2 
P. J. Berckmans Company’s Plant Catalogue 
Plants and Their Care 
Preparation of the Soil and Cultivation.— Borders or beds intended for plants should be well 
and deeply dug during winter or early spring, the soil being well pulverized, and supplied with the 
necessary plant-food. A compost of stable manure and cotton-seed, well decomposed and thoroughly 
incorporated with the soil during winter, will be found highly beneficial. The plants should be firmly 
set, the ball of earth not disturbed, but, in case of the latter being wrapped in moss, the moss covering 
must be removed. When set, water copiously and shade for a few days, and place a mulch of cotton¬ 
seed, rice chaff or chopped straw around the plants. When fully in growth, keep the soil well worked 
and free from weeds, and remove the mulching. 
Time Of Planting.— The tender bedding plants enumerated in this Catalogue must not be planted 
out in the open ground until spring frosts are no longer to be apprehended. Although the stock of 
nearly all varieties is ready for shipment when this Catalogue is issued, we would particularly urge 
patrons not to order plants intended for bedding until they can be safely cared for on arrival. Those 
possessing greenhouses or pits, or even ordinary coldframes, would, however, be benefited by order¬ 
ing early in March. 
Care of Plants when Received.— The plants should be placed in pots a size larger than they 
have been grown in, set in a common coldframe or greenhouse, if possible, until they begin to grow 
freely. Shade and water must be used as needed. If the plants are required merely for the border, 
they can be planted in permanent place on receipt, if the weather is somewhat cloudy; but, in general, 
it is preferable to allow the plants to recuperate from the effects of the packing and carriage by being 
kept in a shady place for a few days. Plants are forwarded without pots; this is a saving of expressage 
to the buyer and adds to the safety of carrying. 
Potting and Soil.— -An equal proportion of leaf-mold and good loam, to which is added one- 
quarter of its bulk of cow manure, the whole mass allowed to stand a few weeks and thoroughly mixed, 
will suit almost all classes of plants. Decomposed sod, with a small quantity of manure, is also excel¬ 
lent, and if some bone-meal is added, the growth is increased. Plants should be repotted when needed, 
and given pots only one size larger than formerly used, and never shifted from a 3-inch to an 8- or 
10-inch pot. Many failures arise from using pots of a size too large as compared to the size of the plant. 
Always use broken charcoal or potsherds in the bottom of all pots above 4 inches in diameter, to give 
free drainage. Never use saucers unless some gravel or fine cinders are placed under the pots to allow 
tho water to escape freely, and never set the pots on a smooth surface unless means of drainage are 
provided by placing sand or gravel under the pots. 
Plants in Greenhouses. —The natural conditions of plant life include a period of growth suc¬ 
ceeded by a period of rest, but all plants do not require rest at the same time, hence to attempt the 
same treatment for all classes must entail failure. A little experience is necessary when extensive 
collections of plants are cultivated, and brief directions for special treatment are therefore given under 
the heads of various classes. Normal conditions of heat, light, air and moisture should always be con¬ 
sidered. Great variations of temperature between day and night, overwatering in winter, and especially 
when plants are in a dormant condition, must be avoided. Give free ventilation during the day when¬ 
ever the outside temperature is not below 50 degrees. In winter water sparingly—two or three times a 
week will usually prove sufficient. In summer water more freely, but do not drown the plants, as is too 
often the case. . If a plant shows signs of a weakened growth, or assumes an unhealthy color,’ withhold 
water and repot; the cause of unhealthy condition will often arise from imperfect drainage or over¬ 
watering. Use a weak solution of cow manure and, water once or twice a week upon plants which are 
in full growth and during warm weather, but avoid all fertilizers during the period of rest. 
Plants in Dwelling Houses.— The atmosphere in dwelling houses is usually quite dry, and there¬ 
fore, different from that of greenhouses, where there is always considerable moisture. As evaporation 
is thus more rapid, plants should receive a daily supply of water, and in such quantity only as will keep 
their roots moist.. This is especially advisable when plants have been brought from'the greenhouse to 
the dwelling house. An occasional sponging or syringing of the foliage is necessary. 
Insects.— Few greenhouses may be said to be free from either of the following insects: viz., Green 
Fly or Aphis, Thrip, Red Spider and Mealy Bug. Whenever plants are infested with any of the above, 
immediate measures for their destruction must be resorted to. 
FUNGICIDE. AND INSECTICIDE 
Tobacco, ] pound; boiling water, 3 gallons; strain when 
cool. Very effective when used as a spray against Ilea beelle, 
lice, aphides (plant lice). 
Bordeaux Mixture. Copper sulphate, 4 pounds; quick 
lime, C pounds; water, 50 gallons. Dissolve the copper sul¬ 
phate by putting it in a bag and hanging it in a wooden or 
earthen vessel holding at least 4 gallons; slake the lime in an 
equal quantity of water. Mix, and add sufficient quantity of 
water to make 50 gallons. It is then ready for use, but will 
not keep more than 24 hours. 
Pyrethrum Powder. For worms, flies and aphis. 
Use dry. 
Kerosene Emulsion. One-half pound of soap dissolved 
in 1 gallon of water; add to this, while hot, 2 gallons of 
kerosene. Churn violently with a spray pump or garden 
syringe until the mass becomes of the consistency of butter. 
SOLUTIONS AND FORMULAS 
Dilute the above mixture with from 9 to 15 parts of water 
when using, so that it will not be stronger than 1 part of oil to 
9 to 15 of water. Sour milk may be used instead of soap. 
Sulphur, 1 pound; 1 pound air-slaked lime, and boil in 8 
quarts of water until the concoction simmers down to about G 
quarts; add 1 gallon of this mixture to 50 gallons of water. 
Use as a spray for red spider every five or six days until tho 
spider is eradicated. 
White Hellebore, 1 ounce; water 3 gallons. Effective as 
a spray for rose slugs. 
Thrip Juice, 1 part to 1,000 parts of water. For mealy 
bugs, lice, etc. 
Lemon Oil. This is a valuable insecticide for all plants 
grown in greenhouses or pots. Plants should bo dipped in a 
solution of suitable strength. While it kills all scale insects, 
it is not injurious to the most tender plant. 
Spraying.— We earnestly recommend the careful spraying of plants, using any of the above-named solutions. Effective 
apparatus of moderate cost are now manufactured for use in greenhouses. 
Shading. -To counteract the burning effects of the sun, use a coat of common whitewash upon the glass; or. if a lasting 
shade is required, use naphtha mixed with some white lead, and apply with a syringe. 
