A Letter to Old Friends and New 



LAST year in writing the annual seed catalog, our company departed radically from established traditions. We 

 tried to make it different in that it avoided all duplication of varieties; in that it presented to our customers 

 J a seed book which might be used as a work of reference concerning varieties and varietal names; including 

 their origin and history, and lastly in that it aimed to tell only the truth about each and every item forming a part 

 of the book. This entire change in policy brought forth a host of comments from our friends and neighbors as well as 

 from competing seedsmen. As we write this we have before us on one side a stack of commendations while on the 

 other side we have an equal number of criticisms. In our new catalog we have tried to make use of the information 

 given by those friends who commended our efforts as well as by those friends who criticized them. 



The 1921 seed book has not been greatly changed. Corrections have been made wherever experience has taught 

 us more. A large number of new and, we believe, better photographs have been secured and added to the book. The 

 pen and ink drawings of types remain, as our friends have told us they prove very useful. Several varieties which we 

 have found in the past year to be superfluous, have been eliminated while several others which we eliminated with 

 undue haste have been replaced. As far as we know there is no duplication of varieties. Each one of them is distinct. 

 It is our aim now as in the past to simplify varietal nomenclature so that it will be equally simple for the most amateur 

 gardener to use our catalog as it is for the most experienced market gardener. 



The stocks of vegetables and flowers which we offer have been either grown by ourselves, or for us by the most 

 reliable American and foreign houses which we know. All the seed, before mailing, has undergone duplicate germination 

 tests from representative samples and no seed of weak vitality will be sent out under any circumstances. This will 

 assure, under average conditions, a good stand from every packet of seed purchased from us. 



We have made a complete revision of the various departments of our catalog. As usual the vegetable seed depart- 

 ment stands preeminent, and has been improved in efficiency for handling orders and in serving our customers in every 

 possible way, by giving them information as to price, cultural data, etc. Our fruit and ornamental tree department 

 is now being conducted separately and we are issuing an additional four-page 1921 catalog which accompanies our. 

 seed book. By making this department independent, we expect to handle orders more rapidly and with greater 

 efficiency than heretofore. Furthermore it is now possible to secure many varieties of trees which have been extremely 

 scarce for the past few years. In the live-stock department we furnished many of our customers live-stock and 

 poultry which satisfied every expectation. As in the past we stand ready to help our friends in purchasing live-stock 

 and poultry but are not listing them in the mail order catalog this year. 



The flower seed department has been given about twice as much space as in the past. This is in line with our 

 policy to further develop this part of our business. During the past year we have grown large quantities of flower seed 

 on Windermoor Farm and have secured, in addition, excellent stocks from one of our French growers who has again 

 resumed production after the war. 



Our plant growing department has been further enlarged owing to the fact that last year we were not able to 

 supply the requirements of all our customers. Practically all of the plants offered will be grown under glass by us on 

 Windermoor Farm. The quality will be as high as usual and replacements made when delivered in poor condition. 



In order to avoid confusion we are listing only the postpaid retail prices in the catalog. On pages 97 and 98 will 

 be found a Wholesale Market Gardeners' List which offers favorable prices when purchasing seed in quantities. 



As in the past we are always glad to welcome visitors to Windermoor Farm. We issue a general invitation to our 

 friends and customers and assure them that they will be amply repaid by visiting us. The most interesting time to 

 make the visit is during August and September. 



Faithfully yours, 



Windermoor House STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY. 



January 1, 1921 



See our fruit tree catalog for apples, pears, peaches, cherries, strawberries, etc. Sent free. 



