A 50th Anniversary 
TN APRIL of 1891 I got a job in the little flue heated greenhouses of J. L. 
Galloway near Cincinnati, Ohio. Comparatively speaking, wages were low 
and working hours long at that time, but we were content. Except for a few 
years in the Spanish American war, the florist business has since been life 
and interest to me, and it’s going to continue to be for some time. Thru good 
times and bad, our business has steadily increased in interest and value, thru 
all these years. For the future this should be heartening, particularly for those 
able to keep in step with these ever-changing times. The immediate future 
should particularly concern us. The totalitarian threat, together with our 
ever mounting public debt will call for adjustments that we must face and be 
able to make. But thru it all the fundamentally sound 
principles of our democracy will outlive politicians 
and experimenters. 
NOTE: Because of the uncertainty of some European crops that we depend on, we find 
it difficult to list some items, notably Salvia, Admiral Petunia and a few Grandiflora 
petunias; also, a few hardy perennials. Be assured that we are doing all that can be 
done to maintain our entire list. Also—you will be informed of any developments in 
this situation thru our trade paper advertisements. 
Catalog No. 40 January 1941 
NOTE—Cash Discount! When cash is enclosed, a discount of 
5% is allowed on all orders from |1.00 to $25.00. On $25.00 
and over, 8 % is allowed. Prices quoted on Cyclamen seed and 
Plant Bands however are net, no cash discount. 
Cash should accompany all orders unless credit has been estab¬ 
lished. 
Important. Make all checks or money orders payable to 
GEO. J. BALL, INC., WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 
Note. Our seed sold only in our printed packets or containers. 
Order from us only or thru our regular agents. 
All prices in this catalog subject to change without notice. 
All seed orders are sent prepaid to U. S. and Canada at catalog 
prices. 
OUR COLOR COVER! Topaz Queen petunia is a Koda- 
chrome reproduction taken in the seed fields. Strong outdoor 
sun is necessary to develop that orange red shading. Fair Lady 
under greenhouse conditions will not be quite so deep as shown. 
We tliink Donnelley’s did a very good job of this cover. 
Air Mail Delivery will be made on request if 8c per oz. is al¬ 
lowed for postage, which includes shipping envelopes. 
Our Address is WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, on Highways 
U. S. 330 or Illinois 64—and on Chicago and Northwestern Ry. 
You are always welcome here. 
Half trade packets supplied only where so listed. 
Our business is with Florists only. We do not sell at retail. 
Shortages —All items in this catalog are offered subject to crop 
failures or shortages. 
We use every precaution to supply seeds of highest quality only 
and promptly refund price paid for same if unsatisfactory with 
reasonable care. 
All seeds sold under Seedsman’s disclaimer, as follows: 
Disclaimer. We, Geo. J. Ball, Inc., give no warranty expressed or 
implied, as to description, quality, productiveness or any other 
matter of any seeds we sell, and we will not be in any way 
responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not accept the 
seeds on these terms, they are at once to be returned and the 
money paid for same will be refunded promptly. 
INDEX 
Atironia . 26 
Abutilon. 26 
Achillea . 42 
Achimenes . 26 
Acroclinium .... 26 
Agathaea . 26 
Ageratum . . . . 2, 26 
Aloe. 26 
.Vlyssum.Aniiiial 2, 26 
Perennial .... 42 
.\maranthus .... 26 
Anchusa, Annual. 27 
Perennial .... 42 
Anthernis, Annual 27 
Perennial .... 42 
Aquilegia . 42 
■Vrabis. 42 
Arctotis . 27 
Armeria . 43 
Asclepias . 43 
Asparagus,Annual 27 
Perennial .... 43 
Aster, Annual.2, 9-11 
Perennial .... 43 
.\ubretia . 43 
Balsam . 27 
Baptisia . 43 
Begonia . 24 
Beilis . 43 
Boltonia . 43 
Brachycome .... 27 
Browallia. 27 
Cacalia . 27 
Calceolaria. .27 & 28 
Calendula . 23 
Calla Lily. 28 
Calliopsis. 28 
Campanula, 
Annual . 28 
Perennial .... 43 
Candytuft, 
Annual .... 2, 28 
Carnation, Annual 28 
Perennial .... 43 
Catananche .43 
Celosia .... 2, 28-29 
Centaurea. Annual 29 
Perennial .... 43 
Cerastium. 43 
Cbeiranthus .... 43 
Chrysanthemum, 
Annual . 29 
Perennial .... 43 
Cineraria. 29 
Clarkia. 30 
Cobaea . 30 
Coleus. 30 
Convolvulus .... 30 
Coreopsis . 43 
Cosmos. 30 
Cuphea. 30 
Cyclamen . 30 
Cynoglossum . 2, 31 
Cyperus . 31 
Dahlia. 31 
Daisy, Annual. 2-32 
Perennial .... 44 
Delphinium, 
Annual. 31 
Perennial .. 2, 44 
Dianthus, Annual 31 
Perennial .... 44 
Dictamnus. 45 
Didiscus. 31 
Dielytra . 45 
Digitalis. 45 
Dimorphotheca .. 31 
Doronicum . 45 
Dracaena . 31 
Echinops. 45 
Echium. 32 
Eremurus. 45 
Eryngium. 45 
Escholtzia. 32 
Eupatorium. 45 
Euphorbia, 
Annual . 32 
Perennial .... 45 
E.xacum . 32 
Felicia . 32 
Gaillardia, 
Annual . 32 
Perennial .... 45 
Gerbera. 32 
Geum. 45 
Gilia . 32 
Gloxinia . 32 
Godetia. 32 
Gomphrena . 32 
Gourds. 32-33 
Grevillea . 33 
Gypsophila, 
Annual .... 2, 33 
Perennial .... 45 
Helianthemum . . 45 
Helianthus. 33 
Helichrysum .... 33 
Heliotrope . 33 
Hesperis . 45 
Heuchera . 46 
Hollyhock. 33 
Perennial .... 46 
Hunnemannia ... 33 
Iberis . 46 
Impatiens. 33 
Ipomoea . 34 
Kalanchoe. 34 
Kochia . 34 
Lantana . 34 
Larkspur .... 2, 25 
Lathyrus. 46 
Lavandula. 46 
Lavatera. 34 
Leontopodium . . 46 
Leptosyne. 34 
Liatris . 46 
Lilium. 46 
Linaria. 34 
Linum. 46 
Lisianthus . 34 
Lobelia, Annual. 34 
Perennial .... 46 
Lunaria . 46 
Lupinus, Annual. 34 
Perennial 46 & 47 
Lychnis. 47 
Marigold . . 3, 14-15 
Marvel of Peru. . 35 
Matricaria ... 2, 47 
Maurandia . 35 
Mignonette. 35 
Mimosa. 35 
Mimulus. 35 
Musa. 35 
!Myosotis, Annual2, 35 
Perennial .... 47 
Naegelia. 35 
Nasturtium. 35 
Nemesia . 35 
Nepeta. 47 
Nicotiana . 35 
Nierembergia ... 35 
Nigella . 36 
Pansy .... 3, 36-37 
Pennisetum .... 37 
Pentstemon. 37 
Petunia .3-8 
Phlox, Annual . . 37 
Perennial .... 47 
Physalis . 47 
Physostegia .... 47 
Plant Bands.2 Cover 
Platycodon . 47 
Poppy, Annual . . 37 
Perennial .... 47 
Portulaca . 37 
Primula, Annual . 22 
Perennial .... 47 
Pyrethrum ... 2, 48 
Queen Anne’s 
Lace Flower. .. 38 
Rhodanthe . 38 
Ricinus. 38 
Rudbeckia,Annual 38 
Perennial .... 48 
Sainti)aulia .... 38 
Salpiglossis .... 38 
Salvia, Annual 38-39 
Perennial .... 48 
Sanvitalia . 39 
Saponaria, 
Annual . 39 
Perennial .... 48 
Scabiosa, Annual. 39 
Perennial .... 48 
Schizanthus .... 23 
Sedum. 48 
Sempervivum ... 48 
Senecio. 39 
Shamrock. 39 
Silene. 39 
Smilax . 39 
Snapdragon 3. 16-17 
Solanum. 39 
Spergula. 48 
Statice, 
Annual .... 39-40 
Perennial .... 49 
Stocks. 3. 18-19 
Stokesia . 49 
Streptocarpus ... 40 
Sweet Pea, Early 21 
Sweet Pea, 
Spring flwg . . 3, 21 
Sweet Pea, Late. 20 
Thalictrum . 49 
Thunbergia. 40 
Tithonia . 40 
Torenia. 40 
Trachelium . 40 
Tritoma. 49 
Trollius. 49 
Tunica. 49 
Ursinia . 40 
Valeriana .49 
Vegetable 
Seeds ...50-51-52 
Venidium . 40 
Verbena. 40-41 
V^eronica. 49 
Vinca . 41 
Viola. 49 
Virginia Stocks.. 41 
Wallflower . 41 
Zinnias.... 3, 12-13 
In ordering by airmail note above the added postage cost. 
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