Join Star Roses in Celebrating K Years in Business 



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Dear Friends: 



1897-1972 — Yes, that is us, celebrating our 75th year in business. Almost as old as I (I'll be 83 in January 1972), and I am 

 well aware that what counts is not how old you are, but what you are. In our case I feel that how old we are tells more 

 about what we are. You simply do not remain in business for 75 years unless the principles on which you operate are sound. 



As a 75th anniversary deserves something special, I hope you will indulge me and let me tell you a bit about those 75 years. 

 Actually, we go back even further. Alfred Conard, our Founder, was a partner in the Dingee & Conard Co. (now defunct) 

 established here at West Grove prior to the Civil War. He separated from them (reportedly over an argument about the use 

 of Company funds) to start his own business in 1892. 



We became the Conard & Jones Co. in 1897. In 1899 Robert Pyle, who was to guide the destiny of the business for 45 

 years, joined the firm, and after Alfred Conard died in 1906 he purchased a large share of the business. In 1923 we became 

 The Conard-Pyle Co. 



Shortly after taking charge, Robert Pyle decided that we would thrive best if we had a specialty. After careful study he 

 fixed upon the ROSE as the loveliest of flowers and the one which would always be popular, with continuing demand year 

 after year. After all these years we have seen no need to deviate from our specialty. 



A desire for quality and integrity led Robert Pyle to the plain but effective symbol of the "Star" to identify our products. 

 Thus in 1908, the Star became one of the earliest trademarks in our industry and STAR ROSES was born. 



Integrity led Robert Pyle to guarantee our Star Roses "to grow and bloom as they should for one growing season." This 

 was unheard of at the time and created quite a bit of consternation and criticism from our competitors. But after all, what is 

 the purpose of quality if you cannot stand back of it. We have and we do. 



Again very early in his career Robert Pyle realized the importance of adding new and improved kinds of roses for our cus- 

 tomers. Europe was the focal point for rose breeding at that time, and his first trip in search of new roses was made in 1911. 



Since then we have made dozens of trips (I went for the ninth time with my grandson, Sidney III, in June 1971). Not 

 only that, we travel all over America and even to the Orient looking for good new roses (and other plants) to bring to you. 

 From our travels have come hundreds of important new roses from the world's leading hybridizers. We take great pride in 

 the fine roses we have introduced to American gardens. 



In 1938 our firm joined in the formation of All-America Rose Selections, an organization that tests new roses from many 

 different sources and gives Awards to the best each year. There are 23 of these Test Gardens throughout the U.S.A., one of 

 which is located at The Conard-Pyle Co. Seventeen of our introductions have been winners of the coveted All-America Rose 

 Selections Award. The latest is PORTRAIT, one of the two winners for 1972. The greatest was our introduction of the 

 fabulous PEACE rose as an All-America Award Winner for 1946. 



In 1951 on the death of Robert Pyle, my associates, my two sons and I purchased his interest in the Company. Since that 

 time we have designed and added new facilities to continually improve our products and our services, doubled our land to 

 grow better roses, built new cold-storage facilities and streamlined our handling and shipping methods to get our plants 

 into your hands nursery-fresh. I believe we are big enough to serve you, yet small enough to know you. 



My 42 years with Star Roses make up more than half of our 75-year history. I am proud of our past and look to the future. 

 We will strive to give you even better quality and service. 



An interesting sidelight of American history occurred when we purchased a farm in 1927. A stipulation in an old deed to 

 a part of the land called for the payment of "one red rose" as rental to the heirs or assigns of William Penn if same be de- 

 manded. In 1936 we revived the custom and started to use the occasion to present our new roses. If you are in our vicinity 

 any year on the first Saturday following Labor Day, drop in and join us for the ceremony which we call RED ROSE RENT 

 DAY. Also enjoy the 40 acres of our rose fields in bloom, which are always open to the public. 



In keeping our tradition continuously alive, I am again pleased this year to be bringing you some new roses and other 

 plants that I know you will enjoy. Particularly am I pleased with the new All-America Award Winning Rose for 1972, POR- 

 TRAIT, created by Carl Meyer of Cincinnati, Ohio, the only amateur hybridizer ever to win an All-America Award. And 

 I find its companion winner, APOLLO, well worth recommending as a much-needed yellow with exceptional vigor and lots 

 of bloom. See the new Miniature rose Shooting Star on page 38. 



Also I am pleased to have for you something new in gardening — especially selected, named kinds of the famed Exbury 

 Hybrid Azaleas which you will find on pages 48 and 49. I am doubly pleased that the Azalea Golden Peace, the finest yellow 

 Azalea yet introduced, was developed here. 



I commend to you also the new hybrid Hollies you will find on page 50 as something new, distinct and an unusually hardy 

 addition to the American landscape. 



We send our good wishes for many happy days of gardening to all of you from all of us on our 75th anniversary here at 

 STAR ROSES. 



^^^6^-^ 



S. B. Hutton, Sr. 



Chairman of the Board 



THE CONARD-PYLE CO., WEST GROVE, PA. 19390 



See Rose Fact Sheet and Rose Index on 

 pages 28 and 29 



Phone: (215) 869-2426 



Copyright 1972, The Conard-Pyle Co. 



Printed in U. S. A. 



