Suggestions For Ordering Seeds by Mail 



FOR SENDING MONEY the safest and best way is 

 by post office money order, bank or express company 

 draft or registered letter, for then you have a receipt in 

 case your letter becomes lost. 



WE GUARANTEE THE SAFE ARRIVAL of all 

 shipments whether by mail, express or freight. 



FURTHERMORE, we want it definitely understood, 

 bv all who trade with us, that it is our desire and purpose 

 that everything we sell shall prove satisfactory. Should 

 there be cause for complaint, we want it understood that 

 we are here to adjust matters. 



TERMS. In order that there may be no delays, we 

 suggest that cash accompany all orders. This system 

 also benefits our customers who are thus saved carrying a 

 share of other people's accounts. On the matter of pre- 

 payment of goods, we pay postage on all seeds in packet, 

 ounce, quarter-pound, pound or five pound. For the 

 convenience of those who order in quantity, we have 

 made a special five-pound "by express" price on which 

 system the customer pays the expense of transportation on 

 arrival of goods. 



Special Day Letters 



TO OUR FELLOW SEEDSMEN AND OTHERS: 



You will find in this book a great many historical references 

 regarding the origin and history of vegetables and of American 

 varieties of vegetables. We have spent several months in compiling 

 this information and accuracy of statement has been of paramount 

 importance. Where such a vast amount of detail is involved and 

 because certain sources are more or less mythical and unauthentic, 

 there is chance for error. If we have not credited the proper 

 persons or if we have made mistakes on other points, please accept 

 our apologies in advance and our assurance that all proven errors 

 ■will be corrected next year if you will advise us. 



TO MARKET GARDENERS: 



Long custom of the trade has trained many market gardeners 

 and truckers to look for a special catalog. While frankly admitting 

 that the quantity bulk buyer should receive special price con- 

 siderations, we feel (perhaps pardonably) that there is iiufor- 

 mation in this book which is invaluable to every market gardener. 

 We could not give this information in a separate publication with- 

 out large additional expense. Careful examination of our quan- 

 tity ' ' by express ' ' prices will prove that this saving has enabled 

 us to make quotations which are consistent with the high standard 

 maintained. For this reason we do not publish a special edition 

 for market gardeners. 



TO THOSE UNABLE TO FIND GOOD SEED: 



Without making personal implication, it is nevertheless a very 

 normal trait with people as they grow older to look with despair 

 on new conditions and wish for the return of the good old days. 

 This factor is no doubt partially responsible for the very general 

 cry (especially among the older gardeners) that vegetable seeds 

 are not as they used to be. The seed industry has suffered greatly 

 by stress of war. One man, qualified to speak, has stated that 

 seed stocks have gone back thirty years, and our 3 919 trials 

 do their full part to carry out the truth of this statement. In this 

 connection let us merely state that as a result of the information 

 which we now hold we are (so far as our own seeds are concerned) 

 bringing to bear every possible factor to raise the fallen standards, 

 not only to their original position, but we hope, within another 

 twelve months, to have them even ahead of pre-war standards. 



TO OLD CUSTOMERS OF JOHNSON & STOKES: 



We have no doubt that there are a great many men and women 

 ordering seed from this book who have ordered from us when 

 the firm was Johnson & Stokes. When the tragic break in the 

 parnership came in 1906, we lost trace of some of the old records, 

 including certain editions of the catalog. Subject to our acceptance 

 on receipt of your letter, we will g^ve one dollar each for any 

 Johnson & Stokes Catalog. In this connection we might be inter- 

 ested in other seedsmen 's catalogs dated prior to 1900 and a 

 similar offer will probably be made on them if you will notify 

 us of what you have to dispose of. 



TO CANNERS: 



Being not oblivious to the cry for higher seed standards 

 on the part of those connected with the canning industry and with 

 vegetable growing generally ; and having proven conclusively in 

 several instances that we were able to render real assistance in 

 certain rather large operations, we offer the services of our com- 

 pany for the work of specialized seed production along such lines 

 as may be possible. If our organization can be of service to 

 you, we will accept the work. If we find we cannot be, we shall 

 be very frank in saying so at the very outset. This offer is made 

 in all sincerity and is backed by confidence bom of success in 

 such endeavor. 



TO THOSE WHO CLAIM SOMETHING NEW: 



We are constantly being advised by our friends and customers 

 that they have something new they want us to try. Although it 

 is not customary for us to doubt this word, we, nevertheless, want 

 to reinforce it by personal examination. To all, therefore, who 

 wish our attention called to some new variety or to some new strain 

 of an old variety, we would throw out the caution that in order 

 to consummate the matter, it is desirable for us to see the specimen 

 growing in its natural conditions of grovrth. As the introducers 

 of over fifty important new varieties, our friends will recognize 

 that we have not been slow to accept new things. Very often, how- 

 ever, we find that several years' work is necessary before they are 

 offered as new varieties and sometimes we find that the stock in 

 question is only a good selection from an old variety and not one 

 to which a new name can be attached. Please remember that it is 

 quite necessary for us to see the growing plant, for there are very 

 few new things under the sun. 



