Carl Salbach... 
Fortunately For Us 
The major portion of the flower seeds 
in the United States are grown in Cali¬ 
fornia. We make frequent trips to visit 
the wholesale seed farms while the flow¬ 
ers are in bloom, and a careful study en¬ 
ables us to choose for our listing the 
most noteworthy varieties and novelties. 
In addition, we conduct our own trial 
gardens in which we grow test plantings 
of novelties and strains from Europe and 
elsewhere so that we will be sure not to 
miss anything worth while. Large flow¬ 
ering dahlias, dwarf dahlias, and other 
seeds of our own raising are the best 
that can be had — backed by Carl Sal- 
bach’s full personal knowledge of hybri¬ 
dising. 
This careful, planned effort to obtain 
the very best assures you that seeds of 
our listing will give you the finest, most 
outstanding plants that you could raise. 
PANSY, Best-by-Test Strain. Two years 
ago we secured seeds of ten of the 
strains generally recognized as the 
world’s finest, for testing purposes. To 
avoid any possible prejudice, we ran 
our tests “blindfold” — that is, grew 
and planted them under number so 
that even we ourselves did not know 
which strain was best until the test 
was completed. Three strains led the 
group, but one was easily the best of 
the three. We immediately tried the 
three best a second time, with the same 
strain again proving to be most out¬ 
standing of all. 
As a result, we offer our first choice 
as our “Best-by-Test” Pansy strain — 
it was the first to bloom, the most 
gorgeous, had a color range as bright, 
but richer than those of any others, 
and produced by far the largest flowers. 
pkt. 40c; 3 pkts. $1.00; 1/16 oz. $2.00 
PANSY, Goldelse. By far the finest in¬ 
dividual pansy we have ever seen — 
imported from Switzerland. A real 
standout which we discovered as easily 
the most attractive item in our test 
plantings of foreign novelties. It is 
of good size, and is the richest colored 
pansy we have ever known. The color 
is that of burnished golden yellow, 
shading to a rich, vivid orange gold. 
We can think of no other low growing 
seed offering which can approach the 
vivid brilliance of this splendid pansy— 
certainly a most useful and welcome 
addition to the pansy field. Truer and 
of better color, though not quite as 
large as the somewhat similar pansy 
given an Award of Merit in the 1938 
All-American Selections. 
pkt. 35c; 3 pkts. 75c 
RANUNCULUS. A bright showy flower 
usually grown from tubers, but actual¬ 
ly more satisfactory from seed, as the 
latter are disease resistant. 
Blooms in showiest yellow^ red, scar¬ 
let, orange, white, and other autumn 
colors, in varying degrees of double¬ 
ness. 
We have been fortunate enough to 
secure a supply from the famous Arm- 
acost and Royston Tecolote Giant 
Strain, mixed colors. 
Easily raised from seed sown from 
August to November, depending on 
when the cool weather starts. Can be 
grown on like winter flowering stocks 
and set out in autumn. One packet 
does the work of dozens of tubers, and 
for only.pkt. 50c 
SCHIZANTHUS {Butterfly Flower ). At¬ 
tractive blooms, colored and formed 
like miniature orchids. Showy in the 
garden and fine in small bouquets. 
New Sunset Hybrids. A well bal¬ 
anced blend, consisting of bright rose 
and carmine shades, each butterfly¬ 
like flower marked with gold or white. 
Two-foot plants, covered with blooms. 
Fine for potting, massing, or cutting. 
Easily grown .pkt. 25c 
Rock Garden Hybrids. A new strain 
with colors similar to the Sunset hy¬ 
brids, but compact in growth. Ideal 
for rockeries or pot plants, as they 
grow only six inches high.pkt. 25c 
THALICTRUM DIPTEROCARPUM 
{Meadowrue ). P. Tall graceful per¬ 
ennial that freely produces its lacy 
sprays, each of which is covered with 
a myriad of. diminutive lilac flowers. 
Especially desirable in gardens where 
a natural effect is desired and a grace¬ 
ful filler for cut-flower arrangements. 
pkt. 25c 
Selected Seeds 
Just a Few Pennies 
An advertisement of a few years ago 
carried the title “What a whale of a dif¬ 
ference a few cents make,” but in terms 
of your garden, this statement wouldn’t 
tell half the story. After all, it takes 
just as much garden space, just as much 
water, and just as much weeding for you 
to grow a poor plant as a prize-winner. 
But those few extra pennies on your orig¬ 
inal purchase determine whether your 
garden is one that your neighbors truly 
envy, or whether it is “just another 
garden.” 
The item above, in one of our recent 
catalogs, brought this comment from one 
of our customers: “Referring to your 
heading of page 30, your catalog, cut out 
‘No real gardener will begrude the few 
extra cents required to secure the seeds 
of the finest rare strains.’ Your prices 
are much more reasonable than I find 1 
have to pay for inferior strains.” This, 
we believe, speaks for itself, with no 
further comment from us. 
VIOLA. Like small pansies, but peren¬ 
nial. 
Chantreyland. Larger and generally 
improved over the “Apricot” Viola, but 
with the same beautiful color — pure 
apricot.pkt. 25c; 1/16 oz. 50c 
Mixed. Brilliant color range, long 
stems, free flowering. 
pkt. 15c; 1/16 oz. 30c; 1/8 oz. 50c 
DIRECTIONS FOR GROWING SEEDS 
When sown outdoors, most seeds should be scattered over well pulverized ground 
then covered lightly with a layer of finely pulverized soil or sand. Large seeds, 
such as nasturtiums, should be covered about twice their thickness. Keep ground 
moist during germination and while plants are small. Thin if plants are too thick. 
If seeds are started in boxes or flats, be sure to see that the bottom of the flat 
provides good drainage. The soil should be made up of equal portions of leaf-mold 
(or peat), sand, and good garden loam. This should be screened to remove any hard 
lumps, stones or other coarse material. Wet the soil, preferably with boiling water 
the day before planting. When the soil has dried out sufficiently to permit planting, 
loosen the top slightly and plant seeds, not too close together. Barely cover with 
light soil, then firm the ground with a smooth piece of board. Cover the top of the 
flat with a newspaper or cheesecloth. If the ground is moist at time of planting, it 
will not be necessary to water at planting time. Too much water is apt to cause 
trouble. The ground should be kept “moist” not “wet”. When the seeds begin to 
come up, gradually lift the paper or cheesecloth to permit air and light. 
The plants should be transferred to other boxes when they begin to show the 
second pair of leaves. Prepare the soil as when seeds are just planted, but it is well 
to add a little well decayed manure to stimulate the growth of the young plants. 
Transplant to open ground when the young plants are two to four inches high, de¬ 
pending on the natural growth of the various plants. 
Tulips Page 26 "" Dutch Iris and Daffodils Page 27 
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