ITo ^My 
FRIENDS 
AND PATRONS. 
Ranguagb op Flowbi^s. 
r r 
’GAIN I HAVE THE PLEASURE of presenting you with a 
new edition of my Catalogue, and with it my beet wishes for 
the New Tear. I hope you will take as much pleasure in re¬ 
ceiving it as I do in preparing and sending it out. The 
words that have stood for a long time at the head of this introductory, 
“To My Friends and Patrons,” I am glad to say, express the truth, 
for my patrons are my friends. Every day this is shown by the many 
kind words of recommendation, often written at the end of an order, 
telling how well the Plants and Seeds have done, and the pleasure 
derived from them. Many of these kind notes I feel inclined to answer personally, but in the intense strain of a busy 
season I am often prevented from doing so. They are, however, none the less welcome and appreciated. I have always 
aimed, by the closest attention to my business in all its details, to serve my customers faithfully. My large and increasing 
trade testifies that my efforts to please have been appreciated, but I feel that much of my success is due to the kind recom¬ 
mendations of my friends and patrons. For my. part, I am resolved, where possible, to treat my customers better than 
ever, and on your part I ask a continuation of the favors so freely bestowed in the past. To the hundreds of new readers 
who will see my Catalogue for the first time, I ask for it a careful examination, feeling sure that it offers many things that 
will prove either a pleasure or a profit to plant, and in hopes that my reasonable prices, and assurances of my careful at¬ 
tention to their wishes will bring me at least a trial order. 
It is now some eighteen years since the proprietor of this establishment, while in the employ of Mr. Peter Henderson, 
of New York, became convinced that there was demand for plants to be shipped by mail, and after leaving Mr. Henderson’s 
establishment, sent out from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the first catalogue devoted to the 
mailing trade that was ever published in this country. The result of this venture of one 
thousand catalogues was a great surprise to me; the demand for plants far exceeded my 
expectations, and from this little experiment, made in 1869, has grown the present large 
trade in sending plants by mail, for, of course, other fiorists were quick to see the advan¬ 
tage of securing this trade, and have followed my leading and methods. To-day my ex¬ 
tensive range of eighteen greenhouses, containing over forty thousand square feet of glass, 
shows the rapid stride I have made in this time. Where one plant was purchased at the 
commencement, thousands are now needed to supply the ever-increasing demand. 
In filling the orders of so many thousands of customers, it is to be expected that I 
have failed to please each one. Mistakes will occur in such a varied business, but I wish 
any of my customers who have found any part of my stock not to prove as represented, to 
kindly mention, when you forward your order for this season, and it will be made entirely 
satisfactory to you. 
A neat little work of one hundred and forty-two pages, printed in fine style, on beautifully tinted 
paper, and contains several fine engravings. It not only gives the language but the poetry of flowers, 
and clear and practical suggestions in reference to floral decorations and fioral conversation. It is so ar¬ 
ranged that the botanical name of the flower may be referred to. This work should be in the possession 
of every lover of flowers. Price, by mall, post-paid, 60 cents. 
Customers remitting $3.00 for Plants or Seeds, will receive, gratis, a copy of this charming work. 
This is In addition to the Club rates and Premium Plants offered on page 4. 
ThE'Home Florist, 
For amateuns, treats clearly on managing Roses, Violets, Fuchsias, Ivies, Callas, Helio¬ 
tropes, and two hundred other plants, including Annuals, etc., in the Garden, Window, 
and Conservatory. How to propagate from Cuttings, Seeds, etc.. Flowers in Winter, work for each week, etc., practical, 
vigorous, original, elegant, illustrated, complete. Authors, Editors and Florists commend it. About three hundred 
pages. Cloth, $1.25. 
/I/i/M ^ /'k /Y*j-i,i.i “Home Florist” given away. On all orders for my Plants and 
-4^ t/iLy • Seeds, with a $5.00 remittance or upwards, (and in addition to Club Rutes and 
Premium Plants) I will add gratis a copy of the “ Home Florist,” the price of which is $1.25. 
Many of my customers get a splendid collection of Roses and other Plants 
free, by getting up clubs among their friends and neighbors, (see table of Club 
Rates on page 4), but at all events, I shall be glad to have you mention my name to your friends and neighbors, and thus introduce my 
beautiful plants to their attention. 
A Handsome JReivard. 
Sow t© lmp©irtaait« 
I cannot too often reiterate, be very careful to al¬ 
ways sign your name, post office, county and State 
on each and every letter sent me. Cash should always accompany the order. Money can be sent safely, either by post office order, bank 
draft, express, or registered letter. The American and United States Express Companies have a money order system at very low rates. On 
orders over one dollar, the cost of remitting by any of these methods may be selected in extra Plants or Seeds free. Every postmaster Is 
obliged by law to register a letter on payment of ten cents, and then you will receive my receipt for the letter by return mail. I accept 
postage stamps the same as cash. I am responsible for the safe receipt of remittances by any of the above methods. Postal Notes, which 
are largely used, are convenient for small sums, but afford no security, as they are payable to bearer, and are entirely at the risk of the 
sender. The efficiency of the post office department is such, however, it is rarely that a letter or package is lost or stolen. 
ORDERS FOR LESS THAN 50 CENTS will not be filled unless ten cents additional to the price of the plants be sent 
by the person sending the order to pay postage. It is quite as much trouble to handle, and requires nearly as much postage to mail a fifty 
cent order as it does one for two or three dollars’ worth of Plants. 
Address all Letters, and make Drafts, Honey Orders, etc., payable to 
CHARLES A. REESER, - Innisfallen Greenhouses, Springfield, Ohio. 
