218 THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



or planted, and are thus placed under tbe conditions most favourable to a new 

 growth. 



The orders for agricultural seeds are executed on the same floor as the garden 

 seeds, -nliich is unquestionably a great convenience, and needless running to and fro 

 is avoided, for frequently garden and agricultural seeds are sent for by customers 

 at the same time. To keep this floor constantly supplied with seeds from the ware- 

 houses above and below is a prime necessity ; and one of the aids thereto is a new 

 lift worked by steam. "With the assistance of this lift a waggon coming into the 

 yard can be quickly unloaded, and the seeds sent to the topmost or other floor ; and 

 in the same n:anner, the vans can be quickly loaded with hampers, boxes, and 

 parcels from the packing department. 



The Packing-room, in wliich tlje various parcels are put into hampers and boxes, 

 and the room in whicli the hampers are directed and despatched, are necessarily of 

 an immense size. Crossing over a bridge, we come to the stores, in which seeos of 

 various kinds are kept in bulk, and the potato-store. The latter is exceedingly in- 

 teresting, owing to the manner in which it is fitted up for the preservation of the 

 seed-potatoes in the best possible condition for planting. After passing the long 

 range of stabling and yards provided for the spacious vans, and proceeding about 

 a hundred yards, we come to the agricultural seed store, which has a handsome 

 frontage to the King's Road. This building is nearly '200 feet in length, and has 

 three floors, and preparations are again being made for further extension. Here, 

 in the early part of the season, may be seen hundreds of tons of mangel, swede, 

 and turnip seeds, for the trade in agricultural seeds is co-extensive with the trade 

 in garden and flower seeds. 



On the London Road, at a distance of about a mile from the town of Reading, 

 the Messrs. Sutton have an extensive trial farm, and this may be seen from the 

 Great "Western and South- Western railways. During the summer season tlie trial 

 farm is brilliant with masses of anneals, and blocks of turnips m bloom. The most 

 interesting part, however, consists in the hundreds of rows of beans, peas, beetroots, 

 carrots, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, and other vegetables, grown exclusively fur trial. 

 The germinating power of every parcel of seeds received from the growers is tested 

 under glass previous to any portion being retailed; and the trial at the farm is Air the 

 purpose of testing the relative value of varieties, and the purity of tbc stocks received 

 from the growers, and in consequence the absolute purity and genuineness of the seed 

 is placed beyond doubt. 



In concluding tliis brief notice of Jlessrs. Sutton's establishment, it will perhaps 

 be interesting to add that the firm now consists of Mr. Martin Hope Sutton, Mr. 

 Alfred Suttcm, and Mr. Martin John Sutton. It was founded about seventy years 

 agO) by Mr. John Sutton, the father of the two senior partners. The seed business 

 was then limited almost exclusively to agricultural seeds ; and these were, according 

 to the usual custom, procured from tlio wholesLile dealers. On the admission of Mr. 

 Martin Hope Sutton and Mr. Alfred Sutton into partnership, some 25 years since, the 

 garden-seed departments were added ; and the former, seeing the disadvantages of 

 procuring the seeds through the wholesale houses, because of the adulteration then so 

 largely practised, determined to obtain the seed direct from the growers who supplied 

 the London wholesale houses, to enable the firm to sell seed genuine, pure, and un- 

 adulterated. After some difEculty, arrangements were made, and eventually a con- 

 siderable number of growers were selected to produce seeds specially for the firm, 

 and under its constant supervision. The Messrs. Sutton have now several thousand 

 ■acres under cultivation for the express purpose of growing seeds for supplying their 

 customers, who amount to upwards of 50,000, in the United Kingdom, India, 

 America, the Colonies, and other parts of the world. From Italy, France, and 

 German}', vast quantities of flower and other seeds that ripen best in 1116.16 countries, 

 are obtained annually ; and the growers of these, as well as of other seeds in this 

 country, are regularly visited by a member of the firm. 



The Messrs. Sutton were amongst the principal promoters of the Bill to prevent 

 the adulteration of seeds, which was passed in 1S69 ; and to the fact of their sup- 

 plying seeds pure, genuine, and unadulterated, they attribute the large extension 

 ■which is annually made in their business. 



