Reflections, Ambitions and Realizations 
I REMEMBER the first flower I ever grew. I can see it before me now; and 
looking back upon the incident I realize how the gift of a tiny plant has in¬ 
fluenced my entire life. It was a phlox, given to me by an aunt, of whom I 
was extremely fond. I planted it and cared for it and when it flowered I stood 
and admired it in amazement that anything so tiny could be so exquisitely beauti¬ 
ful. I resolved then and there that I would have more flowers when I could 
manage it. 
During my school vacation, while walking to a farm where I was picking 
berries for two cents a quart, I one day passed by a garden where a gorgeous 
rose bush had just come into perfection of flower. After admiring it over the 
fence, enthralled by its beauty, I finally resolved that I must know more about 
it; and so, although I was only ten years old, I opened the gate and went to the 
front door and knocked. A kindly old lady answered my summons and when I 
inquired of her regarding such a beautiful rose, that flowered so profusely, and 
produced such marvelous flowers right out in the open garden, she told me it 
was a General Jack rose. Here youth and old age stood together drinking in 
the beauties and marveling at the mysteries of nature, and I for one received a 
thrill that I remember to this day. When I was about to leave, this very lovely 
old lady offered to cut me a bouquet, which I would not permit, as I felt that it would be a shame to spoil such a 
lovely picture, and especially since I was just going to my job of berry-picking and would have no place to keep 
them. But I made another resolution that I would also have a General Jack Rose “when I grew up” in that garden 
that was beginning to form a picture in my mind. Time went by, and perhaps the rarity of flowers in the neighborhood 
where I lived gave added zest to new “discoveries” that were made from time to time. 
At the age of 20 I started in business and three years later had made sufficient progress to make the first down pay¬ 
ment on a home, and so, at the age of 23 I built a home and was married, to put them in the order of their happening. 
My dream garden was soon to become a reality. Roses and Phlox of course were planted, with Climbing Roses and 
Peonies and various perennials. Flowering bulbs and shrubs were added and in the years that followed this garden 
became my hobby. Each year new things were tested, bringing new adventures and constant new thrills, until I had 
grown nearly every kind of flower that was available. 
Nothing has added more to the joys of life than this absorbing hobby of mine and I have often seen this same interest 
kindled in others, sometimes suddenly and unexpectedly, to become one of life’s dominating factors. I have seen a 
newly acquired garden interest bring robust health to those who were ill, renewed interest in life and renewed hope 
to those who were discouraged, and providing the business man with needed relaxation from business cares. Truly 
gardening is one of life’s greatest tonics. 
My own gardens remained purely a hobby for twenty years. During that time I had no thought of making it a com¬ 
mercial proposition. I was merely enjoying the fascination of growing things. I was engaged in the cotton goods 
business, having been the originator of what is known as Art Tickings, and having been responsible for the manufac¬ 
ture and sale of several hundred million yards of printed floral fabrics. While I was engaged in this business I found 
myself in constant communication with hybridizers and growers and specialists all over the world. My gardens began 
to attract wide attention and were being visited by garden enthusiasts from all over the United States. And so I 
finally gave up the cotton goods business, to devote my time to the assembling and growing and distribution of fine 
flowers. Of course it is still a hobby, notwithstanding the fact that it is now also a business. Having gathered together 
and imported the finest flowers from every nook and corner of the globe, I feel that the collection that I am listing in 
this catalogue is superb in every way. It is the result of a lifetime of study and devotion to a hobby, and it is my hope 
that this beautiful catalogue, with its many illustrations in color, will enable you to open this magical Pandora Box of 
Beauty in your own garden, for your neighbors and friends to admire. 
LARGE, STRONG, HEALTHY, FLOWERING SIZE PLANTS WILL BE FURNISHED ON ALL ORDERS. ALL 
PLANTS ARE OF COURSE GUARANTEED TRUE TO NAME, AND THERE IS NO PLACE IN THE WORLD 
WHERE THIS IS MORE CAREFULLY GUARDED THAN IN MY GARDENS. I always ship the very finest plants 
I have of the variety ordered. Each variety of course, will be properly labelled and all will be carefully packed. I ship 
them all over the world successfully and they arrive as safely in China, where I make shipments annually, as they do 
right in my own state. I have never had a single complaint about one of these foreign shipments, so no matter where 
you are located you need not hesitate to entrust your order to me. 
NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE MADE UNLESS YOU AUTHORIZE ME TO DO SO. At the time of placing 
your order, if you will give me permission to substitute in case I am out of any of the varieties selected, I will, on any 
such substitutions made, give you at least 25% extra value. Otherwise I will refund the money for any varieties I am 
unable to ship. 
IF YOU PREFER TO LEAVE THE SELECTION TO ME, RATHER THAN DECIDE UPON IT YOURSELF, JUST 
GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND I WILL BE PLEASED TO GIVE MY PERSONAL AT¬ 
TENTION TO MAKING THE SELECTION FOR YOU, GIVING YOU AT LEAST 25% EXTRA VALUE, AND 
MAKING THE SELECTION AS CAREFULLY AS THOUGH IT WERE MADE FOR MY OWN PLANTING. 
I AM SURE YOU WILL BE MORE THAN PLEASED WITH ANY SELECTIONS I MAKE FOR YOU. 
ALL PRICES ARE STRICTLY NET CASH. Prices are per plant, excepting where otherwise stated. 
PLANTING AND CULTURAL DIRECTIONS WILL ACCOMPANY ALL SHIPMENTS. 
ALL ORDERS OVER $2.00 WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR BY PARCEL POST OR EXPRESS, 
ALL CHARGES PREPAID, ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. ON ORDERS OF $2.00 OR LESS, 
PLEASE ADD 20c TO COVER POSTAGE AND PACKING. On foreign shipments the transportation is to be 
paid by the purchaser. 
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