PREFACE 
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8 SS Cte Dia oo =- 
In presenting our Plant Catalogue for the season of 1884, we beg to call the attention of 
our customers to a few points which may be of interest and value to them. Prominent 
among these is our liberal offer of the ‘“Vovelties of the Season,” as well as the older 
varieties, in collections, at Jow rates. (See page 98.) Many of the novelties, which are now 
offered for the first time, are controlled by us exclusively, and cannot be procured elsewhere. 
As instances we would mention the grand “Sunset” Rose, the new Double Abutilon, Verbena 
“ America,” Dwarf Feverfew “ Little Gem,” and many others. 
Another feature is the engravings of flower beds, and estimates for filling the same, to be 
found near the end of this catalogue. 
A New Book.—Our very liberal offer of Mr. Henderson’s new book, ‘Garden and Farm 
Topics,” (price, $1.50,) on all orders of $5.00 and upwards, we again referto. How to obtain 
it will be found fully detailed in the introductory pages of this manual. 
O ur Plant De artment three years ago embraced 120,000 square feet of glass. Dur- 
p ing the season of 1882, over 1,200 sashes were added, so that 
to-day our Plant Department covers nearly four acres solid in glass, probably double in extent that of any other 
establishment on this Continent. Our green-houses being arranged so that they can be graded to any temperature, 
the most perfect health and vigor possible are given to the Plants, and with these unsurpassed pdvantages we are 
able to compete with any in the matter of prices. 
Plants for Ex ort —Our trade now extends far beyond the confines of our own conti- 
p * nent, our goods being sent to all parts of the globe. This export busi- 
ness has with us reached such proportions that we pay special attention to all such orders, giving particular care 
to the packing and forwarding. 
. —We send Plants by mail (at Catalogue prices) if desired, 
Forwarding of Orders. but earnestly advise that wherever there is an Express 
office, Plants should never be sent by mail, as we not only send larger and finer Plants when sent by express, but 
they arrive in better condition, and we always add enough, gratis, to cover express charges. It will also be to 
the interest of purchasers to leave the selection of varieties to us, as it is difficult to judge of the merits of varieties 
by descriptions. 
Packin —WNo charge 1s made for boxes, baskets, or packing, and all goods are delivered at express or 
g. freight offices in New York free of charge. Our system of packing is so complete that we 
now ship every day, no matter how cold or how hot the weather may be, oe during the season of 1883 we aver- 
aged only one complaint in about every four hundred orders. 
We Guara ntee safe delivery of all Plants or Seeds when sent by mail or express, but all Plants 
sent by freight are entirely at the risk of the purchaser. Complaints, however, 
must be made at once on receipt of goods. We will not hold to our guarantee if, a month after, from inattention 
or other causes, Plants have failed, and complaint is then made. 
: : vithin forty minutes’ time, by Ferry Boat and 
Our Gardens in Jersey City 2.27 ure 
orse Cars, from our Seed Stores, 35 and 37 
Cortlandt Street, New York, where a card with plain directions of ‘‘ How to reach the Nursery” will be given to 
any one applying. 
Parties wishing to see Peter Henderson personally will find him at the Green-houses till 12 M., and at his 
office in New York from I to 3 P. M. 
| —Every season we are applied to for cuttings. We sell no cut- 
We Sell N O Cuttings. tings, long experience having shown us that the plan is a bad 
one for both buyer and seller. When cuttings are packed they generate a damp that is almost certain to destroy ~ 
them before they would root ; and to us who sell it would really be more trouble to detach and pack cuttings thar. 
to send plants. To such as want small plants at low rates, we refer to Index for Low PRIcE List. 
The Best Do zen —From both amateur and professional cultivators we have complaints that 
¢ everywhere the practice is to grow too many varieties, so that the selection 
of the ‘* best” from catalogues is impossible even by those best qualified to do so. To help such, we have selected 
wuat in our judgment are the 12 ‘‘best and most distinct” kinds, whether new or old; for many of the sorts 
of ten and even twenty years ago are yet unequaled. ‘‘ The best dozen” embraces Monthly and Hybrid Perpetual 
Roses, Double and Single GERANIUMS, VERBENAS, FUCHSIAS, CARNATIONS, Large Flowering and Bouquet 
Dau1iias, Large and Small Flowering CHRYSANTHEMUMS, CANNAS, CROTONS, Fancy CALADIUMS, COLEUS, 
LANTANAS, FERNS, etc. See Index. 
