DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
5 
OUR TEST GARDENS. 
These occupy some seven acres on Woodward Avenue where they are easy of access, not only 
from our offices but to visitors to the*city. As soon as a lot of seed is received from the grower, 
a sample is sent here for trial, and as the results obtained have excited considerable interest 
among scientific men, a somewhat detailed account of the methods may be of interest to our read¬ 
ers. Upon the receipt of the sample it is numbered and a record made of the variety, name of 
grower, year raised, date received, and the sample is only known at the grounds by the number. 
I he first test is as to vitality, tor this purpose we have an admirably arranged green-house, 
along one side of which is an ordinary propagating bench covered with sash and divided into a 
number of compartments so arranged that any desired amount of bottom heat, or of light, moist¬ 
ure or surface heat can be easily obtained. In testing the seeds we use square earthen pots which 
are filled with sandy soil, pressed down evenly and firmly ; ioo seeds of each sample are carefully 
counted out and by means of an apparatus designed for the purpose deposited at equal distances 
apart and at a uniform depth in a perfectly straight line ; they are then carefully covered and the 
pots placed in the compartment having the most favorable conditions for the germination of that 
species. With each lot of samples are planted one or more of known vitality to furnish a test of 
the trial, that is, to detect any error arising from unfavorable conditions. The seeds are carefully 
tended and at the expiration of a proper time the number cf plants from each ioo seeds is counted 
and recorded, thus giving the vitality of the sample. We have made careful experiments in the 
various methods of testing seeds, practiced in this country and in Europe, and are certain that we 
obtain more uniform results by this method than by any other ; and comparisons made with results 
obtained from the same samples by such men as Prof. Beal, of the Michigan Agricultural College, 
and Prof. Johnson, of the Connecticut Experimental Station, convinces us that we have ascer¬ 
tained the actual degree of vitality in each of the 1,200 samples tested in this way during the past 
winter. As a result of this work, we have refused to receive or have destroyed a number of lots 
of seed which to the eye seemed perfectly good, and which we knew to be of 1880 growth, but 
which were of such low vitality as to be valueless. 
During the summer we have growing upon the grounds samples from different growers and 
other seedsmen of every variety we offer. All the samples of each species are planted side by 
side and treated alike, and during the season daily observations are made, and the slightest dif¬ 
ference in value in the samples of the same variety or any especial merit in any sort is carefully 
recorded. In addition to this we have samples of many new sorts just introduced or not 
yet in the market, and are thus enabled to select and purchase any that have real merit. We had 
during the past season over 1,500 samples growing upon these grounds, and the opportunity which 
the large collection, distinct labeling, and perfect cultivation gave to study the different varieties, 
was appreciated and enjoyed by hundreds of visitors. 
O U 1? NEW 8EE1) AVAHEH O XT 8 E . 
On another page we give a representation of our new seed warehouse, one of the largest 
buildings used for mercantile or manufacturing purposes in the city of Detroit. It occupies one- 
half of the entire block bounded by Randolph, Croghan, Brush and Lafayette streets, and is of 
easy access to the depots, boats, post office, custom house, the telegraph, electrotyping, litho¬ 
graphing, printing and binding offices, as well as to our seed farms and test garden, with all of 
which it is often necessary for us to be in hourly communication. 
The building extends 300 feet on Brush street and 120 feet on both Croghan and Lafayette 
streets. It has a very handsome exterior of brick and stone, is four stories high with a deep, 
light, airy basement under the whole. The aggregate area of the several floors is between four 
and five acres. As an indication of the growth of our business we would state that if each year 
since we moved into our store on Woodward Avenue—twenty years ago—we had added one of 
equal size, their combined floor surface would fall considerably short of that of our new building, 
to say nothing of the capacity of our large store houses on the seed farms. 
We have devoted two pages to interior views of the building. The first shows our mail 
order department, a room 120 by 140 feet, in which we execute every order we receive which is 
accompanied by a remittance. The second is a view of a room of the same size, devoted to put¬ 
ting up seeds in papers and assorting boxes for our wholesale trade with merchants. 
Our wholesale bulk seed and retail departments are located on the ground floor, and the 
offices in the second story fronting on Brush and Croghan streets. 
