SEEDS, PLANTS, BULBS, ETC- 
) ^ 
Chemical preservatives are, of course, used to arrest or de¬ 
stroy the germs of fermentation and decay in canned foods, in 
consequence there is a great temptation to abuse their use to 
insure the canner’s products against deterioration. To such an 
excess are these antiseptic and germicide “preservatives” some¬ 
times used that analysis has proven that the quantity consumed 
by one person during an average meal exceeds a physician’s 
dose, or sufficient to turn the scale against an invalid or ailing 
child, although adults in normal health often consume these 
doses with present impunity, but in time, if their consumption 
is persisted in, they will have a marked effect upon the system, 
interfering with the digestive ferments and gastric juices, dis¬ 
arranging and often causing ulceration of the stomach, and 
otherwise impairing digestion, which is responsible for serious 
subsequent ills. Some, also, have a very deleterious effect upon 
the blood, others irritate the eyes and mucous membrane. 
Among the many harmful substances used, either alone or in 
combination, for improving the appearance and preserving fruits, 
vegetables and foods, we mention the following: 
Alum, hardens and holds to form soft or over-ripe fruits, vegetables, pickles, etc. 
Benzoic acid, an antiseptic that is rapidly replacing the use of salicylic acid in 
canned soups, vegetables, fruits, catsups, etc. 
Beta-Napthol, Benzoat of Soda, Borax, Boric Acid, are all antiseptics and 
germicides of marked toxic (poisonous) properties. 
Copperas (green vitrol), very poisonous, used for dyeing and hardening peas, 
beans, pickles, etc. 
Coal 'Far Dyes (Aniline) and Cochineal (dried insects), both are used for coloring 
fruits, vegetables, etc. 
Formaldehyde, a microbicide extensively used for preserving milk and canned 
foods. 
Fluorine compounds are extensively used for preserving foods as they commu¬ 
nicate no taste, but all are antiseptics of marked toxic (poisonous) action. 
Pyroligneous acid, sometimes called liquid smoke, a creosote production. 
Saccharin, a coal tar product, 500 times sweeter than sugar, used to sweeten 
corn and other vegetables and fruits. 
Salicylic acid or its sodium compound, .Salicylate of Soda, both powerful and 
very deleterious antiseptics, in fact “slow poisons” (allied to carbolic 
acid), extensively used to preserve fruit, vegetables, Boston baked beans, 
cider, wine, etc. 
Sulphurous acid, used to bleach asparagus, corn, mushrooms, etc., very poison¬ 
ous and injurious. Its use in foods, wines, ales, etc., being specifically 
prohibited in most civilized countries excepting under restrictions for 
sterilizing wine casks, etc., to prevent fermentation. 
Thus it is shown that many consumers of commercial canned goods “sup on horrors.” Is this not a sufficient reason 
— aside from the pleasure and healthful ness of it—for you to have your own “Garden Beautiful and Garden Bountiful,” raise 
vour own flowers, fruits and vegetables for summer and “put up” a sufficient quantity of pure, wholesome, delicious foods and 
relishes for winter requirements? And may we also remind you that Peter Henderson & Co. supply 
EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN. 
Vegetable seeds, lawn seeds, flower seeds, flowering bulbs, ornamental plants, fruit and vegetable plants and gardening 
accessories, tools, implements, fertilizers, insecticides, etc., as well as books covering all horticultural subjects, all of which are 
offered in this Catalogue. 
$ Henderson’s Seeds, etc., are procurable only from us direct. 
We do not supply our goods to be sold by dealers , storekeepers, etc. 
WE DELIVER FREE in the U. S., to any P. 0., R. R., Express Office or Freight Station, at our option, Vegetable and Flower Seeds, 
Lawn Grass Mixtures, Bulbs and Books, except where otherwise noted. 
PURCHASER, PAYS TRANSIT CHARGES only on pints, quarts, pecks, bushels and barrels, and on Farm Seeds, Tools, Implements, Insecticides, etc. 
Full details in regard to the Shipment of Plants are given on Page 117 . 
HOW TO ORDER, ETC. 
Remittances should be made either in the form of an Express Money 
Order, P. O. Money Order, Bank Draft or Registered Letter. 
Customers can also shop by Express, as all express companies have 
purchasing departments in all their offices. They make no charge, other than 
usual rates for returning goods. 
Goods wanted C. O. D., must have 25 per cent, of the amount accom¬ 
pany the order. 
Give full shipping instructions on each and every order you send. 
Orders from unknown correspondents, without remittance, should be 
accompanied by New York City references, to save delay. 
By writing out your order on the Order Sheets which accompany this 
Catalogue, you will greatly facilitate our work. Extra order Sheets mailed on 
application. 
Be sure to sign your name and give your address. Many orders reach 
us lacking either or both; customers when writing about unsigned orders will 
aid us in identification by mentioning some of the articles ordered. 
Every order is filled immediately on arrival, or is acknowledged, if under 
rare circumstances, its shipment is likely to be delayed for a day or two. If 
goods, notification of shipment or acknowledgment of order is not received by 
the customer after a reasonable lapse of time, it may be assumed that the order 
Ims miscarried, or that the name or address was omitted from the order. We 
will, when notified of such a case, use our best efforts to trace it without delay. 
PETER HENDERSON & CO. give no warranty, express or implied, as to 
description, quality, productiveness, or any other matter of any Seeds, Bulbs 
or Plants they send out, and they will not be in any way responsible for the 
crop. If the purchaser does not accept the goods on these terms, they are at 
once to be returned. 
NO CHARGE FOR PACKING AND SHIPPING. 
We make no charge for packing, cases, baskets or barrels. 
Cloth Bags only we charge for, and these at cost, viz.: 1 peck, 10c.; % 
bush., 12c.; 1 bush., 15c.; 2 bush., 20c. All grass seed bags, excepting bags 
for Timothy and Clover, are furnished free. 
Special packing of seeds for foreign shipments, when necessary, in tin- 
lined cases or double sacks, we charge for at cost. 
We make no charge for cartage or delivery of goods to any railroad 
station, steamship line or express office in New York City proper. 
The safe arrival Is guaranteed of all goods sent by express to any part 
of the United States or Canada. 
In regard to the shipment of plants (which we do not deliver free) and 
about the reduced express rates secured by us for our customers’ benefit, see full 
details on page 117. 
BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT TRAVELING AGENTS.—Every season we 
have complaints from different sections of the country of parties who fraudu¬ 
lently represent us and collect money in our name. All remittances should be 
sent direct to our firm. 
GARDENERS’ AND HEAD-FARMERS’ SITUATIONS.— We have at all 
times a number of practical gardeners’ and farm managers’ names on our book 
who are in want of situations. If parties desiring such will write to us we shall 
be glad to put them in communication with men that we deem suitable. To aid 
us in making a selection we ask full particulars, whether a married or single man 
is wanted and the nature of the situation to be filled, also about what they 
expect to* pay and any other particulars. We make no charge for this service 
either to employer or employee. 
CHARLES HEHDERSOM , President , 
