InnisfalUn Greenhouses, Springfield, Ohio. 
MY GUARANTEE OF THE SAFE ARRIVAL OF PLANTS. 
On all plants sent by mail, I prepay the postage, and guarantee their safe arrival 
in good condition to any post office in the United States. If they fail to arrive in 
growing condition, I should at once be given notice, naming the ones that are dead 
or injured, so that there need be no delay in replacing them. The same rule applies 
when plants are shipped by express. I make this guarantee of the safe arrival of 
the plants to the purchaser for the following reasons: First, because some purchas¬ 
ers at a distance have had no experience in receiving plants in this way, and have 
not the confidence to believe that the plants will reach them at all, fearing that they 
may be lost or stolen on the way. Second, those who lack experience, do not com¬ 
prehend how plants can be packed so as to travel such long distances without injury, 
and arriving in perfect order. For the above reasons I guarantee the safe arrival of 
plants, in good condition, and if packages miscarry, or are stolen, I cheerfully re¬ 
place them. If, through delay or breaking of the packages, any of the plants are 
dead when they reach the customer, I will cheerfully replace them. But there are 
so many accidents that may befall them in after treatment, of which I can have no 
oversight or control, that I cannot warrant them to live. I know that if they re¬ 
ceive proper treatment they will grow and bloom beautifully, and yet I know they 
are not infrequently killed by utter neglect, and again so at times miserably mur¬ 
dered by intended kindness by persons who do not know the requirements of plant 
life, or if knowing, do not observe them. 
My intention is to deal justly with all, 
and when errors occur, which will some¬ 
times occur in the hurry of the packing season, I trust you will notify me so as to 
give me a chance to correct them. Although I have a very competent corps of well- 
trained employes, yet I cannot always avoid errors in packing, for in spite of my 
utmost endeavors and precautions, a package will occasionally be found that is de¬ 
ficient in some respect. But where one order meets with a misfortune of this kind, 
nine hundred and ninety-nine are perfectly filled, and open up on arrival at destina¬ 
tion to the joy and satisfaction of the person ordering. 
Large bills should be ordered sent by Express whenever 
practicable, as I can, of course, send much better plants in 
this way than by mail. I can also send more “extras,” but the purchaser must 
pay thecharges of transportation, also the charges for return of money if sentC. 0. U. 
My guarantee that plants shall reach their destination in good condition when sent 
by mail applies equally to those forwarded by Express. 
THE MAILING SYSTEM. 
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. 
BY EXPRESS. 
A GREAT DISCOVERY. 
The method of sending Plants hundreds and 
thousands of miles in safety in “ Uncle 
Sam’s ” mail bags, can safely be classed as one of the valuable discoveries of recent 
times. The sending of Plants by Express was a great gain over the slow freight 
line, but the charges for the greater distances were entirely too high for cheap Plants. 
Before the proper method was discovered, the risk of drying out, and various other 
casualities were to he feared, but now theae have all been overcome, and our most 
tender Plants are sent to tbe various Pacific States with entire success. 
OBSTACLES SURMOUNTED. 
But this method was not perfected 
without great trouble. Many expen¬ 
sive trials had to be made; various kinds of material had to be experimented with, 
and tested fully; the moss used for packing must have the proper degree of mois¬ 
ture, and this, of course, could only be had by^experience. In addition to this, the 
Plants must be properly prepared for shipping before starting them on their long 
journey, (frequently “ across the Continent.”) All this had also to be ascertained 
by numerous and careful experiments, so that now our packer puts up the various 
packages of Plants as confident of success as if they were to be opened in a very 
short time. 
^Vere it not for the 
GREAT VALUE OF MAIL PACKAGES, p^vilege given us by our 
postal authorities of carrying small packages all over our country at a small cost, 
and with dispatch, many thousands of people would have to dispense with a great 
many articles that are essential to their comfort and happiness. 
For instance, take many localities situated in the 
AN ILLUSTRATION, extreme West and Territories, thousands of miles 
from my Seed Store and Floral establishments, may equally with me, become the 
possessors of the newer and elegant flowers, at a no greater cost than they can be 
bought at my Greenhouse or Seed Store. 
rri-vr-A/^iiiT-ic-o When my customers take into considera- 
INCREASED FACILITIES, tion that the prices of Plants have been re¬ 
duced, that I make no charge for packing, that the postage is prepaid by me, and 
that the risk of safe arrival is guaranteed by me, every lover of flowers should en¬ 
joy the possession of a few, at least, to brighten their homes, and make them at¬ 
tractive, at a very slight expense. 
TREATMENT OF PLANTS ON ARRIVAL. 
If in the least wilted, should be placed with the paper about 
' KLAN I o, jjjgjjj jQ shallow pans of water comfortably warm to the 
hand, where they should remain twenty minutes to half an hour. This restores 
their vigor, revives their leaves and increases their vitality. 
DRAINAGE 
TREATMENT OF PLANTS ON ARRIVAL—Continued. 
yi_|g. gQ||_ Potti'ig should be composed of rotted sod about two-thirds, 
one-third well rotted cow or house manure, thoroughly mixed to¬ 
gether. Where rotted sod cannot be conveniently procured, good, rich garden soil, 
with the addition of one-third or one-fourth well composted manure, thoroughly 
incorporated together, will answer a very good purpose. 
POTS thoroughly soaked, and if old, well washed he- 
’ fore being used, and should be but one size larger than those in 
which the plants were originally grown. Usually three-inch pots are much prefera¬ 
ble to larger ones tor the first potting, and as they become filled with roots, the 
plants should be re-potted at intervals. Do not entirely fill the pots with earth, but 
leave sufficient space to hold a goodly supply of water for the plants. When packed 
full of earth, the water all runs off Instead of penetrating the roots. 
WHEN POTTED ®®rth should be firmly pressed down upon the roots of 
’ the plants on all sides, and then one thorough watering 
should be given, soaking well to the bottom of the pot. They then should be shaded 
from the sunlight for three or four days, and water gently sprinkled over the leaves 
morning and evening, being careful not to get the soil too wet or soggy. Avoid ex¬ 
tremes, as both over-watering and over-drying are alike fatai to freshly-potted 
plants. If the sun does not shine to exhaust the plants, keep the coverings off, but 
if it does, one or two thicknesses of paper covered over them will keep the plants 
fresh. 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE HOUSE. JJ^es" 
differ so widely in their nature and requirements as to soil and treatment, that it is 
difficult to give any brief directions for general application. 
SOIL IN WHICH TO PUT PLANTS. The best soil for all kinds 
of plants IS composed of two- 
thirds well rotted sods, (that have been previously cut and piled up to rot), and one- 
third well rotted manure, thoroughly mixed together. If the sods are not naturally 
sandy, it is well to add some sharp sand. This is the kind of sod we use for nearly 
all kinds of plants. 
is of the highest importance, 
and absolutely necessary for 
all plants that require six-inch pots and larger. 
Without perfect drainage the surplus water can¬ 
not run off; if it remain about the roots, will 
cause the soil to become soured, the roots decay 
and the plants perish. By paying a little more 
attention to drainage our amateur cultivators will 
likely be more successful in plant growing. Our 
engraving here shows a six-inch pot with proper 
drainage. You commence by placing one large 
pot or oyster shell over the hole in the bottom, 
and continue with broken crocks of smaller sizes, 
as A, B, and C shows, after which place a little 
moss or peat fibre over the drainage to prevent the soil from mixing with the crocks. 
Four and five inch pots will only require one large crock or oyster shell. 
Whenever the plants are dry, water so that the earth in the 
pot will be salurated, and no more. When much water passes 
off, it impoverishes the soil in a short time. The water should be of the same tem¬ 
perature as the room in which the plants grow. No water should be allowed to re¬ 
main in the saucers under the pots, except in the case of aquatic plants. Soft wood¬ 
ed plants require much more water than hard wooded. 
Ventilate well every fine day, whenever air above freezing can be admit¬ 
ted. Do not allow cold air to blow directly against the plants. 
As much as possible should be given. If placed in the windows, turn 
the plants occasionally so they may not grow one-sided. Windows with 
an eastern or southern exposure are the best. 
The common clay flower pots, being porous, are the best. With the 
pretty, ornamental, expansive wood covers now used, their unsightli¬ 
ness may be concealed. Plants seldom do well in glazed, china or fancy pots. If, 
however, it is desirable to have fancy pots, they should be large enough to set the 
common pots inside. 
The best preventative is keeping your plants growing vigorously, 
and healthy, as insects seldom attack a healthy plant. The Aphis, 
or Green Fly, can be removed by placing the plant under a box with smoking tobacco 
for about fifteen minutes; then syringe; tobacco water sprinkled on, or tobacco dust 
powdered on with a pepper-box, is sometimes equally effective. The Mealy Bug and 
Scale should be washed off on first appearance. Tbe Rose Bug, appearing in June 
and August, can be killed by using white Hellebore Powder, mixed with water, and 
sprinkled on. For the Rose Slug hand picking is the only effective remedy. For 
Worms, turn the plant out of the pot and pick them out. 
The temperature of the room, for ordinary house plants, should not be 
above sixty-five or seventy degrees. 
The great secret of growing Plants successfully in the house lies in 
keeping them clean. The leaves should be washed both on the upper 
and lower .sides, at least once a week, a sponge or piece of flannel, moLstened in tepid 
water, with a little soap dissolved in it, being used. This will open tbe pores, and 
keep the plants healthy. 
WATERING. 
AIR, 
LIGHT. 
POTS. 
INSECTS. 
HEAT. 
DUST. 
