Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Yes: TRADE MARK ESTAR. \NCOR- (838° 18922 PHILADELPHIA’ REGISTERED ENRY ADREE 714 CHESTNUT ST. PHILADELPHIA. General Directions to Correspondents. ene. c < . iit y PHILADELPHIA, January, 1808. The attention of our customers is respectfully called to the following directions, which will, if followed, be an aid to purchasers as well as to ourselves : POSTAGE PAID.—We deliver, postage paid, to any Post Office in the United States, Vegetable and Flower Seeds, in Packets, Ounces and Pounds, also Bulbs and plants, when ordered at Catalogue prices, except where otherwise noted. No orders for plants by mail will be accepted for less than 50 cents in value. CANADA POSTAGE.—Remit for postage at the rate of 8 cents per pound or fraction thereof for all seeds. For Peas, Beans, Corn, and other goods that are excepted in body of Catalogue, remit double that amount for postage. Seed, Plant, and Bulb postage fi3in the United States to Canada is double that of the United States. EXPRESS.—It will be very much cheaper tothe purchaser if Seeds are ordered to be sent by Express or Rail at their expense when desired in quantities of pounds, quarts, and upwards. In all cases where possible we advise our customers to have their plants forwarded by Express, as larger and finer plants can be sent, and ‘‘extras’’ are added to help defray charges. Plants are now taken by the leading Express Companies aia reduction of twenty per cent. from the regular rates for merchandise, BAGGAGE-MASTER DELIVERIES are very convenient to points within twenty-five miles of Philadelphia. Charges for packages not exceeding Io lbs. 5 cents, 25 lbs. Io cents, 50 Ibs. 15 cents. RAIL OR STEAMER.—Fertilizers, Implements and miscellaneous bulky or heavy articles can be sent only by Express, Rail or Steamer, at the purchaser’s expense. PACKING.—No charge is made for boxes or packing, nor for delivery to Freight Depots or Express Offices in Philadelphia. REMITTANCES should be made by Post Office Money Order, Drafts on Philadelphia or New York Banks, or Express Money Orders. We disclaim all responsibility when remittances are not made as above directed. Where it is not possible to obtain these, the letters should be registered. Postage stamps will be found a convenient method of remitting for small amounts, and can be used by us to advantage. Coin should not be sent by mail. CASH WITH ORDER.—Please send money with the order sufficient to cover the whole bill, to facilitate the execution of your orders. During the busy season, to make out bills for customers, charge, and in a few days receive the money, make the proper credit and send receipt. requires more work than we can readily perform. NEW CUSTOMERS.— Orders from parties unknown to us must be accompanied by a remittance or by satisfactory reference to some responsible house, or to some person of our acquaintance. We decline sending goods ‘‘ Col- lect on Delivery ”’ to parties unknown to us unless remittance be made on account to guarantee acceptance. ORDER EARLY.—It will greatly facilitate shipments if orders are sent in eavly. We aim to send off all orders the same or next day after receipt, but during the busy season it is nearly impossible—hence the advisability of ordering early. ERRORS.—We exercise the utmost care in filling orders, striving to do a little more than we offer ; yet in the press of business errors sometimes occur, in which event we wish to be promptly notified of the fact, and will make such corrections as will be satisfactory. Please keep copies of all your orders for comparison. SAFE ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES.—We endeavor to secure the safe arrival of packages of Seeds, Bulbs and Plants in good condition in every case. Ifa package is injured or lost, by Mail or Express, we will replace it as soon as informed of the fact. Frequently it happens that orders never reach us, or are without signature. When customers fail to receive their packages in a reasonable time, they should inform us, and at the same time send a copy of their order and any other information necessary to trace the goods. Complaints must be made on receipt of goods, NAME AND ADDRESS.—Please remember to write your Name, Post Office, County and State; also give riumber of street or P. O. Box, as distinctly as possible ; also the nearest Express Office, or, if on a Stage route, send us special directions, giving us the name of the Express Company delivering goods. PLANT ORDERS should be separated from the seed orders ; the departments are separate, but shipments of seeds and plants are made in one parcel, to avoid additional Express charges. NON-WARRANTY.— We wish it to be distinctly understood that although we continue to take all possible pains to supply only New, Genuine and Unadulterated Seeds, Plants and Bulbs, we still give no warranty, express or implied, as to description, quality, productiveness, or any other matter of any of the Seeds, Plants or Bulbs we send out, and will not be in any way responsible for the crop. Every order received for articles named in this Catalogue will be executed on these conditions only. Deutihe Correfpondenten. — lle Beftellungen und Correfpondenzen in deut|cher Sprache werden mit Sorgfalt ausgefiibrt. HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut Street, LOCK BOX 1618. PHILADELPHIA, PA. For the Beautiful New Rose, Souv. du Pres. Carnot, e Dreer’s Superb Double Fringed Petunias, shown in shown in colors on the front cover, see page 132.... 8 colors on back cover, see offer of seed on page 83.... e Plants on page 129. PHILADELPHIA. Sovepzcianies ty WEGETABLE SEEDS "fog Novelties produced by specialists in this country and abroad are carefully tested in our trial grounds during the summer, and the descriptions given are mainly as received by the introducers. New Wonder Bush Lima Bean. DREER’S. We have paid close attention to this class of Beans since their first introduction, and have made critical tests of every variety on the market and noted all improvements as they developed with each new type, our aim being to secure one which possesses qualities most desirable in this class of Beans, viz.: earliness, dwarfness, flavor and heavy cropping qualities. These we can attribute to the New Wonder. We made a planting on June | 29th, in our experimental grounds, during the season of 1897, and on August 17th, just seven weeks from date of planting, we took the first pod with matured beans from the plant. This is the best record in our experience with Bush Limas. The charac- ter of plant is dwarf and compact, the pods completely filling the § plant from top to bottom (as shown in illustration). The extreme ends of branches are filled with buds, hence no runners. The - beans are of the large flat type, in flavor equal to the famous Dreer’s Bush Lima, so well known to the public. The ‘“ New Wonder” is a novelty of the highest character—it is the earliest, dwarfest and most prolific of the whole class of Bush Limas—a big crop from a small space. This variety is.a decided improvement on [| the original type of Burpee’s Bush Lima; is also 10 to 15 days earlier. Pkt. of 15 seeds 25 cts., 5 for $1.00. Stock Linittec’. New Wonpver Busy Lima BEAN (DREER’S). New Dwarf Forcing Bean. TRIUMPH OF THE FRAMES. After a second year’s trial of this variety we are convinced that it has gained a very high position among the green flageolet type. It is very prolific, very dwarf and produces a mass of beautiful pods of rich green and as tender as butter. The pod is flat and long, and when dry the shelled beans retain their pale green color, which is a very desirable feature. This variety is particularly adapted to forcing, It bears its crop in one solid mass beneath the foliage and can be picked quickly. Being very dwarf it can be sown in hot-beds for forcing, and can also . Bs be grown ina small space. In large European establishments Trump oF THE Frames Beans. for the cultivation of vegetables under glass, this sort is grown enurely in pots. By this means they take up little room, and in the conservatory where the temperature does not fall below 655° they can be produced during the winter and early spring months without mnch trouble. Pkt. 15 cts., pint 35 cts., qt. 60 cts. , New Stringless Green Pod BUSH BEAN. This variety deserves the good name it bears. It is positively stringless and remains tender and crisp longer after maturity than any other variety. Our repeated trials, since its intro- duction, enables us to speak in highest terms of its qualities. We have secured stock from our grower for the coming season of such excellent quality that we are pleased to place it among the list of novelties for 1898. The pods are of pale green, long and straight, perfectly round and meaty, maturing with the earliest of the green- pod varieties. Not only is it a valuable market gardener’s sort, but certainly an acquisition for the amateur. Price: Per pkt. 10 cts., pint 20 cts., qt. 35 cts., 4 peck $1.25, peck $2.25. se Z IS Ss 2 eS = New StTrRINGLESS GREEN Pop BEAN. 2 NOVELTIES AND SPECIALTIES IN VEGETABLE SEEDS. Golden stem it is CapBBaGE, ‘GOLDEN SUGAR WINTER.” CABBAGE—Golden Sugar Winter. This excellent variety was introduced in Europe for the first time in the fall of 1896. It is entirely distirct in character and color, has a very hard head and a short strunk; its special fea- ture is the golden color after being put up, which makes it very attractive compared to the ash-gray color usual among winter Cabbage. This variety is. medium late, and is perfectly solid at maturity without breaking. Color of foliage dark green, look- ing very much like an early sort. The compact growth of this variety admits its being planted much closer than the old varie- ties of late sorts, and comparatively no loss, as every plant grows into a solid head. Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 40 cts., + lb. $1.25. Musk Meton, “‘ CassABAH.”’ LETTUCE—Wonderful. This sterling novelty was offered by us for the first time in our last year’s catalogue; we Can say without fear of contradiction it is the best Lettuce ever introduced. We received from many of the best-known gar- deners in the country testimonials of this variety. John Paget, gardener at Pennsyl- vania Hospital, Harrisburg, Pa., sent us specimens from open ground on June 19, 1897, each weighing 2? lbs. Robt. Ross- borough, pardener to C. F. Fox, Esq., Ogontz, Pa., sent us, on May 28th, speci- mens from hot-beds weighing 2 lbs, each. The above specimens were all with hard, white heads, crisp, of fine flavor, very ten- der. During the summer many of our cus- tomers reported on their phenomenal success with the Wonderful, having produced speci- mens weighing 6 Ibs. James Campbell, gardener to J. D. Winsor, Esq., Haverford, Pa., exhibited specimens at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society during the summer which weighed 4 lhs. each; they were images of winter Cabbage with outer leaves removed. We are pleased to place this variety among the novelties of this season, feeling assured that it will meet with louder praise than before. Pkt. 10 cts., 3 pkts. 25 cts., oz. 40 cts., ¢ lb. $1.25. CELERY. New Golden Rose Self=blanching. In character riety is identical with the except the color, which “@ is a beautiful rosy tinge, shading to very pale pink at top of stalk; the ribs are prominent and the thick, brittle ; being of hardy nature, it possesses good keeping qualities. While very very early, and positively self-blanching,it bleaches to a_ beautiful yellow at the heart after storing for winter. this va- Self-blanching, 72 $F 4 4 SAN AY Wn solid and ornamental, golden- It is also the best- flavored celery beyond any question. The Rose and Red varieties of Celery are not used extensively; this is because they are not better known: We claim for the Golden-Rose a brilliant future. The private and market gardeners around Philadelphia exhibited magnificent specimens at the fall exhibitions, Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 40 cts., 4 Ib. $1.25. MUSK MELON—Cassabah. This variety should be tried by every amateur, private and market gardeners, as it is the largest variety grown, and of ex- cellent quality; green fleshed, roughly netted rind, very prolific, and of good keeping qualities. While this is a very old variety, yet it has the qualities not contained in any other large melon, and the inference generally is that only the small sorts are of good flavor. Too much cannot be said in favor of the “* Cassa- bah ;” we still esteem it a novelty. Pkt. 10 cls., oz. 30 cts., Th. $1.00. CELERY, “ GoL_pDEN Rose SELF-BLANCHING.”” New Lerrucs, ‘ WonDERFUL.” NOVELTIES AND SPECIALTIES IN VEGETABLE SEEDS. 3 The New Family of Extra Early Wrinkled Peas. Owing to the impossibility of having a continued crop of Peas throughout the summer (from July to October), it is our aim to introduce a class of Peas of the wrinkled type, which possess quality, quantity and earliness, thereby enabling at least three plantings of Peas which have no equals. Our trials of 1897, which embraced 114 tests, embodying every class, variety and novelty of Europe and America, were to us a bit of experience never before accomplished. We, therefore, feel confident that we have a class of Peas embraced in those offered here that will surely meet all requirements, as they are not novelties because distinct from types already cata- logued, but are the des¢ yet offered, and are far ahead of any class of Peas ever tried. DREER’S EXTRA EARLY PEA “ELECTRIC.” This new and distinct variety is a close selection of the Alaska type, being not only earlier but with much larger pods, producing a heavy crop of beautiful green Peas shouldered in the pod. The vine grows 8 feet high, and when ready for picking they are covered with evenly filled pods in profu- sion. The accom. panying illustra- tion, taken from a photograph, shows the pod and grain just at maturity. This come a favorite * N X N N N N N N N N ‘i A distinct early round-grain variety, growing from 3 to 4 feet high, of a rich deep green color, following close upon the extra early sorts; bears its pods in pairs, of large size, curved and very broad, filled with large grains of fine quality. The seed is blue, round and can be sown very early and not be injured by cold, wet weather of early spring. This is one of the sorts of which repeated plantings can be made through the spring, as they are not af- fected by the early summer heat. It is, therefore, highly valuable for market gardeners, as the deep colored pods of such large size will always sell at advanced prices over other sorts. The illustration is from a pod taken from the vine in our experimental grounds on the 16th of June, and shows plainly how this variety bears its crop. Pkt. 10 cts., pt. 30 cts., qt. 50 cts. ener VLLTTVILEL Lh New Pea ‘‘AmMger.”’ EARLY WRINKLED PEA “DUKE OF YORK.”’ A variety with immense pods, and of the best of the extra early wrinkled sorts. It has been closely selected from the Duke of Albany, and much dwarfer ; grows only 23 feet high; is of a very dark color in pod and foliage; the pods are long and well filled with large, dark green peas; extremely tender and of excellent flavor; is a superior market gardener’s variety. No private gardener should fail to give the Duke of York a trial. Pkt. 10 cts., pt. 20 cts., qt. 35 cts. One packet of each of the above varieties, including the ‘‘Gradus” on page 4, for 35 cts. dark-green color after cooking. The early as the ground can be worked. \ q q variety will be- DReEER’s ExtRA Earty Pea “‘ ELECTRIC. ”’ NatTurat SIzeE. among gardeners. It remains tender at full maturity, and becomes a very seed is a rich green; they can be sown as Pkt. 10c., pt. 20c., qt. 85c., 4 peck $1.25. NEW PEA “AMEER..”’ “ Duke oF York.’ 4 NOVELTIES AND SPECIALTIES IN VEGETABLE SEEDS: New Pea ‘* Gradus,” An early wrinkled variety of the highest type of perfection ; grows 24 feet in height, is a vigorous grower; of light green color; pods and grain of very large size. The result of j our experiments during the season of 1897 was an utter surprise to us, in finding a green wrinkled variety with | a pod such as the “Gradus”’ pro- duces to mature only three days after Dreer’s Eureka Extra Early, hence we claim it to be the ea7/es¢ wrinkled Pea known. The large pods produce from 7 to 9 large shouldered Peas each, which when cooked retain their beautiful soft green, and are rich and mellow. The Gradus has taken the highest award and _ first- class certificate at the Royal Horticul- tural Society, England. It is suffi- ciently hardy to be planted with the Extra Early types. Don’t fail to give the Gradus a trial. Pkt. 15 cts., pt. 40 cts., qt. 75 cts. Radish “Dreer’s Farliest White Globe Forcing.” The earliest white Radish in exist- ence, bearing a beautiful oval-shaped Radish, with transparent ivory-white skin, very small root, also small top; flesh white, tender and crisp. After two years’ thorough trial, we are convinced of the superior quality of this sort, being one of the most attractive varieties of an early forcing type. It is particularly adapted to forcing in greenhouse or hot-bed, thus giving a supply through the winter and early spring months; is the quickest ma- turing sort for open ground during the spring. summer and fall. The above illustration is from a bunch from open ground 18 days after sowing. : Pkt. 10 cts., oz. 25 cts., 4 lb. 75 cts. Dreer’s EARLIEST WHITE GLOBE ForCING. New Pea ‘‘Granus.’’ Radish ‘Improved Golden Dresdeu.” A perfectly round Radish, with golden-brown skin and very small top, ready for the table in four weeks from sowing in the open ground; flesh white and crisp, and of fine flavor. Can be sown in close rows; is a sure cropper. The improvement of | Radish ‘ White Delicacy ? this sort over the Golden Dresden is that it is earlier, smaller ! top, and more uniform in shape. Pkt. 5c., oz 20c., $ 1b. 60c. An excellent summer variety; an improvement on the White =e ; Strasbourg, being earlier, more evenly shaped, and smaller top; grows into full size and perfect shape during the hottest weather; for outdoor early fall sowing the Delicacy is sure to make a crop —__— of uniform white Radishes, which are in quality first-class—a_profit- able market gardener’s sort. Pkt. 5 cts., oz. 15 cts., } Ib. 40 cts. | Ib. $1.25. RapisH ‘‘ IMPROVED GOLDEN DRESDEN. Tomato ““Houor Bright.” We believe this to be a grand acquisition to the list of Tomatoes ; having given it a thorough trial, we are ready to endorse all that the | introducer says in its favor. Its chief peculiarities are its solidity ; | changes of color the fruit under- goes during development: first it is light green, then an attractive waxr- white, then demon changing to ved ; | it is, nevertheless its peculiarities, one of the longest keeping varie- ties and of excellent quality ; it can be shipped in barrels like apples, and if picked in the early stage they can be stored in a cool place and will keep from one to four weeks. ee i Rapisu, ‘“ Waite Deticacy.” Pkt. 10 cts.. 0z. 50 cts., } lb. $1.75. Tomato “ Honor BricHt.” FLOWER SEED NOVELTIES...