BRAEGER’S FLOWER SEEDS 
The starting and growing of flower seeds is a subject 
that takes volumes to cover thoroughly and years of ex- 
perience to gain a full understanding. However, a few 
words of advice and some hints will often turn failure into 
success. Flower culture is not difficult if a few important 
factors are not overlooked. 
We have marked each flower for you with the following 
symbols: 
A—Annual. P—Perennial. F—Cut flower variety. 
RA—Rock Plant Annual. RP—Rock Plant perennial. 
There are two ways of starting flowers generally used: 
(1) planting directly and where they are to grow, or (2) 
starting in a flat or shallow box and transplanting where 
they are to grow and flower. 
Method 1. The soil should be loamy with well pulver- 
ized surface for best results. With heavy soil inclined to 
cake and crack, it is usually best to grow plants in a pre- 
pared seed bed and transplant to the permanent place. 
(See Method No. 2.) Liberal applications of peat moss are 
the best remedy for hard packed soil. Try some. Spade the 
soil where seeds are to be sown, several inches deep. Rake 
smooth. Broadcast small seeds and cover them lightly two 
or three times their diameter. Very small seeds may be 
merely pressed in. Larger seeds may be planted singly, 
well covered but more thickly than plants are wanted. 
Firm the soil well over the seed. Watering now becomes of 
great importance. At no time should the soil be allowed to 
become hard and dry, yet excessive watering may cause 
the seeds to rot or cause ‘‘damping off’’. When the plants 
appear, thin them out, allowing each to grow singly, with- 
out crowding. The distance between them is governed by 
their ultimate size and spread. Excess plants may be 
moved to a new location. 
Method 2. This method may be followed where there is 
a window facing south, enjoying sunlight most of the day. 
Use a standard florists’ pot or pan (shallow pot) or a 
“flat’’ which is a shallow box, with holes bored in the bot- 
tom for drainage. Cover the drainage holes in pot or box 
with broken pottery; fill with potting soil. This is a mix- 
ture of half sand, and half black loam. It may be obtained 
from florists. Firm the soil and sow the seeds in rows, 
marking each row to identify the sowing. Water by setting 
the box or pot in water, so that it soaks up from below, 
or use a fine spray which does not wash the soil. Place in 
a dark place, covered with a wet newspaper blanket until 
the seeds sprout. As soon as sprouts appear bring into full 
light. Cover the box or pot with glass to check evapora- 
tion, but when moisture collects on glass wipe it off, and 
prop up one end of the glass to allow air to circulate dur- 
ing the sunny part of the day. A temperature not below 50 
degrees at night, or 75 degrees by day, is best. Do not allow 
the soil to dry out. When the seedlings have made true 
leaves (the second set) they should be transplanted to 
other flats, giving at least two inches of space apart; or 
they may be moved to small pots, or to an outdoor seed 
bed, or border. 
Perennial Flowers, there are exceptions of course, can 
be planted in the spring or fall for blooms the following 
year. In most cases follow Method No. 1 (above). 
Annuals, depending on the kind and your past experi- 
ence, can be planted either way, Method 1 or 2 (above). 
Write us or ask one of our salesmen if puzzled. 
Flowering plants can be supplied already started if you 
desire. Perennials can be supplied up until April 1; An- 
nuals from April 1 to June 30. Visit our store or write us 
concerning your needs. We can help you. 
All packets 10c; 8 pkts. 25c; or 18 pkts. for $1.00, post- 
paid, unless otherwise noted. 
ABRONIA, Sand Verbena, RA 
Umbellata. Annual of low growing habit. The plant is easily 
grown from seed planted in spring or fall and thrives very 
well in sandy places. Rose with white center. 
ACROCLINIUM, AF 
Pretty white and rose, daisy-like flowers, so desirable for 
winter bouquets. Height 1 foot. New large flowering Hybrids. 
ACHILLEA, Yarrow, P 
Eupatorium Filipendula, Parker’s Variety. 3 to 5 ft. June- 
Sept. Yellow flower heads. Can be dried for winter. 
Kelwayi. 2 ft. Rose pink form. 
ACONITUM, Monkshood, P 
Napellus. Blooms in July and August. Upright spikes of dark 
blue flowers. Fine for shade. 4 ft. 
Fisheri. Sept. Dwarf dark blue. Hardy. 2 ft. 
Barker’s Variety. Tallest growing. 6-7 feet. 
DIMORPHOTHECA DOUBLE HYBRIDS MIXED 
(African Daisy) AF 
Unlike the ordinary Aurantiaca strains which have a com- 
paratively short flowering period, our new Double Hybrids 
will stay in bloom twice as long—in fact they show color in 
our Trial Ground from the time they are a few inches high 
until we disk them under in the late Fall. We would class 
this double daisy as a half-hardy annual; and it is definitely a 
flower to withstand hot summer weather, as the species is a 
native of Africa. Each plant is a mass of flowers throughout 
the summer and all come in bloom quite early. A few of them 
scattered in a bed will add color to any garden. This new 
strain produces approximately 65% double crested plants, 
with an additional percentage of semi-doubles. Pkt. 25c. 
AFRICAN DAISY, Dimorphotheca, AF 
One of the best of the daisy-like flowers for cutting. Easily 
grown. Blooms from July to frost. 
Golden West. Sulmon Beauty. White Beauty. 
Mixed Colors. 
AGATHEA, Blue Marguerite, P 
Splendid free flowering border perennials, producing almost 
continuously a wealth of daisy-like flowers of a mazarine blue. 
They are readily grown from seed and bloom the first season. 
AGERATUM, Floss Flower, A 
One of the most popular summer blooming plants grown’ 
from seed, being literally covered with flowers from early 
summer until frost. Excellent for borders, edgings, rockery, 
or pots. The taller varieties are fine for cutting. Do well in 
semi-shade. 
Blue Ball. Compact round plants, 6 to 8 inches tall, hidden 
by a mass of pure blue flowers. Fine for dwarf beds and 
edging. 
Blue Cap. Miniature. Semi-Dwarf Sorts— 
White. Dwarf. Mixed Colors. 
Imperial Blue. Clear blue, bushy and free flowering. 
Fairy Pink. A new introduction in dwarf compact ageratum. 
Delightful soft salmon rose-pink color. Starts to bloom when 
2 inches high, and continues to grow until it has formed a 
solid compact mass of bloom. It does not grow more than 5 
inches when in full bloom. Will bloom until frost. Pkt. 15c. 
Midget Blue. Silver Medal, All-America Selections 1940. Midget 
Blue, as the name implies, is a true dwarf growing but 3 to 4 
inches, spreading fully 12 inches, practically smothering itself 
with true Ageratum-blue flowers. Valuable for edging, rock- 
eries and pot culture. Pkt. 25ce. 
AMARANTHUS, Summer Poinsettia, A 
Brilliant-foliaged annuals, growing from 3 to 5 feet high, 
some of the varieties bearing curious racemes of flowers. All 
are useful in borders of tall plants, or for the centers of large 
beds. They thrive best in a hot, sunny location and not too 
rich soil. 
Molten Fire. Very ornamental and the most beautiful of all 
Amaranthus. Very easily grown from seed; leaves dark 
bronze, center Poinsettia red. 
Tricolor Splendens (Joseph’s Coat). Foliage green, variegated 
crimson and yellow; height, 2 feet. 
CAUDATUS (Love Lies Bleeding). Bright crimson flowers in 
drooping panicles. very showy. Mixed. All sorts. 
Abyssinicus—Deep green leaves, dark red tassels. Height 5 ft. 
AGROSTEMMA, P 
Coronaria. Large, blood-red; silver foliage. June-Sept. 2 ft. 
ALPINE POPPY, Perennial 
A charming miniature with brilliant flowers, white, pink, 
apricot, yellow and orange-scarlet. Pkt. 25e. 
ANAGALLIS, Pimpernel, RA 
Flowers bloom very freely. Sunny place preferred. Splendid 
for rockeries and pots. §8 in. 
Coerulea. Gentian blue, red and mixed. 

14 GARDEN FOR A HOBBY — IT’S WORTHWHILE 
