1804.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
91 
LOVERS OF FLOWERS, ATTENTION I 
CUSTOMERS BADLY SWINI>IVi::i> I 
Ouantrcll Conquered toy Flowers, and a nice Home saved! 
My Seeds Too Good, and a Lawsuit 
Threatened ! 
Bead How Customers arc Treated by 
JAMES V1CK, Boclierter, New-York, 
and >end for a flue Catalogue of 
lll'ty pogo», wit It twenty-live 
Engraving*. a "<l ono 
Colored Plate. 
EXTRACTS PBOM LETTERS FROM CUSTOMEUS. 
From Sakah J. QMFFrrn; Batosvllle, Noble Co., Ohio. 
v'.mr Flower Seods I got this Summer gavo (rood satlsfac- 
tloo il, BvBTOrtJliM of rinks were beautiful, and admir- 
ed by oil. 
rrom Wii.Li.vu Lucas, Normandy, St. Louis Co., Mo„ Aus. 
Boeoorteoongli to mall me your next Catalogue as iBBOn 
asimullsled The ll.iwer Seeds yon sent me Blip Spring, 
h,v turnoi on beyond all expectation, especially the 
Astern- tUey we™ Hieadmlnitlon of everyone I never saw 
finer ii'i nv lite either In this country or Europe Tl c 
Tioul.l 7 id is I nracd out spl,-ndld%--about eight don He 
!l„\ve!-sont"f ten seeds, and they were as double and line 
dahlia. 
From Mrs. R. U. Sherman*, N. Hartford, Ouoida Co., N. T., 
Sept 1,1868: _ . 
The Aster* from the seeds purchased of you last Spring 
Uavobeen Ee wonder and admiration of all our acquaint- 
U0B&f£ftna near. The pleasure we have derived in be- 
SSrtiJ the beautiful houqueta made from them on number- 
less Mends, baa repaid us fifty fold for the small expense and 
care they cost. 
From Mrs. Dr. FOSTBB, Clifton Springs, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1863 : 
The aBter Seed you sent me when Mr. Foster procured his 
Vegetable Seeds have produced flowers so bcautim and 
. -r in color, size, and every development, that I hasten 
SkyoS tor Che grenl pleasure they ailord us hourly 
and to "say I am sure I could procure you many customers U 
you would scud me some Catalogues. 
From Geo. E. Jennings, Waupun, "Wisconsin, Sept. 1S63: 
The seeds had of you last Spring proved very satisfactory. 
My Aston now arc splendid. X have them Jive and a quarter 
in diameter. 
From W. P. Havens, Corning, IN". Y„ Oct. 11, 1S63 : 
I obtained a package of Double Zinnia Seeds of you this 
Spring, and sowed only » part. I think every seed planted 
crew A tow turned out single and a few .semi-double. I 
had one which produced nearly or quite twenty flowers, 
some «d them as !ar"c as a good sized dahlia: and more com- 
pact and more petals in the bloom, by at least fifty per 
cent, than shown In the engraving in your Catalogue, 
From B. W. Steehe, Adrian, MIcliigan, Oct. 12, ISG3: 
The Flower Seeds obtained from you this Spring produced 
fine results The Asters took a first premium, and I thmk 
tbc Double Zinnias would, If I could have preserved them 
from an early trust. 
From Mrs.M.tRT K Monro x,B attic Crcek,Mich.,Oct.l7. 1S63 : 
Send me a Seed Catalogue, as soon as published in the 
Spring. My Asters from your seed were splendid. 
From Elizabeth B. Sbklyk, Bethel, Conn., Septal, 1863 : 
The Double Zinnias I had of yon are charming. The flow- 
ers are very full and dunble. 1 counted twenty-one rows of 
petal" on 'one flower. One plant has borne one hundred 
blossoms. I am impatient to see your new 1 lower Cata- 
logue. 
From Mablkn M. Glenn, Nobletown, Pa., Oct., 1803: 
The Flower Seed> I obtained from you last Spring ail came 
up and gave me aud others great satisfaction. 
From RODEBT J. HARRIS, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1S03: 
The Seeds I ordered of you last Spring came safely to hand 
and gave great satisfaction. 
From Jane W. Ccbtiss, Ira, Rutland Co., Vermont : 
Tlie Double Zinnias from the seed which 1 ordered of you 
last Spring, were splendid. 
From Mrs. Wit. M. Harrison-, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 
Sept. 10, 1863: 
L"t me say that your Seeds give universal satisfaction to 
myself andfrlenda. We have never had any, either Flower 
or Vegetable Seeds, to equal them. 
From Mrs. C. G. "Woodford, Candor, N. Y., Sept S3, 1868: 
The Flower Seeds which I purchased of you in the 
BDrine all did nicely. My Zinnias did splendidly— about 
half of them very large and double. They have been in 
ioui a lung time, and are now as pretty as ever. 
Frmn Cauoline F. Chadwick, Mlddletown, Conn., Sept. 
17, 1863 : 
The Seeds von sent me this Spring received the admiration 
of every one". The Zinnias and Asters arc most beautiful. 
From C. White, Edwardsburgh, Canada "West, Sept. 2S, 1363 : 
The seeds from you this Spring gave entire satisfaction. 
From Charles T. Simpson', Tiskllwa, Bureau Co. Illinois, 
Sept. 28, 1S63 : 
I bought several packages of Flower Seeds of you this 
Spring. All grew, and turned out true to name. The Dou- 
ble Zinnias were splendid, and so were the Asters. 
From Thomas Bi'llock, Great Salt Lako City, Utah, Sept. 
8.1S63: 
The Flower seeds I obtained of you this Spring produced 
tbsinosit beautiful flowers, aud I am much gratified. 
From G. It. White, Union Springs, X. Y., Sept. 14, 1808: 
I had the pleasure of planting and taking Oa'ro of the seeds 
you sent me. through tho season. They came up to tins lull- 
08( expectation, and have made a good display. I have had 
Charge Of Mrs. J, J. Thomas' flower department, aud the 
seeds von sent him did finely, and made 11 most magnificent 
show of flowers. 
From Miss L. M. Maynard, Greenwich Station, Huron Co., 
Ohio. Sept. 9, 1863: 
I take pleasure In saving that the seeds I ordered of you 
have richly repaid me for my labor. Tho Asters are perfect 
beauties, aud are admired by every one that sees them. 
From Mrs. C. L. Mabbktt, Meclianlcsvlllc, Saratoga Co., 
N. Y„ Nov. 23, 1863: 
I was well pleased with the seeds yon sent me last Spring. 
From BOTAZ. E. Barry, Cambridgeport, Vt., Dec. 27, 1S03: 
The collection of flower seeds I purchased of you last 
BprlOg were very fine. Tho Asters and Double Zinnias far 
exceeded my expectation. 
QuantreH, tho Rebel Raider, Conquered! 
From George Ford, Lawrence, Kansas, Jan. <i, 1864: 
Please send me your Catalogue for lfifll. The flower seeds 
we purchased from you last Spring came up remarkably 
well, much better than those tliat came from -. I he 
Asters were very flue, sonic seventy plants being In full 
bloom at the time of the Qnantrell Raid, and made, together 
with the Snap Dragons. Dlanthus Heddewigs, Phloxes. Petu- 
nias and other line varieties, a very gay and beautiful ap- 
pearance, and were the means, Providentially, of saving our 
house from pillage and destruction. Qnantrell, with a dozen 
of his gang, came to destroy the place, but Quantrell said to 
my wife it was too pretty to burn, ami should be saved. 
Thus von see that the beauty of cultivated nature softened 
the heart of a notorious bushwhacker and cold-blooded mur- 
derer. We shall cultivate flowers as long as we remember 
this horrible rebellion. 
From the Vindicator, Bruce, Canada West, Sept. 24, 1863: 
We got seeds from Mr. Vick last Spring, and they were 
excellent; our Asters, grown from his seed, were about as 
flue as we think Asters could be. 
From the Summit. County Beacon, Ohio : 
"We have for several years procured our Seeds from Mr. 
Vick, and can truly say, that we have found the seeds Im- 
ported by him more sure tu germinate than any others that 
we have ever used. 
From the Sunday School Advocate, N. Y. Dec. 26, 1S63-- a 
dialogue between the Editor and his friend "Forrester": 
"Mr. Editor," says Mr. Forrester, "I have just received a 
beautiful gift from your old friend, James Vick, Esq., of 
Koch ester." 
A present, hey? Pray, what is it, Mr. Forrester? 
"A box of Hyacinth and Narcissus bulbs, sir. Choice 
kinds, too.'* 
That's just like friend Vick. He sent me a lot of flower 
seeds last Spring, from which 1 grew such splendid German 
asters, petunias, pinks, etc., as are rarely seen. Everybody 
admired them. I advise everybody who wants good flower 
seed to try Mr. Vick. If your bulbs do as well as my seeds, 
Mr. Forrester, you will have the finest hyacinths In your 
neighborhood. 
From the "Rural New Yorker," Oct. 24, 1S6S : 
Badly Swindled— Uf.nl. 
Eds. Rural:— James Vick advertises in the Rural. Well, 
so far, that is a good recommendation.- He desires people to 
send lor his catalogues of seeds, bulbs or tulips, crocusses, 
hyacinths, lilies, &c, &c. Well, people ought to send for it, 
out of curiosity, if nothing more. Yes, In spite of all the 
caution we hear almost daily against Eastern nurseries and 
seedsmen,— especially from Western dealers,— I did send for 
it. and worse than that— for it is said " Experience is the only 
school in which tools can learn,"— I sept for bulbs, and induc- 
ed several friends to do the same! To-day the bulbs 
came: they didn't keep o:ir "ready" without making any 
retnms, but they really came— and proved to be the finest 
bulbs we ever saw, nil in good order, "baker's dozen," and 
sent by mail free of postage! "That's what's the matter," 
and what I have to complain of, is that bad swindle which 
people inflict upon themselves by allowing their suspicions 
to client them out of many luxuries which they might other- 
wise enjoy. 
Who does not love flowers! And how few persons have 
gardens from which you might take even a decent bouquet ! 
ut there arc some would-be florists who love flowers just 
as some good, dear, pious, stingy people love the Lord, — with 
all the heart, but none of the purse. They "almost worship 
flowers," but are appalled if y.ou chance to suggest buying 
them. I ought to add, however, that I have called on the 
others who also sunt for bulbs, and they were all disappoint- 
ed—all nicer than they expected. Too bad to be martyrs 
just this time. L. G. Bedell. 
Crown Point, Ind., Oct. 14, 1SG3. 
A Good Chance for a Lawsuit. 
The following is a part of a facetious letter, published in 
the Rural New Yorker, January 2, 1864 : 
Mr. Editor:— Before commencing an action against you 
for damages, I thought I would write to you, audsce If von 
are willing to make the "amende honorable" for certain 
"actions and things" which tlds individual has suffered at 
the hands of two firms of Rural advertisers. For, have you 
not, ut divers times, promised to protect the subscribers of 
the Rural NewYorker against impositions of designing men ? 
Now. Mr. Editor, there is one Rochester man that yon have 
advertised extensively, sirnamed Vick : I suppose his father 
must have called him James, as I see he appends something 
of the kind to his other name, I put money in a letter and 
sent it to him. What do you suppose he sent me in return? 
Seed ! yes, cabbage seed, tomato seed, flower seed. Well, 
that is not what I complain of. But of this :— the cabbage 
Becd all grew ! Well, anybody knows that was not right 
that ever bought a paper at a " store." You may fool voung 
birds " with chaff," out not one who has bought cabbage 
seed for years, and never had a dozen plants to a paper 
grow. Tn.cn, did not all the. tomatoes grow "smooth," 
when every novice knows that they ought to be rough like 
a wash board. It won't answer, Mr. Editor, to have them 
"smooth." If you do, their skins will "peel." You know, 
too, that flower seeds have no business to blow double, like 
those flowers that Mr. Viok sent U3 - We know better, for 
have not onr mothers raised Zinnias and such thlncr*. from 
'>m- boyhood on, and who ever saw double once? it I* 
clearly not legitimate. It In time a stop I* pal to such thin 
Finally. Mr. Editor. If you are willing to " cllftllf up," ami 
do the fair thing, 1 will be reasonable* In mj n ige*. 
But, if you compel ns to "go to law," you will be made to 
Hurler considerable, "If not more." l. l. Faib< iiild. 
JtollngHahw, Wis.. 1863. 
From the Country Gentleman: 
FiowxR liAitMKv of Jakes Vtenr, \n ng the most en- 
ili 11 ilastlc admirers and successful cultivator* of fine flowers 
Is JamjA Vick, of Rochester, hnrtle ultural Editor Of the IIu- 
ral New Yorker, ami the proprietor of a seed store In that 
city. During a recent visit to his garden, a number or | h 
tlful novelties were observed. Blfl collection Ol A tOTB In 
full bloom was extensive, and exhibited many very tine 
specimens of ail colors, H«* annually Imports these from 
Europe, where the seeds are obtained mostly from plnni I 
f tow 11 in pots, good seed of tlio fine double beta 
v produced In this country. There wan a rolled Inn of new 
Double Zinnias, but as IbCSO have a tendency tO run bftClc, a 
large share, or about one-half nf the pOOTCl' "lies arc pulled 
up and thrown nut, leaving only the flncsl for seed. ThU 
plant 1b already beginning to run to varieties, and amo ng; tho 
selected specimens were observed various shades, With Ugh I 
red, scarlet, and crimson, the flowers presenting ditleni'. 
forms and sizes. A considerable collection of new Jnpan 
Pinks were In bloom, with their rich, OOnrscly CUl (lowers, 
and the few double Portulaeas were remarkably beautiful. 
A package of seeds furnished as last spring by the proprlO' 
tor of this flower garden, now ornaments several large flow- 
er beds, and exhibits man v beautiful plants of the older, as 
well as the newer sorts, and on which we may furnish some 
particular notes in the future. 
CATALOGUES Kent, postage paid, to all 
alio apply, enclosing tea cents* 
JAMES TICK, 
Rochester, \. V. 
CB^ Sec description of Catalogue In another column. 
Rare and Choice Flower Seeds. 
AND NOVELTIES FOR 1804. 
HOVEY & CO., R4J»KT03t, Mass. 
Have now ready (heir unrivalled collection of German. 
French. Belgian, and American Seeds, comprising all the 
desirable novelties. The assortment Includes all the most 
beautiful varieties of 
Balsams, Stocks, Portnlaccas, Larkspnrs, 
Petunias, Verbenas, Zinnias, &c., cSjc., 
And all the best Florist's Flowers, viz.. Cineraria.*, 
Pansics, Pelargoniums, Carnations, Calceola- 
rias, &c, tS£c. 
EXTK1 PRIZE ASTER NEEI>. 
We offer our unequalled collection of French Asters, 
in all the varieties of Pivone, Pompom-, Pyramid- 
al, &c, of our own raising, bavins been make a specialty 
for more than '20 years, and our flowers have been awarded 
prizes by the Mass. Hort. Society as follows: 
FIKST PK1ZE.-1841, 41, 43, 41, 46, 4,, 48, i'.», 51, 5'>, 5.",, 50, 57, 00, 
61, 62, and G3. Second Prize, 1S46, 5(>, and 59. 
16 varieties In separate packets §1.50. 13 var. $1.25, 8 vnr. #1, 
Descriptive Catalogue of Seeds. Fruit Trees, Grccnhuuso 
Plants, &e., forwarded to all applicants. 
Rare and Beautiful 
Flower*. 
Splciidid Novelties. 
B. K. BLISS, Seedsman and Florist, 
Sjpi-iiBgfield, Mass-, 
Would inform his friends and patrons that the supplement 
to the TentU Edition of his Catalogue for 1863-4, will be 
issued early In February, and mailed to all applicants upon 
receipt of a tl-cent stamp. It will contain a list of all the 
Novelties of the past season both of European and home pro- 
duction, with many other rare and desirable seeds, well de- 
serving the attention of all lovers of Flowers. Particular 
attention is invited to the following choice assortments of 
Freneli siiitl German FIo"\vor Scctls, 
paved bv the most successful European cultivators contain- 
ing only the most beautiful varieties in packages, in which 
are enclosed four, six. eight, ten or more separate papers, 
each containing seeds of a different color or variety of the 
same plant. 
French and German Asters, Hose and Camellia flowered 
Balsams, German Ten Week, Intermediate and Ilrompton 
Stocks, Larkspur, Alpine Plants, Hianthus, Everlasting Flow- 
ers, Hollyhocks, Ipomea, Jacobca, Lupins, Marvel of Peru. 
Nemophila, Ornamental Grasses, Ornamental Gourds, Porta- 
lacca. Petunias, Schicanthus, Pansles, Scabiosa, Tropceolum, 
Wallflowers, &c, &c 
Among the improved varieties of Florists' Flowers, the 
quality of the following cannot be surpassed, Auricula, Cin- 
eraria, Calceolaria, Cockscomb, Carnation aud Plcotec 
Pinks, Fuchsias, Geraniums. Gladiolus, Gloxinia, Mimulus, 
English and New Fancy Pansics. Polyanthus, Petunias, Chi- 
nese Primrose, Stocks, Perfection and Auricula flowered 
Sweet "Williams, &o, ftc, „ a 
All of the seeds named in the Catalogue will be mailed 
post-paid to any address in the loyal States, upon receipt . 1 
the price alflxed. 
Those who have not a copy of the Catalogue will be sup 
plied with both Catalogue and Supplement upon receipt of 
two 3-ccnt stamps. Address B. K. BLISS, 
Springfield, Mass. 
BBIDGEMA^S 
DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 
OF 
BEDDING PLANTS, 
Embracing many NU W and BEAUTIFUL 
Varieties, as well as a 
SELECT LIST OF KOSES. 
Now ready for Distribution. 
ANDREW BIHDGEalAN 
S]8 Broadway, New-Yc.rU. 
