©ermatn’s 5Higb=©rabe Jflower Seebs 
A FEW CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS 
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and these are subdivided into Hardy, Half-hardy and Tender varieties of each class. 
Hardy Annual** are those plants which may be sown in the open air. Ihey grow, llower, pro¬ 
duce seed and then die. 
Half-Hardy Annuals are those varieties which require an even temperature of at least 60 de¬ 
grees 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 those that require greenhouse protection, as Calceolaria, etc.; the seeds 
are usually very fine, and it requires skill and care to raise them. 
Hardy Biennials are those that flower 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 bottom 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 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, in¬ 
cluding separate lists of Everlasting Flowers and Ornamental Gourds; Climbers, Annual and Per¬ 
ennial; Biennials and Perennials; Ornamental Grasses, Annual and Perennial. 
ABBREVIATIONS. Ilh 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 en¬ 
velope labeled with the number of varieties contained therein. 
Collection No. t. 
Collection No. G. 
6 choice vars. of Tom Thumb Nasturtiums. $0 25 
25 fine vars. of Annual and Perennial 
flower seeds. 
$1 00 
50 
Collection No. 7. 
6 choice vars. of Tall or Climbing Nastur¬ 
tiums . 
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. 
12 vars. Annual and Perennial flower seeds. 
Collection No. 2. 
Collection No. 3. 
25 
12 beautiful vars. Climbing and Trailing 
plants . 
Collection No. 4. 
50 
25 
6 beautiful vars. Climbing and Trailing 
plants ... 
Collection No* 5. 
25 
50 
6 fine vars. of Everlasting floWers 
25 
[ 34 ] 
25 
