V. 



is legion." We cannot refrain from expressing our gratification at the many 

 tokens of confidence shown ns by some 30,000 regular purchasers, (and the 

 number is rapidly increasing,) \'\'ho annually order from us their supply of 

 Garden, Flower and Field Seeds. Had we the time and space \ve might pub- 

 lish a volume of vohiutary letters of commendation which we are constantly 

 receiving from all parts of the country, but as it is not our purpose to use the 

 follov^ing pages as an advertising medium, we shall adhere to the original inten- 

 tion of making D. M. Ferry & Go's Catalogue a Standard Treatise 

 on the Cultivation of Vegetables and Flowers. 



We are met vrith frequent enquiries in regard to the details of our business. 

 We can, perhaps, in no better way answer these numerous questions, than by 

 reprinting the following extract (with a few minor changes) which appeared in 

 our last issue ; the more especially as mc apprehend this edition will be 

 read by thousands who were not so fortunate as to receive our 1S74 Catalogue : 



Froin the Detroit Weekly Tribune. 



THE MAMMOTH SEED TEADl OF D. M. FERRY & CO. 



We have frequently solicited the firm whose- name appears at the head of 

 this article, to allow us to review their business as a news item, but their mod- 

 esty prevented until several eastern houses established the precedent, some of 

 them proclaiming themselves the largest seed houses in the world. We have 

 long known that this firm was doing an immense business in their line, but had 

 no idea until we visited them, that Detroit could boast of a Seed Estabhshment 

 of such proportions — certainly the eqtial, and, we think, (by comparing statis- 

 tics we have gathered) by odds, the largest establishment of the kind in America. 

 The following is the result of information courteously furnished by members of 

 the firm, and the observations of a reporter of The Tribune, who recently 

 visited the establishment : 



COMPOSITION OF THE FIRM. 



The house was estabhshed in 1856, under the style of M. T. Gardner & 

 Co., Mr. Feny being an equal partner at its organization. The struggle for 

 mere existence was long and severe, and for several years it was questionable 

 whether the business would prove an ultimate success or not, as its growth was 

 so imperceptible, that it was often impossible to foretell on which side of profit 

 and loss account the annual balance would appear. 



On Mr. Gardner's retiring, Mr. Ferry took his position at the head of the 

 house ; and, by industry, business skill and just d,ealing, succeeded in establish- 

 ing its financial position. Several minor clianges in the firm occurred up to 

 1867, when the firm of D. M. Ferry & Co. was formed under ^hose auspices 

 the business has reached its present gigantic proportions. The firm is composed 

 of D. M. Ferry, H. K. White, C. C. Bowen and A. E. F. White, all of 

 whom are comparatively young men. 



Their business is justly their pride, and they devote their whole time to it, 

 \Adth an enthixsiasm that has achieved the greatest success. 



THEIR ^WARE ROOMS. 



They occupy four stores of the four story block comer of Woodward and 

 Grand River Avenues, excepting the cellar and first floor of No. igg, and the 



