Looking Back 79 Years 
Started in 1838. Henry A. Dreer's then small seed hnsiness, ranks to-day as one of the largest and most complete Seed, 
Plant, and llnlh Estahlishments in the entire world. 
W\ len Mr. Dreer started in hnsiness he had to hlaze new trails — there were none to follow. To-day the house of Dreer 
is still hlazing trails. 
In the early days of the hnsine.ss, Mr. Dreer was guided by the ideal of, marketing the best stocks grown, no matter how 
mnch they cost. Another guiding princij)le was fair treatment, liberality and promi)tne.ss in filling orders. 
d'o-day. after 7!) years, the House of I)reer points with pride to its strict adherence to the j)rinciples of its founder with the 
resnlt that now the influence of the organization extends to the four corners of the earth. 
Dreer’s Seed Store on Chestnut Street in 1838 
Dreer^s Reliable Seeds, Bulbs 
and Plants 
arc fully described in DHEEU'S (iAUI)EX BOOK which 
is umiuestionahly tlie most unusual horticultural catalogue 
j)ul)lished in tliis country. It is a veritable ('tjclopcdia of 
Practical Seed and Plant Lore. Its nearly .‘tOO pages uiiroll 
before your eyes a true picture of one of tlie world's great- 
est horticultural (lej)artmeiit stores. This book of over 
five thousand items needed in garden, field and grecuIiou.se 
.systematically pre.seuts Vegetaliles, Elowers, Bulbs and 
IMants, featuring the leaders in each class as their relative 
importance deserves. Ai<led by faithful rejiroductious 
from ])hotographs. many of tliem in natural colors, it aims 
to make ea.sy the selection of the best kinds for different 
.soils, locations and u.ses. The beginner will find it an 
easily understood garden primer, while, at the same time, 
the e.xjjert will value it for its completenc.ss and accuracy. 
Dreer’s Garden Book for 1917 
will Ik' sent free, if you mention “Garden Magazine” write 
for it to-day. 
Dreer’s Seed Stores on Chestnut Street in 1917 
Vegetable Seeds 
Flower Seeds 
Plant Department 
Both unusual novelties as well as dependable 
standards ])lay an iiu])ortant role in our busi- 
ness. A study of the forty-one pages in our 
catalogue devoted to them will convince the 
reader of the part the House of Dreer has taken 
in making .Vmeriean vegetable gardening the 
important (‘conomie factor which it is to-day. Many ot 
the uovelti<-.s introduced by us during four-.seore years 
are now world-wide fa\ ()rites. 'I’lie eombiiied efforts of 
exjiert growers tlu* world over keep all our varieties j)ure 
and straight. TIh* increasing xolume of busine.ss recorded 
by this department each \-ear .satisfies us that it is meet- 
ing the ai)i)roval of our customers. 
Partial View of Riverton Nurseries 
300 Acres, 10 Acres Under Glass 
Choice strains are produced in increasing (inantilies on 
our own farms. While other parts of the world contribute 
to our stock of floral treasures, the whole world in turn 
looks to the House of Dreer for special strainsof-uch pop- 
ular Annuals as.Vsters. retunias, .Sweet 1‘eas. Zinni.i.s. etc. 
Nearly 150 distinct varieties of I’erennials are grown for 
•seed, in amounts not eiiualled anywhere else in America. 
For over half a century the Hou.se of Dreer 
has been foremost in the introduction of new 
and rare plants. Our collectors throughout 
the world are constantly acfiuiring for us the 
most meritorious among newly di.scovered 
plants. Noted hyltridizers spare neither ex- 
jten.se tior care in their efforts to give us the best. ith 
increasing energy we work in the vast itlant-jtrodueing 
laboratories, on our three farms, at Biverton, Hiverview 
and Locust with a total area of ,‘}()() acres under high 
cultivation and half a million square feet under gla.ss. 
As a result, the House of Dreer is in a jtosition to offer 
j)lant values unequalled in America. 
HENRY A. DREER 
714-716 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
li 
