PETER HENDERSON & CO.-INTRODUCTORY. 



THE PRACTICAL TESTING OF SEEDS, 



as carried on in our Green-houses and in the open ground, has proved to be of the utmost value, 

 both to ourselves and to those to whom Ave sell. In this practice we claim to be pioneers, for when, 

 in 1872, we first made known our practical way of testing seeds, our cotemporaries attempted to 

 laugh it down, apparently supposing it to be merely an advertising dodge ; but after a few seasons it 



became noised abroad that the results of this practice were 

 proving exceptionally beneficial to us, so that to-day as 

 one result there is scarcely a seed house in the country but 

 what claims to do the same thing. The small illustration 

 here given is a reproduction of a section of our Seed Test- 

 ing Green-house, as it appears during the winter and early 

 spring. All these tests are carried on under the personal 

 supervision of Peter Henderson and the other members 

 of the firm, and, as the author of "■Gardening for Profit" 

 has had as long and as varied an experience as most men 

 in operations connected with the soil, it will be seen that 

 we are placed in a position to judge not only as to the 

 germinating qualities, but, what is of far more importance, the purity of, and the kinds of seeds 

 best suited for all gardening purposes. 



Al"k/"\|l4" \A/o VVO trf" I 1T\ Cf QodflQ — The question is repeatedly asked us if we 

 T\KJKJKA L VVai I ailLlllg OCCUO. guarantee or warrant Seeds. We beg to 

 state most emphatically that we do not, and our employees have strict orders never to do so in any case. Though 

 well believing that the Seeds we offer are unsurpassed in quality, yet our practical experience of many years as 

 Market Gardeners and Florists has fully assured us of the fact that crops may fail, no matter how fresh or pure the 

 Seed sown to produce them may be. Failure of germination of Seed may result from causes that the utmost care 

 from 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 power can avert. Hence, to guarantee Seeds to invariably produce a perfect 

 ■crop would be little short of quackery. 



MWW11 



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SEED TESTS IN GREEN-HOUSE. 



Novelties in Seeds and Plants SwltSd^S 



back with considerable satisfaction, and see how large a proportion have become permanent additions to existing 

 lists, both in this country and in Europe. This season it will be seen we make two classifications of Novelties and 

 Specialties in Vegetable Seeds, the first comprising only such varieties as we offer this year for the first time. In 

 the second division will be found Novelties of last Season, as well as Specialties of our own, whose great value justify 

 us in calling attention to them repeatedly. 



Our Flower Seed Department ^p^i^M 



Garden. Many of the choicest varieties are saved each season at our grounds and Green-houses in Jersey City, 

 where also all varieties in this line, as they appear, are given a fair trial, and when considered desirable additions, 

 find a permanent place in our Catalogues. Besides our list of "Novelties and Specialties in Flower Seeds," our 

 General List embraces many scarce and odd varieties not usually found in other lists. 



Our Gardens & Green-houses in Jersey City 



are within forty minutes' time, by Ferry Boat and Horse Cars, from our Seed Stores, 35 & 37 Cortlandt Street, 

 New York, where a card with plain directions of " How to reach the Nursery " will be given to any one applying. 

 A view of the Green-house portion of our establishment will be found on cover of this Manual. 



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. 



O^^rlo nnH Dlon+O ff\V T7'VK\/~nH' —Our trade now extends far beyond 

 OtJfcJUO CXllKA ridllLO IUI J_iA.|yJUI I,, the confines of this continent, our 

 goods being sent to all parts of the globe. This export business, especially in Seeds, has with us reached such pro- 

 portions that we pay special attention to all such orders, giving particular care to the packing and forwarding. 



AnSWerS tO OOrreSpOnUenXS* ters annually, asking for information 

 on subjects connected with Horticulture. These we shall always be pleased to answer, provided that each question is 

 put clearly by itself, leaving a sufficient blank space beneath the question for our answer. This plan not only saves 

 us time, but the answer is more intelligible to the party in want of the information; and unless inquiries are so put, 

 we shall not consider ourselves required to reply, as we have no time to read long letters. 



