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) OLDEST SEED HOUSE IN AMERICA 

=> pig & CELEBRATES 1615’ ANNIVERSARY 
D. Landreth Seed Co., Bristel, Pa., Goes Back Five 
Generations — Sold to Many Celebrities 
t 
HE Oldest Seed House in the country, in direct line 
from father to son for five generations, covering three 
centuries, the 18th, 19th and 20th. D. Landreth Seed 
Company, Bristol, Pa., is celebrating its 161st Anniversary 
this year. 
Organized in the Spring of 1784, by David Landreth, the 
first place of business was located on High Street, now 
_ covered by buildings at 1210 and 1212 Market Street, then 
well out in the country. Our first farm was on a tract 
which now includes 12th and Filbert Streets. 
In 1789, the Landreth Nursery and Seed Gardens, at 22nd 
and Federal Streets, Philadelphia, Pa., were opened. and 
became a model nursery and seed-growing farm. The old 
mansion, embowered in vines and surrounded by rare 
shrubs and trees, became one of the first show places in 
Philadelphia, comparable to the famous Bartram Gardens, 
54th Street and Schuylkill River. Bartram was the first 
botanist to King George, and a warm friend of David 
Landreth and his brother, Cuthbert, who became a mem- 
ber of the firm in 1787. 
The high quality of Landreth seeds, shrubs, trees and 
plants became so well known that George Washington, 
himself, visited our model nursery and bought seeds, 
“shrubs, trees for his Mount Vernon plantation. 
Seeds and shrubs were also sold to Thomas Jefferson, 
third President of the United States, for his place at Mon- 
ticello, Virginia. Seeds and rare plants were sold to Joseph 
Bonaparte, of Bordentown, N. J., ex-King.of Spain, bro- 
ther of Napoleon Bonaparte and husband of the reigning 
belle of the country, Miss Patterson, of Baltimore. Their 
marriage was never recognized by Napoleon. 
President James Monroe bought fruit and ornamental 
trees, and in 1820, linden, balm of Gilead, hemlock, spruce 
and magnolias were bought for planting in Independence 
and Washington Squares, Philadelphia. 
THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS 

The elite of the country, visiting royalty, Presidents, 
generals, bishops, gentlemen and garden lovers generally, 
all over the United States, then represented by the Thir- 
teen Original States, bought their seeds from Landreths’. 
Many of the almost priceless trees which now adorn many 
of the fine old estates in Pennsylvania and other States 
were brought from Landreth. Many rare and beautiful 
plants were imported to this country by Landreth, notable 
among which was the introduction of Zinnias in 1798. 
In 1876, Burnet Landreth, of the third generation, was 
signally honored by being chosen as Chief of the Bureau 
of Agriculture of the U. S. Centennial International Ex- 
hibition at Philadelphia. In 1878, President Hayes sum- 
moned him to Washington and offered him the position 
of Commissioner of Agriculture, which he respectfully de- 
clined with thanks. 
Burnet Landreth, up to 1928, was twice decorated by 
the French Government for services to. Agriculture, first 
being made a member and later an officer of the Legion 
of Honor. He was also honored by Sweden, Brazil, Chile, 
Japan, India, Hungary, etc., for his advancement of horti- 
culture. In 1847 the farm was removed to Bristol and has 
been located there ever since. Today the fifth generation 
is active in the business. 
' Today, we operate growing stations, trial grounds and 
warehouses at Bloomsdale Farms, Bristol, Pa., and Clayton, 
N. J., and at Bozeman, Montana, Twin Falls, and Rupert, 
Idaho, and recently we established a distribution point at 
Providence, Rhode Island. 
We are constantly adding to our experienced personnel in 
an endeavor to grow and develop the finest seed obtainable. 
Many, many thanks to our host of friends and customers 
for their valued patronage and who have made this out- 
standing record possible. 
A LANDRETH CUSTOMER 

