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Seed Catalogue And Garden Guide.

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Double Dahlia.
Single Dahlia.

Dahlias.

Exquisite New Varieties for 1897.

These showiest of autumn flowers are again becoming popular favorites. Specialists have been quietly at work improving them for many years past and the result has been some most grand varieties. Last year we purchased about 100 varieties from the most noted Dahlia Specialist in the world, some of them costing us $1.00 each or more, so as to improve our large assortment, so that now we have the finest lot ever offered in any seed catalogue. When well grown the Dahlia is one of the most handsome flowers in the whole list, and especially those of the newer varieties, such as we offer. They are of sturdy growth and covered with hundreds of flowers. The secret of success in growing them lies in having a good, deep, mellow soil, deeply spaded and thoroughly enriched with well-rotted manure. During hot, dry weather we always give them an abundance of water, on the plant as well as at the roots. Sprinkling the foliage daily tends to a vigorous healthy growth. Always put a strong stake by each plant and tie the plant. They well repay a little care and each plant will be a specimen to be proud of. Don't fail to try a few. There is such an endless variety that we think it best to describe only a few sorts. The first four are illustrated on cover of this catalogue.

Nymphaea.--(The Pink Water Lily Dahlia.) This variety is the ideal cut flower Dahlia, commanding when cut a higher price than roses. The flowers are of perfect form, always full to the center; of exquisite finish, being soft, delicate, waxy and graceful. The color is a clear, bright shrimp pink, shading slightly darker toward the outer petals. The plant is very strong and vigorous and produces the flowers, which are borne on long stems well supplied with buds and foliage, in the greatest profusion until cut down by frost. See illustration first page of cover. Strong roots each 25c.

Golden Ball.--A most beautiful large, pure, deep yellow flower shaded with old gold. Perfectly double. A strong grower and most profuse bloomer; will be greatly admired wherever seen. Strong roots each 25 cents.

Crimson King.--A large ball-shaped flower of most handsome, rich, dark crimson glowing color, very double. Strong roots each 25c.

Snow Fairy.--A little beauty which should be in every collection. The flowers are small, of a most pure, glistening snow white of beautiful quilled form, and borne profusely on long stems. A nice flower to mix with the larger sorts in bouquets. Strong roots 25c each.

Collection.--One strong root each of the four varieties named above for 75c. Plants 10c each, four for 30c.

Fern Leaf Beauty.--This grand novelty is a great acquisition and probably the finest of all bedding Dahlias, being a new and distinct type with fern-like foliage and a dwarf, branching habit; color creamy white with a distinct margin of crimson around each petal. This attracted more attention than any other dahlia on our place because of its odd foliage and beauty. Strong roots 75c each. Plants 25c each.

Mrs. Hawkins.--One of the most beautiful of the Cactus varieties and a general favorite; the flowers are large, perfectly formed, and of a rich soft sulphur, beautifully shaded toward the tips and margin of the petals. Strong roots each 40c. Plants 15c.

Penelope.--Pure white, delicately flaked lavender; of beautiful form and always perfect; invaluable for cutting and decorations. Strong roots 25c each. Plants 15c.

Unique.--A splendid novelty. Center pure yellow, shaded old gold, tipped and margined rose and shades of blue, giving it a bluish bronze appearance; very beautiful, but not always full to the center. Strong roots 50c each. Plants 15c.

Empress Of India.--A large, handsome show dahlia of perfect form. White striped with lilac. Strong roots 25c. Plants 10c.

Arabella.--A magnificent flower and one of the loveliest foliage sorts, sulphur color shaded with bronzy purple and tipped pink and lavender. Strong roots each 25c. Plants 10c.

Other Varieties.--We have about 200 other named varieties and if you will name the color desired we are sure we can select those which will please you. Strong roots 25c each, $2.50 per dozen. Plants 10c each, $1.00 per dozen.

Mixed Cactus --This comparatively new class of Dahlias is becoming more popular every year. The flowers are very beautiful, though peculiar in form, somewhat resembling the blooms of the Cactus family. Hence the name "Cactus Dahlia." They grow tall, and branch and bloom freely, and are splendid for cutting. Each 20c, $2.00 doz.

Double Mixed Varieties.--Contains a good proportion of the best scarlet, yellow and white varieties, besides many other shades which are most popular. Each 15c, doz. $1.50.

Fancy Double Mixed.--The handsome tipped, striped, spotted and variegated sorts in a splendid mixture. Each 25c, doz. $2.25.

Single Mixed.--This new series of the Dahlia family has become exceedingly fashionable owing to the value attached to the cut blooms, their airy butterfly-like forms giving flowers a grace never attained by the finest double sorts. The flowers range from 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Vastly different from the old single sorts and of much value for table or corsage bouquets. Each 15c, doz. $1.50.

Plants.--Late in the season we frequently run out of dry bulbs of some of the sorts, and in such case we will furnish strong plants of the same variety which will be mailed at proper season for bedding out. We can furnish plants of any of the varieties not priced higher in above list for 10c each, $1.00 per dozen.

The Dahlia Book.--The only American book on this subject, and it is a clear, concise, yet comprehensive treatise. Beautifully illustrated and printed on heavy enamel paper. Has chapters on the classification of varieties, propagation, soil and manure, cultivation, exhibitions, etc., etc. Should be in the hands of every one who has a dozen plants or more. Price 50c, postpaid, or we will send a copy free to anyone ordering Dahlias to the amount of $3.00 or more.

Flower Seed Novelties.

New Pink Marguerite Centaurea. (Novelty 1897.) When the new Marguerite Centaurea was introduced a few years ago we thought it one of the handsomest flowers that we had ever seen, but it has sported in the garden of one of our customers and produced a most exquisite flower of same shape and size as the parent plant, but of a most beautiful shell pink color. Plant is about 15 inches in height and of the easiest culture, blooming freely from seed in a few weeks. The large flowers are deliciously scented, delicately lacinated and produced profusely on long stems which render them valuable for cutting. It is of most unique beauty and all our customers should have it in their gardens. Per pkt. 10c.

California Yellow Bells.--Forms a broad bush from 18 inches to 2 feet high; fairly loaded with bell-shaped, pedulous flowers, a 1/2 inch long, and of a delicate cream color. Pkt. 5c.

Spoon Gourd.--Color creamy yellow, capped and striped green. A unique spoon or ladle. A useful article in many ways. Pkt. 5c.

Begonia Erfordia.--A little beauty and most profuse bloomer from early summer until late autumn; even a light frost will not hurt it. Color a lovely soft pink throughout. The leaves and leaf stalk are of a rich coppery bronze. Per pkt. 15c, 2 pkts. for 25c.

Perennial Chrysanthemums.--From a supurb collection of the best varieties so cross fertilized that it will produce a wonderful variety of flowers, perhaps no two alike, and possibly some great novelties. They are easily grown from seed. Per pkt. 10c.

Golden Glory Calliopsis.--A continuous and persistent bloomer. The plants are a perfect glory of large golden blossoms; double the size of the older sort. They are prettily toothed at the edges. It is a fine winter bloomer. Per pkt 10c.

Diamond Flower.--A dainty little annual with tufts of tiny foliage, and beautiful little white and blue flowers that bloom within a month from the time seed is sown. It will grow in the open ground, over rock-work or in pots, never exceeding three inches in height. Pkt. 8c.

New Mammoth Heliotrope.--Grown from seed, and from a single packet a large number of strong, healthy plants are produced which would cost 10 to 25c each at the florists. This supurb new variety is a strong grower, producing a constant succession of immense heads of flowers. In color it varies from almost a pure white to the most deep dark blue. Start seeds early in the house. Per pkt. 10c.

New Fancy Flowering Giant Petunias.--Unquestionably the finest selection of petunias in existence. Of enormous size (four to five inches across), and exquisitely ruffled and fringed; of colors, markings, veinings, blotchings and stripings in the most grotesque and beautiful combinations. Pkt. 20c.

Rainbow Coleus.--This is a greatly improved variety with wonderfully large leaves, which are curled, serrated, fringed and laciniated in a most beautiful manner. There is an almost endless variety of colors and shades which are varigated and marbled in a regally brilliant manner. Per pkt. 15c.