TO OUR CUSTOMERS. 
(FROM FIRST EDITION, 1869.] 
Our success in grape growing, and in the propa- 
gation of grape vines, has been _ Penner 
in fact, far beyond our expectations. In 
the very great competition even of rarer well ti 
and long established nurseries, this success is 
produce for next season a 
stock, not excelled by any other establishment in 
the country in quality, and embracing almost every 
valuable variety. 
edo not pretend to furnish “‘detter and cheaper 
vines than can be afforded by any other establish- 
ment.” We do not pretend that “money-making 
is secondary with us, ’”’ we leave this to others; all 
we do claim is, that we hope to merit a reasonable 
share of patronage, the continued confidence of our 
customers, and a fair profit. 
Pag this connection, we cannot refrain from refer- 
& with a certain pride to the voluntary assurances 
ol, satisfaction we received, some of which are 
— herewith. Desiring to return our thanks to 
customers in an appropriate and tangible form, 
eis fe eae to a desire often expressed by our 
corr ents, we concluded to ae them with 
a fine Wess and Descriptive Catalogue, wherein 
the characteristic and relative merits of our differ- 
ent varieties are clearly stated. 
We leave it to others to judge of its merits. We 
tried to get up something better than a mere price 
list, something that will be interesting and useful to 
progressive grape culturists, and have not spared 
time, labor or money in preparing it. 
It has become customary to prefix toa descrip- 
tive Catalogue of fruits and flowers some brief 
directions “i their cultivation, and we have been 
urged to do me. 
We are aca however, that some short and very 
incomplete directions, ‘‘a few hints,” do more harm 
than good. They generally only confuse the tyro 
growing as a very easy mat- 
a, requiring no lar, rger outlay of capital, nor any 
more knowledge, skill, and labor than to produce a 
This we do not wish to do 
Fuller, Husmann, Strong, and others, are not pur- 
chased by every grape grower, and that many of 
ese are somewhiat afraid of reading whole books. 
Moreover, considerable progress h made in 
pe culture since these books were written; their 
very authors, indefatigable horticulturists as they 
are, have by study and expe ed 
write their works for new editions, and thus we came 
to the conclusion that a short manual, containing 
y te a ee ee +3 . Sa + } +3 enl= 
ture, and,training of Grape-vines, and offered for less 
than its cost, would be welcome. We have availed 
ourselves of the writings of our friend and teacher, 
Husmann, and of the works of Downing, Fuller, 
others, to whom due credit is given in 
3; and while we lay little claim to 
and profit to some, at least, of those into 
whose hands it may come. 
‘(INTRODUCTION TO NEW EDITION—1875,] 
Six years, embracing the most disastrous and the 
the Phylloxera, has led toa new, & RADICAL study 
of the American Grape Vines 
Our cei as grape growers. and propagators 
eulture and propagation of small fruits &c., and 
devoted all the our grounds, all our means, 
cares and attention to Grape CULTURE ONLY AND 
EXCLUSIVELY, for which we have unusual facilities, 
and a most favorable soil and location. This en 
tageous to the public, and even to the 
leading nurseries of other branches of Horticulture, 
to deal with us, whose grape nursery business is 
mitted to be the first and most extensive of 
its kind in po United States of America. 
Weo ur reputation to our determination to 
give entire satisfaction, and to deserve the en- 
tire eonfidence of our customers, furnishing none 
but good, healthy, genuine plants, unmixed, and 
true to name, packed in the best manner, at as low 
prices as possible. 
We have no seedlings ot our own, and impartially 
