29 
SEEDS OF FLOWERING PLANTS 
ANNUALS e 
Of the Summer-flowering plants usually raised from seed there are 
three distinct classes—Annuals, Biennials and Perennials. Each of these 
because of peculiar habits and characteristics of its own, requires some- 
what different treatment. Here we have tried to make clear the differences 
between each of these groups. Planting instructions will also be found 
on packages of Breck’s Flower Seeds. 
ANNUALS 
Botanically, an annual plant is one which completes its entire life-cycle 
from seed germination, through the blooming and seed-ripening periods, 
to a natural death within a single growing season. Practically, however, 
we include in this group all plants, whether biennials or perennials, which 
will bloom in the open the same year the seed is sown and which do not 
live over Winter in this climate. 
Most common annuals will bloom freely if the seeds are sown in the 
open ground in the Spring after the weather has become settled. How- 
ever, since this rule does not always apply, it has been necessary to sub- 
divide annuals into groups as follows: 
Hardy Annuals are so called because they need no artificial heat at 
any time. They are able to endure any ordinary weather from early 
April until Fall. Frosty weather which often occurs during April and even 
May will do the plants no harm after they have passed the seed-leaf 
stage. Seed of many hardy annuals may even be sown in the Fall and the 
young plants which appear in the early Spring will often flower more 
strongly than those from Spring sowings. 
Half-Hardy Annuals are those which must have a long growing 
season in which to reach full development and which require protection 
and warmth during the early stages of their growth. They are usually 
sown in seed pans or flats during February or March and grown in a 
window, hotbed, or greenhouse to be transplanted to the open garden in 
May when the weather has become settled. 
HARDY BIENNIALS 
Hardy Biennials require more than one growjng season to reach matur- 
ity. They usually bloom the second year after the seed is sown and then 
die. It is customary to sow the seed out of doors at any time after the 
weather has become settled in the Spring, until August. Certain biennials 
such as Canterbury Bells (Campanula Medium) should definitely be 
sown early (in April or May) or they will not bloom until the third season, 
but most of the others will give good results if sown in June, July or early 
August. If the seed is sown late and the seedlings are small, it is best to 
transplant them into a cold- 
frame where they may remain 
throughout the Winter. By 
doing so, the growing season 
will be lengthened and the 
young plants may be pro- 
tected more easily from severe 
weather changes. 
BIENNIALS e 
PERENNIALS 
HARDY PERENNIALS 
Hardy Perennials usually do not bloom until the season following the 
one in which the seed is sown. However, unlike biennials, they do not die 
after blooming. Their foliage will die back to the ground every year but 
the plant will start from the same root in the Spring and will bloom each 
season for a long time. The seed may be sown from April until August. 
Early sowing is advisable for the plants will be larger and better able to 
withstand the Winter. In sorthe instances the plants from early sowings 
will flower the first season but in any case they will be stronger and will 
bloom much better the second year. Small plants from late sowings 
require the protection of a coldframe during their first Winter. 
THE SOIL AND ITS PREPARATION 
The soil best suited to the majority of flowering plants, whether 
annuals, biennials or perennials, is a light rich loam, neither too sandy 
nor too stiff. 
Such ideal conditions are not always available to the gardener but most 
soils will respond to proper conditioning. Deep and thorough digging with 
a generous quantity of well-rotted manure or leafmold worked into the 
land will usually give the desired results. If the soil is a heavy one sand 
should be worked in while it is being dug over. 
Good drainage is also an important matter for excessively moist soils are 
cold and young plants are likely to suffer during the cooler Spring months. 
Very few perennial plants will survive severe Winter weather if the soil 
in which they are growing is poorly drained and wet. 
Most flowering garden plants dislike a loam that is sour or acid. 
your soil, and if necessary, correct acidity with lime. 
Test 







(<= IMPORTANT NOTICE! 
In this catalogue we have made but one list of all our Flower Seeds. 
Whether they are Annuals, Biennials or Perennials they are catalogued 
alphabetically according to their botanical names, except in cases such as 
that of Asters or Nasturtiums where the common names are so universally 
used that to list any other would be confusing. 
After each variety we have given the common name of the flower—if 
there is one that is at all well known—and under each heading we have 
indicated the correct classification (Annual, Biennial or Perennial) or the 
treatment that is best suited to the individual item, in New England. We 
have also given hints as to the more common uses of each variety and the 
heights to which they may be expected to grow. 
We call particular attention to the special pricing of 3 packet lots of indi- 
vidual Flower Seed items. This special price for three packets, only 
applies when three packets bearing the same catalogue number 
are purchased. 
Please order by number and be sure that you have 
copied the numbers correctly. 




























BRECK’S 
GOLD MEDAL 
BORDER OF ANNUALS 
BOSTON SPRING FLOWER SHOW 
March 17-24, 1942 



