2 
F. A. GUERNSEY & CO. 
INTRODUCTION 
The nursery was founded in 1889 by Mr. F. A. Guernsey. Mr. Guernsey had been a nursery 
salesman for a Western New York concern before he decided to start his own nursery. The first 
fruit trees were grown at Schoharie where the nursery has operated ever since. The soil in the 
Schoharie Valley is particularly noted for its fertility, being a rich clay loam which produces 
heavy, fibrous root systems in our trees and plants. The business grew rapidly as people over 
an ever increasing area in Eastern New York began to demand Schoharie Valley grown nursery 
stock. 
As the business grew Mr. Rockefeller who, for a long time now has been effective in its 
development, was added to the personnel. The business was incorporated in 1916 and at that 
time we began to grow ornamental trees and plants more extensively. Since the demand for 
ornamental nursery stock has increased so greatly in the last few years we are now devoting 
almost half our total acreage (100 acres) to the growing of evergreens, shade trees, shrubs, 
perennial plants, vines and other plant materials for landscape use. At the same time we have 
not neglected to increase and improve our list of fruit trees and small fruits. For instance, we 
were about the first nursery in New York State to offer the Cortland apple to the public in 
quantity. 
Our business has been built up largely by personal contact with our clientele, either through 
salesmen or members of our concern. We have great faith in this method of reaching our cus¬ 
tomers, because a well instructed and intelligent representative can render better service than 
the best catalogue. He understands your needs and his expert advice and capable suggestions 
will be valuable to you. 
It has been our aim in this catalogue to present a complete list of the plants we are growing 
with short accurate descriptions. We wish to emphasize the fact that we are actually growers of, 
and not dealers in, nursery stock. We can prove this to you if you will visit our nursery and let 
us show you around the grounds. In short, we stand back of our stock to the extent of gladly 
making replacements where we feel that the claims for such are justified, although the only 
guarantee we make is that the plants will be true to name and up to the grade as ordered, and 
will arrive in fresh condition. 
Following is a sample of the many letters we receive from satisfied customers. 
July 18, 1935 
“Enclosed please find my check for $24.60, the balance of my account. 
I want to thank you for the splendid relations we have had in this transaction, as in all others 
in which we have been parties. The new trees and bushes are flourishing, and bid fair to be great 
additions to our property." 
Very truly yours, 
Frederick J. Baum, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
(Rev. F. J. Baum, D.D.) 
Nursery stock of proven high quality, proper equipment, a trained staff and forty-five years 
experience are the qualifications we offer in soliciting your trade. We will naturally appreciate 
any suggestions you can give as to how we may improve our service. 
