THE SEKl) BUSINESS IN rniLADELlUlIA. 



home and abroad, and Mr. David Landreth, the younger, who now became the sole 

 proprietor of the business, determined to concentrate the whole of the processes in one 

 shot. A most fortunate location in every respect presented, and Bloomsdale, a mag- 

 nificent farm of about 250 acres, was purchased, twenty miles above I'hiladelphia, and 

 near the town of Bristol, having now a front on the Delaware river of more than a 

 mile. The ground was every way adapted to the object in view. Of suitable soil, 

 level, and in a high state of cultivation, it was immediately turned to successful 

 account. The fences were removed, the fine old family mansion greatly enlarged and 

 made everything that a country gentleman could desire, with a lawn planted with all 

 the new and old valuable trees in vogue, each with space sufficient to develop its 

 beauties, and the seed business in America took at once a position commensurate 

 with its value and importance. Orders from the most interior parts of India where 

 the Englishman penetrates,* from South America, from the West Indies and our own 

 possessions on the shores of the Pacific, poured in with a celerity which gave no cause 

 for regret at the costly step taken. The huge barns and granaries were soon filled 

 and emptied ; the iron warehouse at Philadelphia, with its nine floors stored with 

 this novel merchandise, more valuable to our growing country than all the silks aA 

 haberdashery imported at the cost of millions of dollars for the adornment of our 

 extravagant belles, groaned with the products of the farm, and with agricultural 

 implements made under Mr. L.'s own supervision, to suit all climates, all fancies, and 

 all pockets. Agents multiplied everywhere, till no town in America but was able to 

 procure in its own borders this invaluable blessing of seeds true to name, and war- 

 ranted sound. The little beginning with ten acres was crowned with success ; the 

 produce of two hundred and fifty acres met a welcome and healthy demand : but this 

 too has become insufficient, and one hundred and twenty-five more adjoining acres 

 have been added this season ; and these are at once to be converted to a similar pur- 

 pose. The little seed has grown to three hundred and seventy -five acres — the acorn 

 has produced a great oak, overshadowing the country, beneath whose boughs thou- 

 sands find shelter, health, and nutriment. You may now order this most important 

 portion of your farm and garden supplies with a certainty of obtaining what you 

 desire. You, Mr. Editor, must take the train from New York very soon which passes 

 through Trenton, and you may ride on the rail through this paradise for more than a 

 mile, and see nothing — not even a fence — but vegetation going profitably to seed. 

 No thistles are gathered on this princely domain. We would rather be the useful 

 proprietor of it, than of any "gable-ended " country villa in the land, however backed 

 with railroad or bank stock. The noble Delaware spreads its broad waters in front ; 

 the canal to the coal regions skirts it on the rear, affording access for the manure from 

 the city, of which thousands of cart-loads are distributed on the land annually. An 

 hundred men, boys, and girls, are employed on the premises and in the city ware- 

 house ; some actively engaged in plowing, and cultivating, and threshing, and prepar- 

 ing the various products ; and others engaged in the constant occupation of filling 

 little and big paper bags with the invaluable products. The very making of these 



The seeds ripened in our climate are greatly preferred in these countries to any produced in England. 



