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Among the varieties of Vegetables offered 70 years ago were 

 the Valentine Bean, Large Lima Bean, Drumhead Cabbage, Long 

 Orange Carrot, White Spine Cucumber, Large Purple Egg Plant, 

 White, Yellow and Red Onion, Large Sugar Parsnip, Scarlet Turnip 

 Radish, Red Turnip-rooted Beet and the White Flat Dutch Turnip. 



These are to-day among the best varieties for garden and table 

 use, but they have been much bettered by selection. 



Selecting, selecting, selecting, has been the story of evolution 

 in the seed trade. 



Hybridizing has contributed to improving particularly the fruit- 

 ing types of vegetables such as Tomatoes, Potatoes, Egg Plants, Pep- 

 pers, etc. , but the steady and constant march forward through seven 

 decades has been achieved by virtue of the sure, unfailing methods of 

 careful and intelligent selection. 



From the very beginning it was the policy of Henry A. Dreer to 

 furnish his patrons with the very best seed stock grown, no matter 

 whence it must be procured or what efforts were required to obtain it. 

 This policy is continued to the present day. It has resulted in allying 

 with the Dreer Flouse a large auxiliary force of growers in all parts of 

 the world, a company of planters, each of whom is a specialist in 

 some particular variety of Vegetable, Flower or Plant. By this 

 method, each variety is fostered and improved under congenial con- 

 ditions by the care and labor of the men most interested in its 

 improvement. 



The best types of vegetables are found in the market gardens 

 surrounding the great cities, notably Paris, Berlin, London, Philadel- 

 phia, Boston and New York. Many of these gardeners have inherited 

 their business from their fathers and grandfathers. They are con- 

 stantly engaged in selecting and improving to obtain the best possible 

 crops for market. By keeping a watchful eye on these gardeners and 

 securing their co-operation, the House of Dreer has frequently been 

 able to offer improved varieties which surpassed anything of the kind 

 grown before. In such case, the specialist who has wrought the im- 

 provement continues to grow the seed stock under the care and super- 

 vision of the Dreer corps of experts. The stock is then taken to the 

 seed farmer in favored climates and soils and grown in large quantities 

 under personal inspection. 



The growing of Flower Seeds and Bulbs is likewise assisted by 

 Present Store and Office, 714 Chestnut St. ^ corps of auxiliary experts in all countries, and notwithstanding the 



fact that we believe our Seeds, Plants and Bulbs to be as good as can be obtained, we are constantly on the alert for 

 improvements and each year our experts make tours through Europe, visiting the most noted specialists and 

 hybridizers, thus securing new and 

 improved varieties. Our growing 

 crops in this country are critically 

 inspected and carefully handled so 

 that they will be pure and of the best 

 quality. 



An examination of the first 

 Dreer Catalogue in 1838, a photo repro- 

 duction of which is shown on page i, 

 and this Garden Book of the 70 years 

 following, reveals two interesting facts. 



One is the gradual and marked 

 decrease in prices and the other is an 

 illustration of the growth of the busi- 

 ness founded on honorable business 

 lines with an entire absence of horti- 

 cultural freaks or untried varieties of 

 any description. 



In the matter of price, the Dreer 

 Tlouse has always striven to be abso- 

 L -'y fair and just. It has never sacri- 

 fired quality to cheapness. Their 

 methods of producing and testing seed 

 stock are most exacting and necessarily 

 expensive. Through adherence to the 



Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, between Third and Fourth Streets, Seventy years 

 ago, showing location of original stor^^ 



