SEED AND PLANT GROWERS. 
But few of the readers of the Cabinet, the lovers of 
plants, or the growers of vegetables m general, have 
the slightest idea of the extent of seed, bulb and plant 
growing necessary to meet the annual demand there is 
for these various productions. We intend visiting the 
more prominent nurserymen, seed-growers and florists 
throughout our country, examine their stocks, notice 
their methods of operation, and give our readers the 
benefit, if any there be, of our observation. We shall 
not take them in the order in which they are supposed 
to stand in the scale of influence in the community, or 
their extent of productions, but as we have the op¬ 
portunity we shall give them a call and make our re¬ 
ports. We do this to see if our advertisers have all they 
pretend to have, and if it is in quality what it is rep¬ 
resented to be ; and moreover, what is new and good 
we desire to see for our pleasure. 
Our first report is of a visit to the well-known estab¬ 
lishment of James Vick, Rochester, N. Y., made during 
the past summer. An innate love for flowers, or more 
properly speaking, an ungovernable passion for the 
beautiful and good in the flower, compelled Mr. Vick to 
leave the editor’s chair to pursue a business wholly con¬ 
genial to his tastes, and for which his indomitable per¬ 
severance combined with his (thorough knowledge of 
and love for plants eminently fitted him. The rise and 
progress of his business was a marvel to every one, and 
the envy of the many who were unable to understand, 
or to appreciate the tastes of the people, and without 
the courage to attempt a business that the community 
were sure to appreciate and sustain. Mr. Vick was an 
enthusiast in the strongest sense of the term ; he was 
never content with the flowers as he found them, and 
as others had grown them, but in all wavs tried to se¬ 
cure something better. His enthusiasm gave floricul¬ 
ture a greater impetus than all the seedsmen in this 
country at the time he started in business, had been able 
to give it. Though seemingly over-sanguine in all his 
business undertakings, the result shows, that all his 
hopes ripened to fruition. Since Mr. Vick’s death a 
marked change is noticed in the prosecution of the 
business. The many experiments in the growing of 
seeds, bulbs and plants, and in selection and hybrid¬ 
ization which was necessary when the business was 
first started, is no longer required. Much of this work 
is still carried on; .at the same time, experience has 
shown that many kinds of seeds and bulbs, that they 
once grew, can be more profitably grown elsewhere, 
and also, many seeds that they use could not be got 
from other growers, that would satisfy their customers. 
Consequently, while growing less varieties than 
formerly, their seed-growing has very largely increased. 
The growingpf many kinds that are of but little im¬ 
portance has been abandoned, and the acreage of those 
of greater importance largely increased. 
The principal flower seeds now grown are as follows: 
Balsams—this popular flower is growm by the acre, and 
in all the best-known varieties, in the selection of 
which great care is manifested, as the flowers were re¬ 
markably fine, and the different colors well defined, 
and their stocks uncommonly pure. Phlox Drummondi 
is a specialty, and the reputation they have for their 
splendid varieties is well deserved. Petunias, both 
double and single, in every variety, are there produced in 
quantities, seemingly large enough to supply the world. 
The fringed variety originated with them, and it is one 
of the best grown. Pansies, as fine as we have ever 
seen cultivated, we found there in sufficient quantities 
to supply their trade. Asters seemed quite at home, and 
a better display of well-defined varieties could not be 
desired. On one of their farms the soil appears well 
adapted for Verbenas; these are grown by the acre, 
both for seed and for stock-plants. 
Among the bulbs we were bewildered; their stock of 
Gladiolus was simply immense. We were disappointed 
in not seeing them in flower, having anticipated a great 
treat among our favorites. As far as we were able to 
judge their soil is not as‘well adapted for the growing 
of Gladiolus as some others; we could not say positively 
about that, as the excessive rains in the early part of the 
season had rendered successful cultivation an impossi¬ 
bility. We were pleased to see them growing seedlings 
on a very large scale; this is a move in the right direc¬ 
tion. as our American seedlings far surpass the French 
and English-named sorts. Lilies of nearly every known 
sort were, in most cases, looking remarkably well. Their 
plantings of these were so scattered that it was impossible 
to judge of their extent; but the fact of their growing 
them for their wholesale trade shows plainly what their 
productions must be. Dahlias were just coming into 
bloom, and of these we cannot give an opinion as to 
their quality, as they were not far enough advanced 
to show. It is not at all likely but that the hundreds of 
labels shown represented an equal number of varieties, 
and those varieties of the best quality. 
Of plants but little can be said, as stock-plants only 
were to be seen; these were all that could he desired. 
Rochester is evidently the home of the Geranium; their 
heavy soil seems to meet its requirements. Never have 
we seen larger or more perfect trusses of flowers than 
we saw there. Roses, particularly the hybrid perpetu¬ 
ate, were remarkably healthy and strong. Their green¬ 
houses are ample and well-arranged for the growth of 
bedding-plants, of which they use many thousands 
annually. 
Strawberries, and other small fruits, are extensively 
grown, and, we should say, grown well. 
The vegetable-seed grounds or farms we did not have 
time to inspect; they informed us, however, that all, or 
nearly all their vegetable seeds are grown under their 
own supervision, if not on their own farms. Onion 
seed is one of their specialties, and they sell that only 
which is of their own production, excepting, of course, 
the seed of those sorts which is not grown in this 
country. Tomato, Cucumber and Cabbage seeds are all 
included in their more important productions. The 
want of time prevented our inspection of all tlieir grow¬ 
ing crops; we saw sufficient, however, to satisfy us that 
their seeds, bulbs and plants are of such a character 
that they cannot but give the most perfect satisfaction. 
