... A Brief History of The Mail 
Order Seed Business in the U.S. 
THE FIRST AMERICAN SEEDSMEN WERE THE INDIANS. Vc- 
rieties developed by Indian tribes are still listed in some seed cat- 
alogs serving the Northern Plains Country and the Southwest. 
THE BRIGHTLY COLORED SEED CATALOG is comparatively 
modern in our American life. Altho’ James Breck started in 1816, 
Peter Henderson in 1847 and Henry A. Dreer over 100 years ago, 
most of the well-known mail order seedsmen in business today 
started after the Civil War. John A. Salzer in 1868; George Tait in 
1869; R. H. Shumway in 1870; Germain’s in 1871; W. Atlee Burpee 
and Vaughn's Seed Store in 1876; T. W. Wood in 1879; Chris Reuter 
in 1880; L. L. Olds in 1887; H. G. Hastings in 1889. Most of the other 
well-known mail order seedsmen founded their companies at later 
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HARRIS | | THE FIRST CENTER OF INTENSIVE SEED PRODUCTION was 
ioLAN | the Connecticut Valley of New England. As the population moved 
PETER HENDERSONECO Westward, considerable seed growing was done in New York, and 
be later in Michigan. Today flower seed is produced in about fifteen 
states, and intensive vegetable seed production carried on in about 
thirty states. 
MARVELOUS INVENTIONS ARE NOW USED BY SEEDSMEN. 
Electronic eyes pick out discolored seed; machines take whole 
melons and deliver clean seed at the bagging end and tractor drawn 
combines gather dainty flower seed. 
PROGRESS IN PLANT BREEDING HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL 
Led b = since 1920. Prior to that date many popular varieties were the re- 
: wet “ateit@ lt of observation by customers of seed houses. Bayard Taylor 
H. Stumwieg | of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, found among his pole lima beans 
5, = _ a plant that did not make a trailing vine, but grew in bush form. 
Le. | Mr. Taylor contacted a Philadelphia seed house, and the bush lima 
bean was introduced in 1890. This and similar incidents illustrate 
how many new varieties were introduced prior to 1920. Since that 
date plant breeders of the large seed houses, and the ever increas- 
ing staff of plant breeders of the state experiment stations, and the 
United States Department of Agriculture are the main sources of 
new selections and varieties. 
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Sow SALZER'S SEEDS 
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INDEN—VEGETABLE SEED AND PLANTS 
Asparagus Seed ......... 3 CuGiin) Cramer il} i@ aly Pop— Corn) a eee 30 
Asparagus Roots .......3 Deu line Sago ouomidtaren Line + Pumpkin] 4a. eee 
Beans seen co LON IDFA OMEN  olaoiasd os Bom acls & 1s Radish, <4. ee eee 19 
Beets! = ere cuak giieisoretasge tf ED Give ees a hee ce 4 Rutabagvay careers 
Blueb ernicstee eee eee 43 (Crunaan@ (OMEN) 5 cance oR Salsity 9 eres eee a 
IBTOCCOLMM ey eee oer 1 Kalen ort cot iene Rae Spinach) ~ Ws ace 18 
Brussels Sprouts ....... 4 NGoNME ARNOT 5 ogo con soo eue 4 Squash, Summer ......22 
Cab Dawes Eracwcrecstacers sess S Geka ren saath nce Ment eS Sashes Wal nce eens es 
Cantaloupeseancenes OStomt TG CCUCE"s canis tn Ce eae 18 Strawberries ..... 45 to 48 
Carrots? Sesciactcrctese 12 Manzele Bectsa eens: Sweet Corns... seen 
Canine wens errr incre 13 Muskmelons ......9 to 1 Sweet Potato Seed ..... 3 
Celery ry Ge sec mics Stace eaes 13 OT a Fre at Senteoree eee Sweet Potato Plants ...45 
Chard eS wiSs een 4 ONION Gi. cee 19) Swiss= Chanda sss s eee 4 
Chinese Cabbage ....... { Parsley? 29925 25-2 eee TOMAaAtO Avoca eo Ome 
Collardsae. eee eee 4 Parsnip we ese eee ee ee TULIP! Wsetics ae 30 
Corny LOD meee roe 30 PCAs cic cena el eee 20 Watermelon Zo LOMZS 
Corny, SWeeCtracnene «ce 14 Pepper” locke eee 
Flower Seed Index—Page 32 
