A GLANCE 
y 
ORWARD. 
A 
* LMOST from the beginning it was one of the aims of the founder of this business to make each 
successive issue of his Catalogue more interesting and complete than its predecessor; how well he 
succeeded, hosts of our old patrons have, from time to time, made known to us. His successors, 
keeping the same end in view, have endeavored, so far as in them lay, to keep abreast of the 
times, and to add, in some degree at least, to the general fund of horticultural knowledge, so that, 
notwithstanding the universal business depression of the last three years, when retrenchment with every 
one has properly enough been the order of the day, so far as the annual issues of this Catalogue are 
concerned, neither time nor expense has been spared upon them. Large and elaborate as our Catalogue 
is, however, it should be remembered that it is not the growth of one year or of five, but is the climax of 
fifty years, and as such is but the symbol or representative of a business that has attained its present 
proportions only through the ceaseless labor of as many years. In legal parlance, we have now closed 
; our case, only stopping long enough to say that never before have we been so well equipped for the 
; prompt execution of business as now. For the unswerving loyalty of our vast constituency who, by 
i their steady and generous patronage, have so largely contributed to our prosperity, we are and always 
t shall feel deeply grateful. And as 1897 marks an epoch in our career, we are naturally desirous that, in 
■i volume of business, it should exceed any season that has gone before. However, to make it the “Blue 
j; Ribbon ” year will depend mainly on the good will and patronage of our old customers, supplemented 
t by the favors of the many new friends we hope to make ; to all of whom, as we stand within the 
t precincts of another year, we wish health, happiness and prosperity. 
: ALFRED HENDERSON, 
President. 
n 
CHARLES HENDERSON, 
Vice-Prest. and Treasurer. 
PETER HENDERSON & CO., 
35 & 37 CORTLANDT ST., 
NEW YORK. 
