors, or in boxes, in March or earlier. If in boxes, 
they should be covered or removed under cover during 
the night-time and during heavy ' rains. Those who 
have hotbeds may sow the seed in February and grow 
the plants in 3-inch pots for planting outdoors in April, 
thus gaining two months on those who have not this 
advantage. (See instructions for making hotbeds in 
calendar of operations.) If sown in boxes, the boxes 
should have an inch of rough soil or gravel at the bot¬ 
tom for drainage; the remainder of the box should 
be filled within an inch of the top with sifted, light, 
rich soil, firmly pressed, and the seed should be sown, 
covered its own depth with soil, again pressed and 
watered. When the young plants are large enough to 
be handled, prick out into other boxes, planting them 
about 1 inch apart, and, when weather permits, they 
should afterwards be planted in the open ground in 
the place where they are to flower. 
Tender Annuals should be sown in pots as follows: 
Take a 5 or 6-inch flower pot, put an inch of drainage 
in the bottom, then 2 inches of finely-sifted soil, firmly 
pressed, with a sprinkling of sand on top. Then sow 
the seed, and do not cover, but press into the soil. Water 
with a very fine sprinkler, and cover the top of the pot 
with a sheet of glass. Remove the glass for an hour 
daily to dry up the damp. When seedlings appear, 
gradually harden them off to the air. As soon as they 
can be handled, prick out into 2-inch pots, and shift 
again when necessary. 
Hardy Biennials and Perennials should be sown in 
September. Many varieties, if sown then, will flower 
to the next year. If sown in spring they will not flower 
till a year later. They may be sown in a shady border, 
and, when large enough, transplanted to where they are 
to remain. 
Half-hardy and Tender Perennials should be sown 
in boxes, and treated as recommended for Half-hardy 
Annuals till plants appear, when they should be pricked 
into 2-inch pots, and shifted afterwards when necessary. 
We have arranged our list of flower seeds according 
to the various classes: Annuals, including separate 
lists of Everlasting Flowers and Ornamental Gourds; 
Climbers, Annual and Perennial; Biennials and Peren¬ 
nials; Ornamental Grasses, Annual and Perennial. 
ABBREVIATIONS. Hli means Half-hardy, Annual or 
Perennial; T means Tender, Annual or Perennial. When 
no abbreviation is used, the variety will prove hardy 
in this climate. The letter B affixed to a variety means, 
that it is useful for bouquets and cut-flowers. 
GERMAIN’S COLLECTION OF FLOWER SEEDS 
SPECIAL OFFER 
These are put up in separate packets, each labeled 
with the name, and all enclosed in an envelope labeled 
with the number of varieties contained therein. 
25 
fine vars. 
Collection No. 1. 
of Annual and Perennial flower seeds. 
.$1.00 
12 
Collection No. 2. 
vars. Annual and Perennial flower seeds. 
50 
12 
beautiful 
vars. 
Collection No. 3. 
Climbing and Trailing plants.. 
50 
6 
beautiful 
vars. 
Collection No. 4. 
Climbing and Trailing plants.. 
25 
Collection No. 5. 
6 fine vars. of Everlasting flowers. 
Collection No. G. 
6 choice vars. of Tom Thumb Nasturtiums_ 
Collection No. 7. 
6 choice vars. of Tall or Climbing Nasturtiums. 
Collection No. 8. 
6 beautiful vars. of Ornamental Gourds. 
Collection No. 9. 
4 grand vars. of Passion Flowers. 
Collection No. 10. 
5 fine vars. of Ornamental Grasses. 
25 
25 
25 
25 
50 
25 
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