1890 
1940 
Today’s personnel of 140 people includes 20 traveling salesmen who look after the wants of large buyers, 
while the store fills orders from every state in the Union as well as Europe, South America, and other foreign 
countries. 
The scope of the present business can be estimated from the fact that our annual sales of grass seed are 
around 800,000 pounds, while our Bulb Department handles well over 12,000,000 imported and domestic 
bulbs. During 1938 the Florist Supply Department imported 20 tons of Ruscus and 75 cases of Statice, just 
two of the items handled. 
Michell’s Flower Seed Department is one of the most up-to-date in the United States and supplies the 
majority of the professional growers with their flower seed requirements. The Sundry Department is the 
most diversified and complete of its kind anywhere, being able to supply everything that is required for the 
garden, greenhouse, lawn, nursery, or farm. 
Michell’s Vegetable Seed Department is one of the most important sections of the business. All the 
leading varieties, as well as the newer sorts, are constantly checked for reliability and improvement, and the 
four corners of the earth are searched for varieties of vegetable seed that will be of value to the American 
gardener. 
Our vegetable seed expert is constantly testing and searching for improved varieties with greater pro¬ 
ductiveness and more desirable appearance, so as to assure our trade that the best in vegetable seeds is 
always available here. All vegetable seed stock, before delivered to the customer, is subjected to a soil-test 
and a machine-test to insure sturdy growth and purity. 
Michell’s Plant and Nursery Department is one of the most active sections of the Michell’s organ¬ 
ization. We are constantly on the alert for new and odd varieties of plants, and we have furnished the gar¬ 
dening trade in this section for the last fifty years with the most desirable and productive in annual plants, 
perennial plants, trees and shrubbery, as well as a complete assortment of greenhouse and forcing plants of 
all varieties. Customers can be assured of getting the finest and most reliable sorts of all plants when they 
care to entrust orders to our care. 
Among the novelties that we have introduced are the Helen Michell Geranium, the New Sensation 
Geranium and the Butterfly Bush, which was one of the largest selling novelties ever introduced and is 
still in demand with hundreds of gardeners. Only the finest varieties of Roses are offered after they have 
passed our most critical test for hardiness, productiveness, and blooming qualities. 
In addition to the various departments enumerated above, please bear in mind the fact that Michell’s 
Seed House is in a position to furnish everything that the gardener, either professional or amateur, com¬ 
mercial greenhouse grower, large estates, institutions and the golf clubs require for the proper conduct of 
their business. 
The founders have both gone to their reward, Frederick J. passing in 1928 and Henry F. in 1932. The 
present officers, Frederick J. Michell, Jr., C. F. Schermerhorn, Frank B. Michell, W. G. Arader are sons and 
sons-in-law of the founders. 
THE MICHELL STORE AND WAREHOUSE TODAY 
