As to the produce of a garden, every middle-aged person of observation may perceive, 'within his own memory, both in town 
and country , how vastly the consumption of vegetables is increased. Green stalls in cities ncnv support multitudes in a 
comfortable slate , while gardeners get fortunes. Every decent labourer also has his garden, which is half his support as well 
as his delight; and common farmers provide plenty of beans,peas, and greens, for their hinds to eat with bacon ; and those 
fe 70 that do not arc despised for their sordid parsimony, and looked upon as regardless of the welfare of their dependents. 
Gilbert White, of Selborne, 17 20-18(73. 
Testing 
Seeds 
N O department of our business receives more attention and 
care than that of Vegetable Seeds. It is under the constant 
supervision of skilled and experienced men. Every season the 
different varieties are planted in trial grounds, 
not only to prove the germinating character of 
the seeds, but to test their purity and faithful¬ 
ness to the original type. No matter how high a strain of seeds 
may have been bred, unless the purity of its standard is maintained 
from year to year in its production it will rapidly deteriorate. These 
trials, which are made every year, are of the most thorough charac¬ 
ter, and have elicited praise from seedsmen of this country and 
Europe, as well as from gardeners and all others who have visited 
our grounds. Every new variety that proves valuable is added to 
our stock, while old ones that are degenerating are discarded. 
New varieties of superior excellence are few in number, al¬ 
though every season many new kinds are announced. Many of 
these so-called new varieties are old ones under new names. As 
an example of this fact, we present here the case of the Gradus 
pea, which since its introduction has been 
'brought'* out* under the following names, viz:' 
Prosperity, Early Morn, Webb’s Pioneer, Early 
Giant, and Extra Early Long Pod. By re-naming varieties in this 
manner the public is led to expect a new and improved variety, 
and induced to pay a higher price than under the old and genuine 
name. Cases like the foregoing are numerous, and constitute a. 
bad feature of the seed trade. 
The attention of the public is, therefore, particularly called to the 
purity of our seeds and their truthfulness to name. We do not offer 
old kinds of inferior value, or old kinds with 
new names, only to* swell our lists. Our ex¬ 
perience enables us to promote the interests of 
the public by sending out only those varieties whose valuable char¬ 
acter has been thoroughly proved. 
New - 
Varieties 
Purity of 
StocK 
Any Novelties or Specialties in Vegetable Seeds offered by other 
reliable Seed Houses can be hi eluded in our customers 1 orders , and 
we will furnish the same at regular advertised prices. 
Throughout our vegetable list will be found many varieties the 
names of which are displayed in larger type than others; these 
particular kinds are standard sortSj or new vari- 
Names in eties of special merit which we recommend 
* va **^ ex * as being well adapted for general cultivation. 
All other varieties, however, are quite desirable, and our patrons 
will not go astray in their selections, whichever they may 
choose. 
The past season was a very unfavorable one for growing and 
maturing seed crops generally, and, as a result, many kinds and 
varieties are scarce and, consequently, higher priced. There was 
a particularly short crop of what is known in 
Scarcity of 
New Seeds 
the trade as Vine seeds, embracing the Cucum¬ 
ber, Squash, and Melon families ; also Sweet 
Corn, Beans, Peas, Radishes, Carrots, and other kinds; the crop of 
Golden Self-blanching Celery was almost an entire failure. In 
view of the short supply and prevailing higher prices there will be 
a tendency to throw upon the market spurious varieties, or mixtures 
of old and new seeds with a low percentage of germination. 
Farmers and gardeners should therefore be particularly cautious in 
their purchases, and deal only with seedsmen of established reputa¬ 
tions, or they will be apt to suffer loss and disappointment. In 
this connection we invite special attention to the stock of Golden 
Self-blanching Celery which we are fortunate to be able to offer 
our customers this season. The strain of this variety which we 
have been supplying for a number of years past is of the greatest 
purity and highest quality, and has commanded the attention and 
gained the patronage of many of the largest commercial growers. 
Our present stock of this favorite variety will fully sustain its high 
reputation. 
FARM SEEDS 
We devote but little space to these in this catalogue, but aim 
to cover the best and most desirable of the various kinds that come 
under this head, briefly described. Our stock, however, of these 
things is complete, and the quality the best. If what is offered 
and described herein does not meet your requirements, send for 
our New Catalogue of Seeds for the Farm, Agricultural 
Implements. Garden Tools, Poultry Supplies, etc., etc. 
Strictly a Farmer’s book; contains full descriptions of Cereals, 
Grasses, and Forage Plants, Plants for Soiling, Fertilizers, 
and various other things. We have aimed to make it the 
best and most complete work of the kind ever issued. 
It is free. 
1 
