Dear Fellow-Gardener : 



It is my happy privilege to tell you that this issue of our Home Garden 

 Guide commemorates the 100th Anniversar}^ of Ferry's Seeds! 



Our firm, founded by D. M. Ferry in 1856, has grown steadily through 

 the years and today enjoys a world-wide reputation. We are proud of 

 the fact that we have successfully weathered five wars and at least half 

 a dozen major depressions and financial panics. We are proud, too, 

 that today's seed packet, despite inflation and our heavy investment 

 in research and plant breeding, sells in approximately the same price 

 range as its rather primitive counterpart of 100 years ago! 



Over the years, we have developed and introduced 199 new varieties 

 of vegetables, 123 of which are in common use today. We have intro- 

 duced 300 varieties of flowers. Our current research program is the 

 largest in our history and we are exploring new techniques in hybrid- 

 ism, polyploidy (doubling of chromosomes) and irradiation, which 

 open up entirely new possibilities in plant breeding. This book's cover 

 and color pages give a sample of the results which this project is pro- 

 ducing, and while I should perhaps not play favorites, I cannot resist 

 urging every flower gardener to try our New Century Zinnias in 1956. 

 You will discover, as I have in my own garden, flower size and lumi- 

 nous color-shades never known before. I sincerely believe this is one 

 of the greatest flower breeding accomplishments of all time. 



We of Ferry-Morse Seed Co. pledge that we shall maintain the pol- 

 icies that have made us strong and successful in our first hundred 

 years. We have only one objective— to continue to produce the finest 

 garden seeds and make them conveniently available everywhere. 



Yours for better gardens 



^S^. . v^ J « 



STEPHEN BEALE 



President, ferry-morse seed co. 



