^^Flower Seeds for Florists*^ 
STOCKS 
(15,000 to 20,000 seeds per oz.) 
strongest 
While demand for Stocks seems 
spring, they are 
sown in quantity anytime from 
July 15 to Feb. 15—the extreme 
dates in Chicago latitude to avoid 
blindness. Depending on temper¬ 
ature, they will flower in from 5 
to 6 months of sowing date; a 
spring crop will come in quicker 
than one grown during mid-winter. 
Now a word about that blindness: 
its one cause is too high tempera¬ 
ture. Schools tell us that over 65 
degrees for 6 hours per day will 
cause it. Only remedy is to 
avoid sowings that hit “heat waves” 
in your own climate. It is inter¬ 
esting to note that Stocks will set 
bud quicker at 35 degrees than 
they will at 55. 
Stem rot—^No. 2 scourge of good Stocks—is entirely 
preventable by either using fresh soil or thoro (no half 
way job!) sterilizing—preferably steam. Further help 
on a crop already in, is keeping plants dry as possible, 
and atmosphere cold and dry. Ground beds are quite 
O.K. for spring crops, but if used in mid-winter flowerings 
keep soil dry and air temperature down around 42. And 
speaking of temperatures, 45 degrees nights is best, 50 
will result in fine stock—but won’t stand up when cut. 
38 to 40 degrees takes 6^2 months to flower, but gives ex¬ 
cellent quality. Stocks are fairly heavy feeders, especially 
during Spring—^sulfate of ammonia makes them “jump” 
from early April on. We have always benched seedlings, 
but are beginning to ponder over the plan of such growers 
John Heckman (“Grower Talks,” Nov., ’39) who 
m- 
Our Non-Branching Ball White No. 16 for Easter. 
Soivn November 
1 st, run quite cool. 
about 45-degree nights, will stand some forcing if necessary. We find this a nice Easter crop. 
semi-non-branching, producing 2-3 strong side branches such as 
are occasionally offered in this class. We find that the non¬ 
branching strains should be used exclusively by growers for highly 
competitive markets. Their greater size and stem make them 
supremely fine when well grown. 
Please note that part of any lot of Stock seed is not fully 
enuf matured to germinate and that such seed cannot be 
separated. 10,000 seedlings from an ounce is a good stand. 
We do not send out any seed that does not test out with us to 
this figure. 
L.OO: 
1/4 
OZ., 
as 
carries them in 2^/4 inch pots in cold frames til Thanks- 
giving. 
Practical help can be had on eliminating singles by 
removing the weaker plants when about 6 inches high—- 
percentage of doubles can be boosted to 85% with a little 
practice. See “Grower Talks,” Sept., ’39 for more on this. 
to the Non- 
strictly non- 
BALL 
Slocks 
Non-Branching 
(18,000 seeds per oz.) 
We originally demonstrated the attractive value of this class 
for cutting and have since devoted annually extensive greenhouse 
space to their improvement. Today, three-quarters of our glass 
area is devoted to developing new varieties and seed production. 
In addition, much must be grown for us in California and Europe. 
These field crops are inspected by us carefully and are produced 
from our own stock seed, yet it occasionally has happened that 
strains got thru that were not up to our standard. We do all that 
is humanly possible to avoid this, for we are in position to know 
the value of greenhouse space. We should state also that the 
Non-Branching class does not average up quite so high in propor¬ 
tion of doubles as will the branching Bismarcks. The average 
is around 60%, while the branching will run around 65%. Also, 
our strains are Non-Branching to the extent of at least 99%, not 
counting a few minor lateral growths. None of our strains are 
PLEASE ORDER BY NAME AND NUMBER TO AVOID 
ERRORS 
Prices on All Non-Branching varieties as follows: 
14 Tr. pkt., 60c; Tr. pkt. (about 1,200 seeds), 
$2.25; 1 oz., $8.00. 
*No. 17—Gold Standard. Our latest addition 
Branching class, this pleasing canary yellow is 
branching. Despite persistent selection work, we find that the 
singles and about 5% of the doubles come a pure paper white. 
Both colors are valuable for cutting. 
*No. 1—Lilac Lavender. A clear bright lavender shade; 
spikes unusually large and fine. The original color in this class 
and still remains the most popular. 
*No. 3— Ball Blue. A selection made by us from Lilac Lavender 
that comes a rich lilac shade similar to Bismarck Lilac; ex¬ 
cellent. 
*No. 15—Ball White Improved. Our new white selection; to 
our knowledge the finest pure paper white strictly non-branching 
Stock available. A real improvement over the tinged pink strain 
formerly offered and hard to beat for cut flower purposes. 
*No. 16—Ball White Improved Medium Tall. Identical to 
above but not quite so tall—about six inches shorter as flowered 
under our mid-winter conditions on ground beds. Extra com¬ 
pact pure white and generally preferred for mid-winter crops. 
*No. 11—Ball Pink. Fine clear rose-pink and again of strictly 
non-branching habit. About 10 days earlier than our No. 14 
and some lighter in color. The preferred variety of the two for 
mid-winter flowering. 
*No. 14—Ball Rose Pink. A somewhat deeper shade than our 
No. 11; considerably stronger growing and correspondingly 
later flowering. A fine rose and generally preferred for spring 
crop. 
No. 2—Ball White (Tinged). Tall long-stemmed white (slight 
pink blush) ; shows several weak breaks near top of the stem. 
We devote most of our glass to improving non branching stocks. 
IS 
