THE SEED BUSINESS FROM THE DEALERS' 

 STANDPOINT 



H. W. Gordinier, Troy, X. Y. 



Here we picture the seed business 

 which, in at least one respect, is the most 

 unique in the world. I refer to the non- 

 warranty with which every reliable seeds- 

 man sells his stock. It is a fact that we 

 cannot buy a pound of seed, a ton of seed, 

 a bushel of seed, a pint of seed, from any 

 reliable seedsman that does not contain the 

 following statement, either on the package 

 or in the bag: " John Doe & Co., gives no 

 warranty, express or implied, as to de- 

 scription, quality, productiveness or any other matter, of any 

 seeds they sell. They will not be in any way responsible for the 

 crop. If the purchaser does not accept the seed on these terms it 

 is to be returned at once." 



With almost anything else we buy we can tell something of 

 the quality of the goods, and that about which we do not know 

 the salesman will give us a guarantee. However, the seedsman 

 will guarantee nothing. Therefore, it is apparent that the seed 

 business is one in which the good reputation of the seedsman 

 counts for much — very much. Indeed, it is his stock in trade. 



WHERE THE SEED COMES PROM 



With the exception of peas, beans, corn, lettuce, onions and 



the vine seeds, from 50 to 75 per cent, of the best vegetable seed 



comes from Europe. From Denmark we get our cauliflower and 



varieties of selected cabbage. From Germany we get choice 



stocks of flower seeds and selected beets, mangels, vetches and 



rapes. Indeed, we get at least 50 per cent, of our flower seed from 



Germany, with the exception of sweet peas which are grown in 



California on about 3,000 acres. From France we get seed of 



the finest root crops, such as carrots, parsnips and radishes, and 



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