DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
3 
1 lie rapid multiplication of varieties, many of them entirely distinct and yet each excellent 
of its kind, the seeds of which readily mix and deteriorate when grown side by side, makes it 
impossible for one who wishes for anything like a fair collection to grow all his seeds within the 
narrow limits of a single garden or farm. Again, it has been found that nearly every variety has 
some climate peculiarly favorable to its perfect development, and that seed raised there is apt to 
retain something of its vigor and so produce a better crop than one from seed grown under less 
favorable circumstances, so that many of the finest kinds have to be imported from some other 
locality or country. Thus the seeker after the best is compelled to buy it. 
In no case is the buyer so utterly in the dark as to the real quality of the article purchased 
as when buying seeds. The fairest looking seeds may be the very poorest—indeed, are apt to 
be, for most of our cultivated varieties are in a highly developed but abnormal condition, and are 
only kept distinct by most careful selection and zealous precaution against the slightest mixing 
or deterioration, and investigations have shown conclusively that a cross stock will generally pro¬ 
duce more seed of a plumper, better appearance than the pure. The purchaser therefore must 
depend almost entirely upon the assertion of the seller ; hence the great importance of purchasing 
of a firm with an established reputation. 
Other things being equal, the largest field of a given variety will produce the purest stock. 
The more perfect the facilities for handling a crop of seed, the less the liability to error. If added 
to these requisites for successful seed raising we have systematic personal oversight by those 
deeply interested in maintaining a high standard of excellence, our chances for securing a good 
article are greatly enhanced. We think the careful buyer should not only consider the reputa¬ 
tion of the dealer, but his facilities for, and experience in his work, and we ask your attention to 
a brief account of our business which is given, not in the spirit of vain boasting, but simply for 
the sake of showing our ability to furnish you with good and pure seeds. 
OUR SEED 
There are certain seeds which lose their vitality after being kept but a short time, and others 
which do not produce seed until the second year, and in which not only the quality of the origi¬ 
nal seed but the character of the first season’s growth have a marked effect upon the value of the 
product. Such seeds we have always aimed to produce mainly upon our own farms and thus be 
sure as to their age and value. For this purpose a small farm was purchased many years ago, 
just outside the city limits, and by means of systematic and complete tile-draining, liberal manur¬ 
ing and thorough tillage it was soon brought to the highest degree of fertility. To this we have 
added field after field and farm after farm until to-day our seed farms extend one and one-quarter 
miles on Grand River Avenue in one direction, and about a mile on the Joy Road in another. 
Our farms are probably the best cultivated tract of equal extent in Michigan ; indeed, a promi¬ 
nent English agriculturist, who had traveled much both in Europe and America, remarked after 
visiting them, that he had never seen in any country so large an area under so perfect a state of 
cultivation. 
In addition to the classes of seeds already referred to, there are always at the farms stocks 
of other varieties, which, by the most careful culture and discriminating selection we are endeav¬ 
oring to bring to the highest degree of purity and excellence, regardless of the cost or quantity of 
seed thus secured. As soon as we have obtained such a stock, it is placed in the hands of some 
careful grower living in a section best adapted to its development, and we contract with him for 
the entire product. 
These farms are under the charge of an able superintendent, to whose skillful management 
and our own persistent endeavors to bring our stocks to the highest possible degree of excel¬ 
lence is due the enviable reputation which our enormous annual products have justly earned. 
The failure of a crop on our farms is a very rare occurrence, even in years when, owing to bad 
weather, failure is almost universal. 
We cordially invite any of our readers to visit these farms, and think they would enjoy doing 
so, for even those who care nothing for fine vegetables could hardly fail to be pleased with the 
acres of bloom spread out before them as the crops come into* flower, while there is no farmer or 
gardener, however wide his experience, who would not be likely to gain some valuable hints in 
