THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
83 
it is not what any firm sells that interests us, but what 
they produce; it is the industry rather than the mer¬ 
chant that we wish to present to our readers. As a 
mercantile pursuit, the seed business does not differ 
materially from that of any other business. But as an 
industry it scarcely has a relative; the watchful care 
the keen observation, the close discrimination combined 
with a thorough knowledge of vegetables, fruits and 
flowers, makes the growing of seeds an industry of the 
greatest importance, as a slight mistake on the part of 
the grower may destroy the year’s industry of the 
market gardener. A gardener of any denomination 
has conflicts on every side; every ill known to horticul¬ 
ture visits him oft and frequent, and if to all these his 
Cabbage-seed produces Turnips, or his Beets prove 
Mangels, his industry is ruined. It is, therefore, of the' 
greatest importance, that whatever is grown for seed 
should be well-grown, and absolutely true to name and 
description. In view of these facts, when a stranger to 
the business undertakes it and carries it on in such a 
gigantic scale, it shows at least indomitable persever¬ 
ance and courage. 
Among the productions of this firm is their Pea crop, 
which is startling because of its magnitude. They 
assure us they have grown annually 1,500 acres of the 
various kinds, on 150 of the best farms on the Canada 
shores of the lakes, where both climate and soil are 
admirably adapted for their most perfect development. 
When we take into consideration the amount of seed 
that can be grown on so vast an area, and then think- 
what other large growers are producing, it seems almost 
beyond the range of possibilities that so much can be 
disposed of. 
On the “Burr Oaks ” farm of 40,000 acres are grown 
their grass and grain seeds, besides, those of Cucumber, 
Melons, Beets, Tomatoes, etc., etc. On the great Corn 
belt of Western New York and Michigan, their im¬ 
mense stocks of Sweet Corn, amounting to several 
thousand bushels are produced. This is an important 
item in the seed trade, and, contrary to general opinion, 
land and climate that will produce field Corn in the 
greatest perfection, is by no means adapted to the cul¬ 
ture of Sweet Corn. 
It is a well-known fact that no given locality 
is adapted to the growing of all kinds of seeds. As 
a rule, each locality has its specialty in this great 
industry, consequently, their crops are widely scat¬ 
tered, which require a vast number of experts to 
superintend the different branches of their seed-grow. 
ing. To Connecticut they look mainly for their Onion 
seed, to Long Island for their Cabbage; in fact, there is 
not a State in the Union where seeds are not being 
grown for this firm, and under their immediate super¬ 
vision. Like all other seedsmen, they depend in a great 
measure upon Europe for many varieties, as both cli¬ 
mate and labor, the essential elements of seed-growing, 
unite in producing seeds at less cost than they can be 
produced in this country. This applies principally to 
such as can only be produced by cheap labor, and under 
peculiar climatic influences. Prominent in these classes 
are Radish and Cauliflower among vegetables, Asters, 
Calceolarias, Centaurias, Stocks, etc., etc., among flower 
seeds. In exchange for the latter, the best Balsams, 
Zinnias, Petunias, Phlox, Verbenas, etc., are grown in 
large quantities in this country for the European mar¬ 
ket. The law of adaptation is rigidly enforced by this 
firm; whatever can be produced the best at home, and 
on their own farms they produce, and depend upon 
other lands and other countries for such other seeds as 
they may require. 
Mr. Hiram Sibley, the senior member of the firm, is 
credited with being the owner of more cultivated land 
than any other man in America., yet his ambition is to 
be the best, rather than the greatest farmer. As such, 
he knows the value of good seeds, and that without 
such, however industrious and economical the farmer 
or gardener may be, failure will be the only result of 
his labor. This element in his character is essential in 
the foundation upon which is to be erected a successful 
business enterprise. Fully appreciating the necessity of 
having all seeds true to name and description, and pos¬ 
sessed of vitality, he early adopted the test system. 
When visiting their establishment last summer, Mr. 
Libby, the superintendent of this department, took us 
over their trial grounds, in which there were 2,800 tests 
of vegetable and farm-seeds, and more than 1,200 of 
flower seeds. 
The amount of room required for the storage and sale 
of such an enormous quantity of seeds as this firm 
handles, is simply immense. The Rochester warehouse 
comprises a floor-space of nearly four acres, and they 
are now erecting in Chicago a warehouse 200 feet 
square, nine stories high, with railroad, canal and lake 
facilities direct at their doors. The floors of this ware¬ 
house will cover nearly eleven acres, a space seemingly 
sufficient for the seed business of the whole world. 
HOW TO GET EARLY POTATOES. 
The best plan we have ever tried to get “new 
Potatoes ” a few days in advance of the main crop, and 
to be first in the race—which is one of the many plea¬ 
sures in gardening—is to select medium-sized Potatoes, 
and put them in a box of Sphagnum Moss, or if that 
cannot be obtained, saw-dust or common garden soil 
will answer; place the potatoes seed end up, and fill be¬ 
tween and under them with the moss, leaving only the 
tip of the Potato exposed. This will cause the leading 
eye to sprout, which takes most of the nourishment 
from the tuber, and, consequently is much stronger than 
it would be if the other eyes produced plants. These 
should be started about a month earlier than the usual 
planting time. The boxes of tubers may be placed in 
a hot-bed, or in any warm room, giving them all 
the light possible. When the time has arrived for 
planting out, remove the tubers as carefully as possible, 
in oider not to injure the roots, and plant in well- 
prepared soil. Remove any except the main shoot, 
should any appear. By this method Potatoes maybe had 
from one to two weeks earlier than by the ordinary 
method of planting. 
