1 
WISEMAN-DOWNS CO., INC. - 34 E. PRATT ST. - BALTIMORE, MD. 
SERVICE-SUCCESS 
A S we enter this, our thirtieth year of business of selling—“SEEDS THAT GROW”; we wish to thank our many friends 
and patrons for their help that has made our business a success. Here you will find us a veritable Service station 
for the seed buyer, whether a horne owner, amateur gardener or farmer; we are at all times ready and willing to give 
any information we may have for the improvement of the soil, use of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, sprayers, farm 
machinery or any other problem he may have regarding the planting of seeds, etc., to insure successful plant growth. Your 
success and^ the reputation of our seeds and plants depend upon the results our customers get and we are not going to have 
you disillusioned by a thin scraggy lawn and a few spindly plants in a riisty garden. We know that service means^more 
sales and our Success depends entirely upon your Success. 
We thank you, 
WISEMAN-DOWNS CO., Inc. 
BUSINESS RULES 
PLEASE ORDER EARLY, thus enabling us to forward 
promptly—as a rule the day after the order is received. 
During the March and April rush we may fall a day or two 
behind; if any greater delay is likely we will advise. If goods 
ordered do not arrive in a reasonable time, send a copy of the 
order with letter of inquiry. This will be a great help in ex¬ 
pediting adjustment. 
THE ORDER BLANKS accompanying this catalogue 
will be convenient for customers and facilitate our filling 
orders. 
PATRONS IN SIGNING ORDERS are requested to use 
prefix Mr., Mrs. or Miss. Married ladies should invariably 
use husband's initials 
WE GUARANTEE THE SAFE ARRIVAL in United 
States of all goods forwarded by express. 
WE FORWARD AS CUSTOMER DIRECTS by Parcel 
Post, express or freight, in accordance with our offers else¬ 
where in this catalogue. When no shipping instructions are 
given, we send according to our judgment. 
TO PREPARE . 
The Cold Frame is simply a frame set on the ground, no 
bottom heat being applied. It is banked up on the outside 
during the Winter with marsh hay, straw or coarse litter. 
The soil is prepared by forking in and thoroughly mixing 
to the depth of 10 or 12 inches a liberal quantity of old, 
well-rotted manure. The manure of an old hot-bed is good 
for the purpose. The frame is prepared in the Fall, and 
young Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce plants are set out 
in it in time to get well established before very cold wea¬ 
ther. Cauliflower and Cabbage should be set down to the 
first leaf and the soil made firm around the plants. The 
seed is usually sown, in this vicinity, from the 15th to the 
20th of September. The young plants will be ready to 
AND PROCEDURE 
ALWAYS GIVE FULL ADDRESS.—This is very im¬ 
portant, yet is sometimes omitted by customers; in fact, 
some orders and letters reach us lacking both name and 
^cidi*6ss 
REMITTANCES may be made by Express Money Order, 
P. O. Money Order or Bank Draft; if stamps or cash send 
in a Registered Letter. 
ACCOUNTS.—Parties having no account with us—who 
order goods without remittance—must furnish satisfactory 
reference. Baltimore city reference preferred on account 
of the shorter delay pending investigation. 
QUESTIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE.—We en¬ 
deavor to answer promptly all letters of inquiry—which 
should be on separate paper from orders—but we cannot 
undertake the planning of gardens and grounds. 
ERROR IN THE FILLING OF ORDERS.—We use the 
greatest care in filling, checking and packing orders. Yet 
should anything be omitted we will promptly forward when 
advised. Keep a duplicate copy of your order for com¬ 
parison. 
COLD FRAME 
transplant in about 25 to 30 days. During cold nights and 
stormy days the beds should be closely covered with the 
sashes, and these further protected by straw mats or shut¬ 
ters. Cauliflower needs more and closer protection than 
Cabbage, and it is rather more tender. During mild days 
admit air freely, the object being to keep the plants in a dor¬ 
mant state, without actual freezing, so that when Spring 
comes they are in a forward state for setting out early crops. 
Seeds of Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce and Radish may 
be sown in a Cold Frame in the Spring from the last week in 
February to the first week in March. The frame should 
stand in a warm and sheltered spot, and be kept from freez¬ 
ing by mats or a thick covering of straw during cold nights. 
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING A HOTBED 
In this vicinity from the first to the latter part of March 
is quite early enough to make a Hotbed. The time must 
vary according to the latitude. Provide a quantity of fresh 
horse manure from the stables, and add to this, if they can 
be had, one-third to one-half its bulk of leaves. Mix them 
thoroughly, tramping down the mass in successive layers 
and form into a large pile, so that fermentation will pro¬ 
ceed even in severe cold weather. In two or three days 
fermentation will be apparent by the escape of steam from 
the heap. Now turn again, and allow the heap to remain 
two or three days longer, or until the second fermentation 
commences. Make an excavation or pit 2J4 feet deep and 
of a size suited to the number of plants required. The pit 
will be better if built up of brick. It should be made in some 
dry, sheltered spot, facing the south or east, if possible. 
Hotbed sashes are usually 3x6 feet, and one or two sashes 
will give early plants enough for a small family. The frame 
for sashes should be 18 inches high at the back and 12 inches 
in front, which will give the proper slope to catch the sun¬ 
light. Cross-pieces should be placed for the sashes to slide 
on, to facilitate opening and shutting the frarnes. When 
everything is ready, the manure is placed in the pit and trod¬ 
den down firmly in layers to the required depth, 2 to 23 ^^ 
feet. Then put on the sashes and keep the pit closed until the 
heat arises. At first it will probably be 100 degrees or more, 
which is too hot to sow the seed in, but in two or three days 
it will subside to 90 degrees or a little less, when the soil 
may be put on to the depth of 6 to 8 inches. The heat may 
be readily ascertained by plunging a thermometer into the 
manure. The soil should be of well-rotted sod (or common 
garden soil will do), mixed with about one-third of fine old 
manure, and in this the seeds may be sown thinly in drills 2 
or 3 inches apart, and afterwards (as soon as out of the seed 
leaf) either thinned out or else transplanted to another 
frame. Air must be given evep^ mild day by raising the 
sashes at the back. Water with tepid water whenever 
necessary, and during cold nights and snow-storms keep 
covered with mats or board shutters. Tomatoes, Peppers 
and Egg-plants should be sown in a separate frame from 
Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce, as they require more 
heat. The same directions may apply to Hotbeds made on 
the surface of the ground, except that the manure should 
be at least a foot wider on all sides than the frame. 
