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IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 59.

[image] I LOVE FLOWERS. DON'T YOU?

FLOWER SEEDS.
Our floral beauties come in for their full share of attention, and we have in our employ an experienced specialist in this line, who, under our supervision, attends to growing whatever can be grown to advantage in this country, tests all novelties offered in this country or Europe, and is constantly trying, by selection and hybridization, to improve the leading varieties, and make our Choice Iowa Flower Seeds just what we are striving for--the best in the world. All who truly love the beautiful and prize all things new and valuable in the floral kingdom, will be interested in the following pages, and also in looking over the flower plant and bulb list. Don't fail to notice also the novelties listed on the colored pages of this book.
Our flower seeds are all fresh and we know they are unsurpassed. Quality is always the first consideration. Our mixtures are mainly made up by ourselves from named varieties, or from growing a large number of the best named varieties together, and will yield a better assortment than is commonly found. This year we list all the varieties alphabetically together--annuals, biennials, perennials, climbers, everlastings and ornamental grasses, but we mention in the description the class they belong to if they are not annuals. This will make it easier to find any sort named.
DIRECTIONS FOR SOWING, ETC.--To insure success the conditions and requirements of the several species as to soil, moisture, heat, etc., should be studied and then observed in culture. Below we give a few general directions for their culture, though more complete directions will be found printed on many of the seed packets. The soil best adapted to most flowers is light, rich loam, containing enough sand to make it porous. If there is some clay with it the colors will be brighter. Make the surface as smooth and fine as possible, sow seeds in rows, covering each sort of seed in proportion to its size (a good general rule being to cover twice the diameter of the seed) and press the soil down firmly over it. Do not plant any seeds when the ground if [is] wet. Many varieties, such as pansy, verbena, daisy, hollyhock and the fine greenhouse-plant seeds, should be sown early in shallow boxes in the house, in soil consisting of equal parts of fine sand and rich, mellow loam, well mixed together and sifted to remove all gravel and lumps. Sow as before directed. Covering the box with glass helps to retain the moisture and keeps the temperature even. Be careful not to keep them too wet, and as soon as they are large enough to handle transplant to boxes from one to two inches apart, where they are to remain until time to transplant to permanent beds. We will always be glad to answer any questions from our customers relative to the cultivation of any kind of plants.
OUR PRICES.--The cost of raising the various sorts of flower seeds varies greatly, from such as mignonette, of which we can grow a hundred pounds at but comparatively only a few dollars expense, up to double petunia, which costs us over one hundred lars [dollars] per ounce, and some other kinds which are still more expensive. There are but few who care for more than one good sized bed of any sort; therefore we have filled our packets with a sufflcient amount and made prices as low as possible, some being only two or three cents each, and we are certain customers will be well pleased with the quantity they contain. We have carefully compared our packets with those of many of the leading seed dealers and are convinced that our packets on an average are better filled than any of them. We are growers and sell flower seeds to many of the largest seedsmen in this country and Europe, and can afford to sell at low prices to our customers.
DISCOUNTS.--In spite of our very low prices by the packet, we still offer flower seeds in packets only, to the amount of $1.25 for $1.00. This discount does not apply to collections of seeds nor to seeds by weight or measure. All flower seeds are sent free by mail on receipt of price.
NOVELTIES.--Many desirable novelties will be found described on the colored pages of this book, while others are in their regular order in this department. We have this year carefully revised all the descriptions, changing some of them after comparing with the flowers in the field, and we believe no more correct or complete list of desirable sorts can be found in any catalogue.
A NICE LAWN is easily obtained by sowing our Mixed Lawn Grass Seed. It is vastly cheaper than sodding, and you are not bothered with weeds, which are in the sod. See price in grass seed department.

[images] ABRONIA.

ABRONIA.
Trailing habit similar to verbenas, bearing clusters of sweet-scented flowers. Effective for bedding in masses, and very desirable for rockwork and hanging baskets. In beds sometimes one plant covers a yard square and is full of bloom. Rose color. Pkt. 3c.

ACROCLINIUM.
Elegant summer flowering annuals forming plants about one foot high, bearing quantities of large double flowers of white, rose, etc., 1 to 2 inches across. Splendid everlastings for winter bouquets. Mixed colors. Pkt. 3c.

AGROSTEMMA.
A very hardy plant introduced from Russia, suitable for border plants.
COELI ROSA.--Perfectly hardy plants, producing pretty, Pink-like blossoms on long, slender stems. Very useful for cutting for bouquets and pretty for masses in beds. Also known as Rose of Heaven. About 1 1/2 feet high. Deep rose color. Pkt. 3c.
ALBA.--White; fine for cemetery. Pkt. 5c.

ARABIS.
ALPINA.--Among the earliest blooming plants, and very useful for rock work, edgings, carpet bedding, etc. Flower pure white. Plant 9 inches high and a hardy perennial. Pkt. 10c.

ADLUMIA.
(Mountain Fringe.) A beautiful hardy perennial vine with fern-like foliage of a pale green color, with pretty flesh-colored blossoms; called Alleghany Vine. Pkt. 10c.

AQUILEGIA. (Columbine.)
Too much praise cannot be given to these elegant, free-flowering, and deservedly popular hardy plants, blooming profusely through the spring into early summer. Hardy perennial.
CHRYSANTHA.--The beautiful, large-flowered, canary yellow variety. Very showy and satisfactory. Pkt. 5c.
WHITE.--Blooms on Decoration Day. Very desirable for cemetery. Pkt. 10c.
COERULEA.--Flowers very large, violet blue and white. Pkt. 7c.
DOUBLE VARIETIES MIXED.--Pkt. 5c.

[image] ADLUMIA.

[image] AGERATUM.

AGERATUM.
MEXICANUM.--Very desirable for bouquets; produces a great many blue flowers and blooms a long time; largely used by florists; start seeds early. Pkt. 4c.
ALBIFLORUM.--Like above, only white. Pkt. 8c.

ASPERULA.
AZUREA SETOSA.--Hardy, dwarf growing little annual producing an abundance of small light blue, sweet-scented flowers. Fine for bouquets. Pkt. 5c.

ADONIS.
AESTIVALIS.--Brilliant scarlet. Blossoms throughout the season. Foliage is graceful and feathery. Height 1 ft. Pkt. 3c.

AMOBIUM.
ALATUM GRANDIFLORUM.--Very hardy, everlasting, with pretty, double white flowers. Useful for bouquets. Pkt. 4c.

ABUTILON.
A handsome greenhouse plant. Fine mixed. Pkt. 10c.

AMARANTHUS.
Prized for variety of handsome foliage whether grown in conservatory or garden. The colors will be more brilliant if planted in moderately rich soil. Should not be planted in the north before May.
TRICOLOR.--Leaves yellow, red and green; well known as "Joseph's Coat." Very showy in beds alone. Hardy annual; two feet high. Pkt. 3c.
SUNRISE.--The most brilliant and showy variety. Top of plant brilliant crimson, lower leaves dark maroon. Worthy a place in every garden and sure to please the most critical lover of the beautiful. Pkt. 10c.
CAUDATUS.--(Love Lies Bleeding.) Produces long, drooping chains of brilliant colored flowers. Pkt. 3c.
MIXED VARIETIES.--Pkt. 5c.

BALLOON VINE.
A very pretty, rapid growing climber, succeeding best in a warm situation. Remarkable for its inflated semi-transparent capsules; sometimes called "Love in a Puff." Flowers white. Pkt. 5c.

[image] AMARANTHUS.