Vermiculite 
How to use it 
As a medium for starting seeds use it 
as it comes from the bag. When first 
leaves appear, water with liquid plant 
food according to manufacturer’s direct- 
ions. Or use half good loam and half 
vermiculite. No plant food needed up to 
transplanting time when soil is used in 
mixture. Vermiculite produces bigger, 
huskier roots. Seedlings recover from 
shock of transplanting. 
For chrysanthemums, ageratums, etc., 
ues straight. For evergreens, and for cert- 
ain difficult subjects, use 50:50 sand and 
vermiculite. Quicker rooting, less water- 
ing, fewer losses. 
Vermiculite is the perfect material to 
give sandy soils additional water and 
plant food holding ability. Ideal for 
lightening heavy clay soils. Can be used 
up to one third the total volumn of the 
soil. Valuable in greenhouse in potting 
mixtures and for improving bench soils. 
For use as a winter mulch use it 2 to 3 
inches of vermiculite in place of several 
inches of less efficient material. Prevents 
drying out; insulates against cold. Stops 
winter heaving. Work into the soil in the 
spring. 
For storing bulbs and root crops it is an 
ideal medium. Pour it around the bulbs 
to be stored. Acts as moisture control, 
preventing damage from too much or too 
little moisture. Ideal for storing roots. 
Quaint Bellflowers 
Like the skunk, the Codonopsis is of- 
fensive only when annoyed; its odor, on 
being handled roughly, is somewhat sim- 
iliar to that of what the Germans call the 
‘Stinkbeast’, but leave it alone, and it will 
rejoice you with delightful and unusual 
Bellfiowers in midsummer. 
There are found, in eastern Asia, a great 
many species of Codonopsis, ranging frony 
tiny plants to fair-sized vines, often with 
enormous bells which are more likely to 
come in strange browns, greens and pur- 
ples than in the more familiar blue-pur- 
ples of Campanulas. All come easily and 
quickly from seed, and most are fairly 
hardy, at least withstanding zero temper- 
atures. They like rather sunny positiong 
preferably in moderately light soil, and the 
trailing ones may be trained over a small 
bush. 
One of the best of the lot, an upright 
plant that rarely exceeds a foot in height 
with stems squarely set with very small 
gray leaves, is C.clematidea. The bells, oft- 
en 2 inches long, are of a soft milky blue- 
white, with deeper veins, and a brilliant 
orange spot in the center of the flower. 
The roots are fleshy, and resistant to heat 
cold and wet. C. vinciflora is an even 
more delicate ,trailer, often prostrate 
with fine blue wide-open rather starry 
flowers. 
CUTTING SAGE. 
One popular method is to clip the iirst 3 
or 4 whorls as soon as the tip leaves show 
a maximum of gray color. 
Do the cutting between 9 and 12 o’cock A. 
M. Dry the leaves in a shady place but 
where it is dry and airy. 
Store the dry leaves in a sealed container. 
For small quantities glass jars are ideal. 
In good drying weather a period of about 
10 days is usually required for satisfactory 
drying. 
FLOWER SEED CATALOG LISTING 
ABRONIA  (ah-BROH-ni-ah) 
Sand Verbena. Dwarf or trailing plants with fragrant white, yellow or pink flowers. 
Treat as annual, sowing seed early indoor for summer bloom; they do better when plant- 
ed direct in the open ground and in the South seed can be sown in the fall. Remove 
husk before planting; often slow in germinating. Sunny, light soils best. 
umbellata gr. fl., Rose A pretty little trailer; rose colored fis; HHA............ ABRO-1 if¢ 
ACACIA (ah-KAY-shah) 
Shrubs and trees mostly from warm regions and they can be grown outdoors in Calif. 
18-20 degrees F as low as they can stand. Soak seed in hot water leaving this to stand 
10-40 hours. They grow fast and are ornamental. 
Baileyana. Attractive silver-biuve fol; bright golden yellow fis;HHSh........ ACAC-3 20¢ 
Farnesiana. Very fragrant much branched Sh;10ft; Texas;HHSh................ ACAC-5 25¢ 
ACANTHUS (ah-KAN-thus) 
Bear’s Breech Perennials, thistle-like small shrubs; about 2 ft tall, fls white, rose or 
lilac on 18” spikes. They need heavy winter protection in the North; best in rich well 
drained soil. Seed sown in April will flower in Aug. THP. 
—mollis v. latifolia. Broad glossy lvs; courious pale purple fis; HB............ ACK—1. 20¢ 
ACHILLEA (ak-i-LEE-ah) 
Milfoil or Yarrow. Hardy herbaceous perennials easily grown in any fair soil in full 
sun. Flowers in clusters of small heads, white, yellow and pink making good cut fis 
Seed planted indoors in March will flower same year. They make good border plants. 
chryscoma. Dense woolly fol. bright yellow f18; 97, ELD .........csccsssssssssssscasscncoeoes ACH-8. 20¢ 
Clavennae. Finest RG species silvery lvs; white daisy fls 6 in HP ACH-9 20¢ 
filipendulina. This has showy round heads, yellow; robust, 5ft; HPACH-10 204 
—Cloth of Gold. A_ pretty golden flowered  Variety.n...cccccsccsscsecsesrserreeeees 254 
—Parker’s Variety. Large clear yellow; 3 ft; extra good. 15¢ 
millefolium. Round heads of white fis; 2 ft;(6-9) HP......... 15¢ 
—Ptarmica, The Pearl. Double pure white, eexcellent for cutting; . 20¢ 
Taygetea. A new variety; lemon colored heads; 2-3 ft; HP... 20¢ 
Achillea Blend. All SpecieS And VaATIeTIES ...........cccccccsccossccssescccsscsescsscosscsceseccossssoes ; ‘ . 15¢ 
ACONITUM (AK-obh-nyt-um) 
Monkshood. Herbaceous perennials, seeds germinate slowly, sow out doors in May 
or June in shade or they can be started indoors earlier but plants do not like trans- 
planting; thin to 18’ apart; bone meal is good as a fertilizer. 
palmatum. Blue fis 2!% in. across;Himalayan Mts; HP... eeceeeees ACD-16 254 
lycoctonum. Wolfsbane. Hardy, yellow fis, 4ft, moist soils, HP.........0........ ACD-14,. 25¢ 
—Wilsonii. Handsome spikes, large porcelain blue fis, late, 3ft, HP... .. ACD-9W. 25¢ 
—Barker’s Variety. Pretty never in amethyst-blue; Gilt; ETP iiieccccctecstete sees ACD-9B. 25¢ 
Acroclinium: see Helipterum. 
ACROGEPHALUS 
sericus. Shrubby climber; soft pale blue fis; 1-2 ft; S. Rhodesia........... ACRO-1 25¢t 
ACTAEA (ak-TEE-ah) 
Baneberry, Cohosh. The showy terminal flowers develope into pretty white berries; 
they are useful in the rock garden, border or wild garden, doing best in shady pllaces. 
Sow seed in late fall or spring; herbaceocs perennials. 
BLEGUION VEL DALdy LCG SDELLLGS: 2) Lbs) EV Eoascaccsscesncessctrcesntersteecee rath screrssedsccavertersccstenee ACTA-2. 20¢ 
ACTINOMERIS  (ak-ti-NOM-er-is) 
Tall Sunflower-like native perennials for the hardy border or wild garden and re- 
sembling Helianthus and Verbesina. Grow like Sunflowers. 
——Alt6rnitOliag US ey eClLlOWisn L-aiee ACS TAY Ss Gl Ls EU rcestcsccescscncevcarcrececceccavevearaseeescrtvore, ACTI-1. 20¢ 
ADENOCARPUS (ad-ee-no-CAR-pus) 
mC ECOL CICATISramicerteesyicriccsesccenceresscceval ection itkecesdscvedsccesandiesccossnsesduttvercaceeusioagsesaapaveccapedab seneudanectsoees ADEK-1. 30¢ 
Grown in the GH in N or in open in the S; low shrubs from S. EU and Asia Minor. 
ADENOPHORA (ad-e-NOF-o-rah) 
Lady Bells. Erect perennials with fleshy roots, flowers in shades of violet. They 
are good in border, being grown like Campanulas,; disturb as little as possible. 
CONnfusAa mel MUSH GCEDE DITICH Le lON Ss S Lis TEP. cscossscsoccosseesatcsacesenncctsecissssoassates ADEN-2. 20¢ 
ADONIS (ah-DOH-nis) 
Hardy herbaceous annuals and perennials; some make good RG plant and grow well 
in both sun or shade; fils solitary terminal, crimson or scarlet with a dark colored base. 
Sow seed of all kinds either in the spring or fall; they are easily grown. 
aestivallis. Summer Adonis. Scarlet flowers in June-July,114 ft; HP.......... ADON-I. 15¢ 
AGAPANTHUS | (ag-ah-PANTH-us)  Lily-of-the-Nile 
Blue Lily of the Nile. Beautiful So. African bulbous plant, easily grown. Not hardy 
and in the North the bulb must be stored indoors during winter. They make ideal 
tub plants and last for years. 
longispathus. A new sp., fils on 4ft stems; free fl; COMPACT ou... eecsssssecesseseees AGAP-5. 25¢ 
orientalis. Large heads blue fis; 4 ft; S. Cal; HHP .-AGAP-2 20¢ 
Aga panthusm Bb len Gems lle SPECIES HLISTCCES cesccsnseacevcse,ceetecascstuenccsanevenserss ‘is .. AGAP-X. 20¢ 
—africanus, Mixed, Lily of the Nile.....3 ft, mixed varieties; TP..................... AGAP-1X. 30¢ 
AGERATUM (ager-A-tum) 
Herbaceous annuals having tassel-like clustered heads; blue or white; they are easily 
grown, are tender in the N and must not be set outdoors till all frost danger is passed. 
They are useful as edging, in the front border, in porch or hanging baskets; popular. 
Houstoninum: This is incorrectly listed as A. mexicanum. The commonly grown 
Ageratums all come under this species. 
—Blue Ball. Deep blue ball-shape plant; compact; 9’; HHA AGER-3B 15¢ 
—Blue Bedder. Lavender-blue; compact, 4’; pretty for beds;HHA AGER-3C 15¢ 
—Blue Cap. Rich blue, dome-shape plant; RG; extra nice; HHA AGER-3D 20¢ 
—Blue Star. Deep blue, 6’, very nice for edging; HHA AGER-3E 15¢ 
—Dwarf Imperial, White. Popular bedding sort; strong growth........0.0..... AGER-3RW. 15¢ 
Se ES LUC Re ea re coe rcae rears eric oe rtd aviaudssoatinctrecuchoctinccivescsvuasustsasashadeeusesssdccsaterteretasaves tas ..AGER-3RB. 15¢ 
—Fairy Pink. Softest salmon-pink; edging or pots, 6”; HA... ceeescseeees AGER-3Y. 20¢ 
—King of the Blues. Low co:npact plants; deep blue; EDEL A roves tetrreseatres AGER-3F 15¢ 
—Little Dorrit. Pretty deep blue; fine for edging and DOS) PEAR AGER-3G I5¢ 
White. A pure white strain; fine bedding, boxes and border.....AGER-3GW 15¢ 
—Midget Blue. A 2-3 in. plant: compact; fine for edging; HHA................ AGER-3H 15¢ 
—Purple Perfection. Deepest blue, 9”; fine for boxes or bedding;...AGER-3J 15¢ 
—Silver Star. Pretty dwarf white, 6 inches, HHA d f 20¢ 
—Swanley Blue. Azure-blue; thickly bunched, 8’; HHA.. 15¢ 
(Seed list continued on next page) 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY — 
DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
