PETER HENDERSON & CO.-INTRODUCTORY 



Henderson's New Bush Lima Bean.-i7 5,000 packets sold m issa. o ur sales of this 



great novelty last season surpassed the most sanguine expectations, the quantity sold exceeding that of any 

 similar vegetable novelty in the same space of time either in this country or in Europe. The competition 

 for the prizes offered for the New Bush Lima was very spirited, and we received hundreds of entries 

 from all sections of the country. The successful competitors were: 



First Prize §50.00. Specimen bearing 271 pods. James H. Leggett, Oroville, Cal. 



Second Prize 25.00. " " 213 " J. J. Kemruerer, Catasauqua, Pa. 



Third Prize 15.00. " " 161 " Eichards Bros., Springfield, 111. 



Fourth Prize 10.00. " " 157 " S. A. Livingstone, Port Byron, 111. 



In awarding the prizes we considered rigidly the terms of our offer, and a number of entries received were rejected from the fact 

 that the specimens on arrival had the pods detached ; some others again were received after the date specified, November 1st, and conse- 

 quently could not be considered. This was the case with two specimens received from Mr. Leggett (whose first entry, received by us 

 October 5th, secured the first prize) ; his last two entries did not reach us until November 6th, and so were disqualified. Would state, 

 however, that they were magnificent specimens, one containing 294 pods, and the other 261 pods. 



JTraCtlCai 1 eSlS. (See view of our Trial Grounds on previous page.) — The seed business is a peculiar 

 one, and differs from nearly all others in the fact that after the seeds are sown weeks and often months must 

 elapse before their germinating qualities or purity can be established, and so for this reason the exchange of 

 seeds between buyer and seller must ever be entirely a matter of con- 

 fidence, and that confidence, we believe, can only be lastingly held by 

 such seed firms as are known to test their seeds before selling. While 

 we plume ourselves on the fact that of the very few firms who test their 

 seeds, the methods we practice are as complete and thorough as any, yet 

 the results we obtain are not always conclusive, because our practical 

 experience of many years as market gardeners and florists has fully as- 

 sured us of the fact that crops may fail, no matter how fresh or pure the 

 seed sown to produce them may be. The failure of seed to germinate 

 may result from causes that the utmost care of the most experienced 

 cultivators cannot control, and the maturing of crops also repeatedly 

 fails, so as to be a total loss, from causes that no human being can avert. 

 Hence, to guarantee seeds to invariably produce a perfect crop, is little short of quackery. And while we 

 are justified in believing that the seeds we offer are unsurpassed in quality, still, for the reasons above given, 

 we have always stated most emphatically that we do not (and our employees also have Strict orders never to 

 do so), under any circumstances, guarantee or warrant seeds. 



PROTECTION TO CONSUMERS OF SEED. 



Vegetable and Grass Seeds bought by consumers directly from us are now sent out in packages, which 

 are sealed with our trade-mark label, shown in the accompanying illustration. We solicit your orders direct, 

 but, as it is sometimes more convenient to buy seeds of local dealers, and you have a preference for ours, 

 please ask for Seeds done up in our packages, sealed with our red trade-mark label. This will be positive proof 

 to you that you are getting Peter Henderson & Co.'s Tested Seeds. This trade-mark label (which is of varying 



SEED TESTS IN GREEN-HOCSE. 



sizes) is printed on red paper with black 

 lip of the bag or package. We began 

 having been reluctantly forced to adopt 

 had been made to us by buyers, where 

 them other seeds under the mantle of 

 ness of selling seeds in this way is 

 many of whom now order seeds put up 

 red ti"ade-mark label. That it should 

 out that this was the safest way to send 

 kind will for long periods run in the old 



ink, and in most cases is affixed over the 

 this practice of sealed packages in 1886, 

 it because of the many complaints that 

 unscrupulous dealers had foisted on 

 our hard earned reputation. The fair- 

 rapidly being acknowledged by dealers, 

 in our original packages, sealed with the 

 have taken so many years for us to find 

 seeds out, only goes to show how man- 

 ruts. If Pears' Soap or the Royal 



Baking Powder is demanded, and will only be accepted by the buyer in original packages, how much 

 more important is it that Garden Seeds, on which time, labor and money is to be expended, should reach 

 the consumer's hand in such shape that there can be no question as to their coming from the source 

 they purport to emanate from. Hence we ask customers for our mutual protection to see that .all packages 

 of Vegetable and Grass Seeds are sealed with our red trade-mark label. 



