66 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 11, 1913. 
A Great American Seed Firm 
MESSRS. W. ATLEE BURPEE AND CO., PHILADELPHIA 
“Burpee, Philadelphia,” is sufficient address 
for the firm which claims to have the largest 
mail-order seed business in the world. The 
head of this firm, Mr. Washington Atlee Burpee, 
is no stranger to these shores, his frequent 
visits to England and the Continent haying 
brought him into contact with most of our lead¬ 
ing growers. Alert and keen, he is regarded as a 
typical representative of the enterprising -citi¬ 
zen of the United States, and his genial person¬ 
ality has made for him a host of friends on this 
side. But although Mr. Burpee’s interests now 
lie mainly in the United States, where his offices 
and great seed farms are situated, he himself 
first saw the light at Sheffield, in New Bruns¬ 
wick, Canada. This was in April, 1858 . For 
some little time his parents continued to reside 
in that place, where his father practised as a 
physician; but while he was still a child they 
removed to Philadelphia, which was henceforth 
to be his home. 
As the boy grew it was intended that he should 
follow his father’s profession; but even in his 
early years he evinced a passion for plant life 
and animal breeding, and before he was fifteen 
had written an article on the subject for a farm 
paper, which was copied and discussed in other 
papers, and brought the youthful author into a 
certain degree of prominence. And so the idea 
of making a “sawbones” of the young Burpee 
was abandoned, and we find him in 1876 , at the 
age of 18 , starting a seed business with two 
partners. The first year’s trading showed a 
loss of $ 3 , 500 , and the second year barely paid 
expenses. At the end of two years the partner¬ 
ship was dissolved, and the firm of W. Atlee 
Burpee and Company was launched, with him¬ 
self as sole proprietor. How it fared and how 
it prospered may be guessed from a brief recital 
of some of the interesting points in connection 
with it. 
It is Mr. Burpee's proud boast that he employs 
no travellers nor salesmen to push his wares, nor 
does he seek a local counter trade. Advertising 
judiciously, and keeping faith with the public 
down to the minutest detail, are the secrets of 
his success. He writes all his advertisements 
himself, and is always sure of his ground, for he 
knows better than anyone else the quality and 
capability of the goods he offers, and is fully 
acquainted with all the tests and trials made at 
his three large farms—Fordhook (named after 
his ancestors’ estate in England), near Doyles- 
town, Pennsylvania; Sunnybrook, New Jersey; 
and Floradale, Lompoc Valley, California. 
The number of field trials made each year is 
about 7 , 000 , while more than fifteen thousand 
soil tests for vitality are made. 
Fordhook Farms are known by repute the 
world over; they are the largest “trial grounds” 
in America. They comprise over 200 acres, of 
which fifteen are devoted annually to experi¬ 
ments in improving the different varieties of 
flowers and vegetables. To give the complete 
lists of trials for only one year would require far 
too much space, but it may be pointed out that 
during last season alone no fewer than 243 varie¬ 
ties of Tomatoes were tested in the open and in 
greenhouses, and of Sweet Corn 185 samples 
Burpee’s New Departure for 1913! 
“ Some Lead— Others Follow ” 
For many years we have been recognized as Leaders in seed growing and seed selling. After 
careful consideration for several seasons (and natural hesitation!) we have decided to offer 
Seeds for the Children’s Gardens,— 
“Seeds that Grow” 
are supplied each season direct to many more 
planters than are the seeds of any other brand. 
Burpee’s Seeds are known the world over as the 
best it is possible to produce, and are acknowl¬ 
edged the American Standard of Excellence. 
Progressive planters everywhere are satisfied 
with the Vegetables and Flowers resulting from 
Burpee-Quality Seeds,—grown according to 
the clear information freely given in the 
Burpee Leaflets. 
In thirty-six years of successful seed selling 
we have introduced more Novelties that are 
now in general cultivation than have any three 
other firms. We produce Selected Stocks upon 
our own seed farms in Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey and California, while Fordhook Farms 
are famous as the largest trial grounds in 
America. No Government Experimental Sta¬ 
tion attempts such complete trials each season, 
and the information here obtained is of incal¬ 
culable benefit to planters everywhere. 
Each season we travel more than thirty , 
thousand miles to personally inspect our grow¬ 
ing crops and yet never travel a single mile to 
solicit an order! We ask, however, that you 
allow our Silent Salesman to have your careful 
attention in the quiet of your own home. 
Simply send us your address plainly written 
and kindly state where you saw this adver¬ 
tisement. Then by first mail you will receive 
The Burpee-Annual 
A bright new book of 180 pages.it pictures by pen 
and pencil all that is Best in Seeds, ana tells the plain 
truth. While embellished with colored covers and 
plates painted front nature it is A safe guide, being 
entirely free from exaggeration. 
Shall we send you a copy ? 
If so, write TODAY ! 
A postal card will do,—and you will not be annoyed 
by any “ follow-up ” letters. 
Small Gardens for Small Folks 
In Smaller Special Packets at Two Cents per Packet 
No order can be filled for less than 25 cts. for twelve packets, but this will include 
copy of the unique New Book, "SMALL GARDENS FOR SMALL FOLKS.” 
Purchasers, whether children themselves, their parents or teachers, may select any fifteen varieties 
for 30 cts.; any twenty for 40 cts., any twenty-five packets for 50 cts.; any fifty packets for 
$1.00;-or $2.00 per 100 packets, —assorted as desired,—all sent postpaid in the United States. The 
price of two cents per packet is net and not subject to any discount. We shall be pleased, however, to 
quote special prices by the thousand packets to teachers and institutions who will pay cost of trans¬ 
portation upon receipt. 
With each order of twelve packets for 25 cts., or fifteen packets, or more, at two cents each, we will 
give a copy of the little book, “ SMALL GARDENS FOR SMALL FOLKS " (price 5 cts.) as advertised 
in the first column. We will include also, if requested, a free copy of this Bright New Book with every 
fifteen packets ordered.—at the rate of two cents per packet. 
30 Annual Flowers 
1524 Alyssum, Little Gem. 
1588 Aster, Semple’s Branching, Mixed.* 
1759 Balsam, Burpee’s Defiance, Mixed. 
1809 Calliopsis, Drummondii. 
1864 Celosia, Burpee’s Magnificent. 
1876 Centaurea lmperialis.* 
1884 Centaurea Cyanus ( Cornflower). 
1935 Cosmos, Early-flowering, Mixed. 
2032 Dianthus, Fordhook Favorites (fiinks.)if 
2049 Eschscholtzia, Golden West (Cal. Poppy). 
2086 Gaillardia, Picta Lorenziana. 
2118 Kochia Tricophylla (Burning Bush).if 
2124 Larkspur, Tall Rocket, Mixed. 
2178 Marigold, Orange Ball. 
2232 Mignonette, Fordhook Finest, Mixed .if 
2354 Nasturtium, Gorgeous Tom Thumb Mixed. 
2476 Pansy, Imperial German, Mixed.* 
2556 Petunia, Enchantress.* 
2581 Phlox Drummondii, Fordhook Mixed.* 
2636 Poppy, Fordhook Fairies. 
2707 Scabiosa, Large Double, Mixed. 
2756 Sunflower, Stella .if 
2780 Verbena Hybrida, Extra Fine, Mixed. 
2813 Zinnia, Mammoth Tall, Mixed. 
2911 Canary-Bird Flower. 
2923 Cypress Vine, Mixed. 
3021 Morning Glory, Tall Mixed. if 
3060 Nasturtium. Tall Varlezated Queen, Mixed.★ 
3371 Sweet Pea, Best Mixed Grandiflora. 
3599 Sweet Pea, Superb Spencers, Mixed .if 
30 Choice Vegetables 
10 Bean, Burpee’s Stringless Green-Pod.* 
65 Bean, Fordhook Bush Lima. 
117 Beet, Burpee’s Columbia.* 
137 Beet, Swiss Chard,—Lucullus. 
176 Cabbage, Enkhuizen Glory. 
223 Carrot, Burpee’s Oxheart.* 
301 Corn, Sweet, Burpee’s Golden Bantam.* 
360 Corn, Pop, Golden Tom Thumb. 
383 Cucumber, Fordhook White Spine. 
476 Lettuce, Burpee’s Earliest Wayahead. 
530 Lettuce, Burpee’s Iceberg.* 
544 Musk Melon, Burpee’s Netted Gem, or 
“ Rocky Ford.”* 
574 Musk Melon, Burpee’s New Fordhook. 
588 Watermelon, Fordhook Early. 
647 Mustard, Fordhook Fancy.* 
666 Okra, Kleckley’s Favorite. 
681 Onion, Prize-Taker.* 
687 Onion, Red Wethersfield. 
717 Parsley, Extra Curled Dwarf.* 
737 Peas, Prolific Extra-Early. 
753 Peas, Little Marvel. 
818 Pepper, Neapolitan. 
861 Pumpkin, Small Sugar. 
878 Radish, Burpee’s Rapid-Red. 
938 Radish, Icicle.* 
1005 Spinach, New Zealand. 
1032 Squash, Burpee’s Fordhook. 
1101 Tomato, Chalk’s Early Jewel.* 
1095 Tomato, Burpee’s Dwarf-Giant. 
1157 Turnip, Purple-Top Strap-Leaf.* 
In connection with our New Departure of Seeds 
for the Children’s Gardens, we publish this interest¬ 
ing and instructive Little Book. Its four chapters, 
with useful illustrations, tell what and how to plant 
and explain the “ why and wherefore ” of successful 
gardening. Parents and teachers will welcome this 
original new Booklet as filling “a long-felt want.” 
So enticingly is the story told that children will find 
its reading almost as absorbing as a fairy tale! 
This Unique Little Book,—making " The Lure of 
the Land ” appeal to the hearts of children,—is sure 
of such an enthusiastic welcome everywhere, that we 
have published a first edition of two hundred and 
seventy thousand copies. 
Parents and teachers as well as the children them¬ 
selves will be vitally interested in reading pages 107, 
jo8 and 109 of The Burpee-Annual telling all about 
Seeds for Children’s Gardens 
Many would doubtless like to “ have a sample ’’ of 
just what we are doing; therefore, we offer this special 
“ Combination ” Collection 
For 25 Cts. 
we will mail one ‘‘Chil¬ 
dren’s Packet” each of 
Semple's Branching 
Asters , — Imperial Centaurea ,— Fordhook Favorite 
Dianthus .— Variegated Tall Queen Nastrtrtiums ,— 
Imperial German Pansies,—Fordhook Phlox Dr um¬ 
mondii, — Burpee's Superb Spencer Sweet Peas in 
Unequaled Mixture as grown in Lompoc, Califor¬ 
nia, — Burpee's Columbia BeetBurpee's Golden 
Bantam Sweet Corn, — Burpee's Iceberg Lettuce, — 
While Icicle Radish and Chalk's Early Jewel To¬ 
mato, together with the book “Small Gardens for 
Small Folks.” Five of these collections (with five 
books) will be mailed for $1.00 and sent to five sepa¬ 
rate addresses, if so directed. To each address we 
will mail also a free copy of The Burpee-Annual 
for 1913, if so requested on order. 
The Twelve Flowers marked with a star 
(*), together with a copy of the bright new 
hook,—S mall Gardens for Small Folks, 
—will be mailed for 25 cts. X^You can 
select, of course, any twelve packets (with book) 
for 25 cts., but many parents who approve of our 
selection as above can save time by simply writing : 
Children's Ready-Made Collection of Flower Seeds, 
twelve packets for 25 cts. 15 ^ Five of these "Readv- 
Made" Collections (each with the book) will be 
mailed for $1.00,—and to separate addresses if so 
directed. 
The Twelve Vegetables marked with a star 
(★), together with a copy of the bright new 
book,—S mall Gardens for Small Folks, 
—will be mailed for 25 cts., or Five Collec¬ 
tions for $1.00, and mailed to five separate addresses 
if so d irected. 
You may make your own selection, of course, 
of any twelve packets,—with the book,—for 25 cts. 
Those who approve of our selection as starred 
above, can save time, however, by simply writing: 
Children's Ready-Made Collection of Vegetable 
Seeds, twelve packets for 25 cts. 
While our aim is to encourage the children, yet this New Departure is not made alto¬ 
gether from altruistic motives. The increasing “ Lure of the Land ” demands seeds in 
smaller packets at a moderate price, especially for children. As the first American 
Seedsmen to properly meet this demand we shall naturally obtain considerable “ free adver¬ 
tising.” This “ free advertising ” will come largely from the children themselves, who, 
planting the Burpee-Quality Seeds (when perhaps their parents have not yet acquired 
the habit), will probably produce,—if the directions are followed,—Choicer Vegetables 
and more Beautiful Flowers than those gathered from their parents’ gardens. 
The risk we run in making This Radical New Departure is that naturally some adults,— 
“ Children of a larger growth,”—may be satisfied to buy the smaller packets at two cents 
instead of paying our regular price of five, ten and fifteen cents for each variety. It is neces¬ 
sary to risk possible loss of trade, however, if we would really help the children,—many of 
whom are likely to remain customers of our children, when all are no longer children. 
We expect this new departure of Seeds for the Children’s Gardens to pay an actual 
loss in cash, but should like to' be mistaken in our expectation! If the loss is not too great, 
however, we shall repeat the same offer for 1914 ,—but naturally improved from this 
year’s experience. We ask all friends of children,—parents and teachers,—to co-operate 
with us in trying to make this New Departure a success. 
No business is truly successful unless the transactions are mutually profitable l . We can 
afford to wait, however, for any profit on this special line, as the Burpee-Business is builded 
not only for the present, but with an outlook to the future. A business that has no vision of 
the future,—or the object of which is mere money-making,—would not be worthy a life’s work. 
W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Seed Growers, Philadelphia 
were under trial. Many acres are de¬ 
voted to Sweet Peas (which have long 
been a specialty of the Burpees), and 
here the best of the English varieties 
are to be found side by side with the 
native-grown sorts, as many as 750 
named varieties being tried in one year. 
Of Pansies there were 176 different 
varieties on trial. Petunias are another 
specialty, and so, too, are Hollyhocks, 
Begonias, Nasturtiums, Eschscholtzias, 
and Larkspurs. The residence of Mr. 
Burpee is at Fordhook; and so also is 
that of Mr. Howard M. Earl, the busi¬ 
ness manager, who has been connected 
with the business ever since he left 
school, and has all its details and intri¬ 
cacies at his finger ends. 
Sunnybrook, the second of Mr. 
Burpee’s seed farms and trial grounds, 
is at Swedesboro, about seventeen miles 
from Philadelphia, and near the Dela¬ 
ware River. The climate and soil con¬ 
ditions here are pronounced ideal for 
Tomatoes and Melons, of which enor¬ 
mous quantities are raised annually. 
. . . Floradale is the latest addi¬ 
tion to this firm’s extensive seed grounds. 
It is situated in the Lompoc Valley, 
California, 172 miles north of Los Ange¬ 
les and 303 south of San Francisco, and 
has for its resident manager Mr. Edwin 
Lonsdale. Owing to the contour of the 
land here, the atmosphere is more 
humid, and the average annual temper¬ 
ature lower than elsewhere south of 
San Francisco,—advantages which en¬ 
able Sweet Peas to be grown to perfec¬ 
tion. . . . Great attention is paid 
♦to “roguing,” and in consequence seeds 
sent out from Burpee’s are always to be 
relied upon. 
Large as are the Burpee farms, they 
do not raise a hundredth part of the 
seed the firm sells. To meet the 
demand, contracts are made some time 
in advance with growers in different 
parts of the world where the best results 
are obtainable, including England, 
France, Germany, and Holland. This 
explains the frequent visits of Mr. 
Burpee and his two sons—David Burpee 
and Washington Atlee Burpee, jun.—to 
this side of the Atlantic. The growing 
crops are inspected and reported upon 
at various stages of their development, 
and unless they are up to the recognised 
“Burpee-Standard” in quality, they are 
rejected. Even after the seeds are de¬ 
livered in bulk to the firm’s warehouses, 
thorough tests are made before they are 
packed for sale. A sample of each lot of 
seed from every source is sent to the trial 
farms and there tested. The crop must 
be pure, sturdy, of good germinating 
power, and true to name, and if it fails 
in any of these particulars, it is dis¬ 
carded. It is by the confidence created 
by these thoroughgoing methods that 
this great business has been built up. 
The headquarters in Philadelphia are 
every whit as interesting as the farms. 
They occupy a large block of buildings 
in the centre of the city, and, being 
built especially for Mr. Burpee, embody 
the latest and most up-to-date prin¬ 
ciples. Order and system are every¬ 
where apparent, and the working of 
each department goes on without a 
hitch. Over 250 people are employed 
in this seven-storied building. . The 
morning’s mail brings between 3,000 and 
7,000 letters, the larger part containing 
orders for seeds. It is a rule of the 
house, rarely departed from, that an 
order must be despatched within twenty- 
four hours of its receipt. The orders are 
listed and numbered on a card index 
system for quick reference, and are then 
divided into States. Later they are 
taken to clerks who address labels, which 
are attached to the order. Then they 
go to the different departments for 
filling, and when this is completed, are 
checked by another staff, to reduce the 
possibility of errors to a minimum. The 
orders are next turned over to the pack¬ 
ers, are weighed, labelled, stamped, and 
posted. This routine is followed, not only 
for retail orders, but for larger orders 
sent by rail or steamer. 
The prizes and awards he has gained are 
altogether “ too numerous to mention,” 
including, as they do, all the best 
America has to offer. Even in Europe 
he has had his successes, winning the 
only first prize for Sweet Peas at the 
last Paris Exhibition, while it will be 
within the recollection of readers that at 
the N.S.P. Society’s exhibition in London 
in 1909 he secured the gold medal— 
the only occasion of its being won by 
a grower outside Great Britain .—From 
an unsolicited Editorial article in The 
Nurseryman and Seedman, London, 
England, March 2 , 1912 . For 
complete article see pages 24 and 25 of 
THE BURPEE-ANNUAL for 1913 ,— 
mailed FREE upon application* 
