CATALOGUE OF FLOWER SEEDS. 
fil 
JOSEPH BRECK & SONS 
(CORPORATION) 
GENERAL LIST OF 
SELECT FLOWER SEEDS. 
See Our Special Offers on Third Page Cover. 
Having but a limited space, we cannot give as much room 
to the Directions for the Culture and Treatment of Flowers, as we 
could desire, so we offer the following extracts from Breck’s New 
Book of Flowers, and trust the same will not be amiss: — 
It is impossible to give directions for planting seeds that will be 
applicable to all soils, situations or seasons; but judgment, discretion 
and care must be exercised under all circumstances to ensure success. 
“ It is a great disappointment and vexation to find after you have 
made ample preparations, and planted your seed, that it is worthless, your 
labor all lost, and probably too late in the season to make a trial of other seed. Perhaps the following hints 
may remind one of the importance of beginning right: 
“To raise your flowers, various arts combine, Be their physician, careful of their lives, 
Study these well, and fancy’s flight decline; And see that every species daily thrives; 
If you would have a vivid, vigorous breed, These love much air, these on much earth rely, 
Of every kind, examine well the seed ; These, without constant warmth, decay and die, 
Learn to what elements your plants belong, Supply the wants of each, and they will pay 
What is their constitution, weak or strong; For all your care through each succeeding day. 
EXPLANATORY. 
Our General List of Flower Seeds, it will be found, is divided into the following groups, viz. 
Annuals, Perennials and Biennials; Climbers; Greenhouse Plants; Everlastings; Ornamental 
Grasses, etc. The botanical and common names are arranged in alphabetical order and a very com¬ 
plete index will be found in the front of book. Following the botanical name is a brief description 
of the plant, its color, habits, etc. In the first column at the right, the hardiness and duration is 
given; in the second column, the height of plant; in the third column, the price of seed per ounce; 
and in the fourth column the price of seed per packet. To this arrangement and the following 
abbreviations we have given the most careful attention, and we trust that its simplicity will not only 
find favor with our customers, but prove valuable to them as a handy reference to be used in all 
matters pertaining to floriculture. 
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS, 
A designates Annuals — Lasting but one year. 
B “ Biennials—Lasting two years. 
P “ Perennials — Lasting three or more years. 
t “ This sign, where affixed to B or P, indicates Biennials or Perennials which, if sown early, flower the first seasot 
hA designates Hardy Annuals — Seed may be sown in early spring or late in fall. 
hhA “ Half Hardy Annuals — Seed should be sown about middle or last of May. 
tA “ Tender Annuals — Seed must be started in artificial heat and transplanted to open ground about June 1st 
hB or hP designates Hardy Biennials or Perennials — Plants stand the coldest winter without protection. 
hhB or hhP “ Half Hardy Biennials or Perennials — Plants requiring to be well protected during wintei 
tP u Tender Perennials — Plants requiring greenhouse protection during winter. 
Hard, and Dur. signifies Hardiness and Duration; Trai., Trailing; ITg’t, Height; and Var., Various. 
Descriptions of New and Special Varieties will be found on colored pages 
