2 PETER HENDERSON & CO.— INTRODUCTORY. 



PACKING. — Ifo charge is made for boxes, baskets or packing, and all goods are delivered at express or freight 

 ofSces in New York free of charge. Our system of packing is so complete that we now ship evcnj day, no matter 

 how cold or how hot the weather may be, and during the season of 1881 we averaged only one complaint in every 

 four hmidred orders. 



WE GTTABiANTEE safe delivery of all Flowering and Ornamental 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, when a month after, from inattention or 

 other causes, Plants have failed and complaint is then made. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.— We are in receipt of huudi-eds of letters annually, asking for 

 information on subjects connected with Horticulture. These we shall always be pleased to answer, provided fiat 

 each question is put clearly liy 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. 



HOW WE TEST SEEDS. — We think we possess some peculiar advantages as Seedsmen that we wish to 

 tell to those to whom we are not personally known. The senior member of our firm is now, and has been for the 

 past thirty-five years, personally engaged in growing Fruits, Flowers and Vegetables — in short, is a " Practical Gard- 

 ener" in the most comprehensive sense of the term. Our Flojists' or Greenhouse establishment, which he per- 

 sonally superintends, covers nearly four acres, solid in glass, and employs an average of seventy hands thi-oughout 

 the year. These Greenhouses being at all temperatures, give us a certain means of testing the germinating 

 qualities of all our Seeds, and no Seeds of any importance are ever sold without being subject to the most 

 thorough test. We have, also, for the past eight years, had a piece of ground set apart as an experimental 

 GARDEN, wherein samples of all the leading Vegetables and novelties in Flowers are tested. The value of this 

 plan can hardly be estimated. Xot only docs it enable us to judge of what is meritorious in new varieties, but 

 what is far better bj- this comparative test, to discard all varieties that in our judgment are unworthy of cultiva- 

 tion, by actual experiment under our direct personal superintendence. We cordially invite any one interested in 

 such experiments to call and examine during the Summer and Fall months. 



OUR GARDENS IN JERSEY CITY are within forty minutes' time, by Ferry Boat and Horse Cars, 

 from our Seed Store, 35 Cortlandt Street, Xew York, where a card, with plain directions of " How to reach the 

 Nursery," wiU be given to any one applying. 



Parties wishing to see Peter Henderson personally will find him at the Greenhouses till 12 M., and at his 

 office in New York fi-om 1.30 to 3 P. M. 



ABOUT WARRANTING SEEDS. — The question is repeatedly asked us, if we guarantee or warrant 

 Seeds. Wc beg to state most emphatically that we do not, and our employes have strict orders never to do so ia 

 any case. Though well believing that the Seeds we oSer are unsui-passed in quality, yet our practical experi- 

 ence of many years as Market Gardeners and Florists, has well assured us of the fact that crops may fail, no 

 matter h6w fresh or pure the seed sown to produce them may be. Failure of germination of Seeds may be pro- 

 duced from causes that the utmost care from the most experienced cultivators cannot control, and the maturing 

 of crops also repeatedly fail, 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 httle short of quackery. 



OUR FLOWER SEED DEPARTMENT win be found full and complete. Many of our choicest vari- 

 eties we save seed of each season at our gi-ounds in Jersey City, where, also, all novelties 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 Hst of " Novelties and Specialties in Flower Seeds," our "General List" wiU be found to contain 

 many rare and newer varieties not olfered by other houses. 



SOWING OF FLOWER SEEDS.-See article, page 5. 



XOW-PRICED LIST OF PLANTS.- See page 119. 



