GARDEN 
The old stone barn on Bloomsdale Farms is still in use. Its large 
beams are fastened with wcoden pegs instead of nails. The barn was 
built in 1807. 
GROWING SINCE 1784: 
AVID LANDRETH, founder of the D. Landreth 
Seed Company, was the son of a Northumberland 
farmer who emigrated from England to America in 1781. 
Three years later he opened his first business establish- 
ment on High Street in Philadelphia. At that time this 
location was well out in the country although today it 
is in the very center of the City’s business section. 
In 1789 David Landreth procured a large tract of land 
in South Philadelphia where seeds were grown that were 
sold to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other 
famous Americans. 
In the early 1800’s, David Landreth sold seeds from his 
own retail stores. There 
were four stores in Phila- 
delphia and a branch was 
also located in Charleston, 
South Carolina. 
By Mr. A uell, May 22. 
A freth IMPORTATION of 
Choice Garden Seeds, 
By 4 Perfon lately arrived from London, who, 
from a thorough Knowledge of the Gardening 
Boflnefs, hopes. to eftablith himfelf in or near 
this city, as a Nurferyman, Seedman and Florift, 
now offers this Afforjnent, as a Sample, on 
very low Terms; they bnan of a confiderable 
Variety—Among whicly are, 
RUE early and bgt late colliflower, molt 
of the approved "srocolis, red cabbage, 
with a wariety of the other choice kinds, 
from the earlieft heads, and in due fucceffion to 
the latett winter favoys and greens, peas and 
beans of every curious and vatoable kind, true 
early, London, fhort top'd, bet falmon and real 
turnip-sooted radifhes, leatices in variety, onions, 
leeks, beets, parfnips and carrots, with mott 
other approved kitchen garden fzeds; a variety 
of {weet herbs anda curious collection af bef 
flower [eeds, in (mall fots orfaflartments. 
The above are now felling by Mr. WILLIAM 
WOODHOUSE, Bookfeller and Stationer, in 
Front-ftreet, next door to the offee-houfe, and 
at lower rates than the common feeds fell in the 
market, DAVID LANDRETH, May 21, 1784 
The Landreth nursery and seed business was 
established in Philadelphia in the Spring of 1784. 
The first advertisement, reproduced above, offered 
seeds ‘‘in small lot assortments at lower rates 
than the common seeds sell in the market.” 
Below: The Landreth Seed Warehouse at Bristol, 
Pennsylvania, as it appears today. The offices of 
the Company are also located in this building. 
More than a hundred years ago, Landreth’s Seed Store was located 
on Chestnut Street near Third in Philadelphia. This sketch was 
made in 1835. 
158 YEARS OF PROGRESS 
HE Philadelphia farm was abandoned in 1847 for a 
larger and more fertile tract near Bristol, Pennsyl- 
vania, which was developed into the famous Bloomsdale 
Farms which are stillin use. The additional seed growing 
operations of the Company are located in the West, 
where growing stations and warehouses are operated in 
several states. 
Countless new varieties have been developed by 
Landreth throughout the long period during which 
the firm has been in existence which appear in gar- 
dens each year in every state of the Union and in 
many foreign countries. 
In ’42, the D. Landreth Seed Co. will continue to produce 
good seeds because they 
are essential for good gar- 
dens and good gardens are 
vital for American victory 
in the present war. 

