Friday, May 5, 2017

1828 - A Happy Man and His Matthiola incana

plantillustrations.org

William Wilson's glee in developing a new variety of Matthiola incana, the garden flower Stock is catching.  An old fashioned favorite, I think I'll have to try it for the "clove-like scent"!  Seedsman Michael Floy's name in this article led me to this article as he features in a funny anecdote.
  

Johnny's Selected Seeds writes,
"Stock are a favorite among growers due to their fast maturity time. When day length is at least 13 hours, a harvestable crop can be achieved within 10–12 weeks; one of the earliest cut flowers for cooler times of the year. The ability to withstand cooler temperatures — down to 10–20°F/-12– -7°C — allows for season extension and holiday sales. Florists also appreciate Stock for their broad range of colors and easily recognized clove-like fragrance."


I have edited this article a bit, for, as charming as the writer is, his five mile long sentences, lack of commas, and purple prose were even too much for me!



From the N. Y. Farmer and Horticultural Repository.

ART. 89.—An improved variety of Ten-week stock.
It is generally very interesting to the lovers of fine flowers to be informed of the origin and progress of the improvements introduced among the finer sorts of them. The Stock's July flower when in bloom exhibits a most beautiful appearance, and emits such a delightful fragrance as entitles it to a rank in the heraldry of Flora, almost on level with the inimitable rose. 

It would perhaps not be saying too much should we aver that the variety about to be described exceeds every other of the species ...  

... we have taken no inconsiderable length of time, and employed no small care and trouble, in endeavoring to find out whether this individual variety, or any other equal to it, had ever been known to exist previous to or independent of its origin under our own cultivation at New-York, without being able to discover a single instance of either. 

We, therefore, have concluded that it has been our gratifying lot to have been the first cultivators of a variety of the Stock superior to every other that has ever come under the observation of any gardener or botanist to whom we have exhibited it or conversed with on the subject. 

In the year 1807, more than twenty years ago, I raised several hundred plants of the ten-week stock, from one paper of seed that I obtained of Mr. Michael Floy, Nursery and Seedsman.     The plants were the most single straggling looking rascals I ever grew. 

CAUTION: Long Sentence Ahead
But as seeds obtained at the shops are generally suspected, I had raised another batch of them, in hopes of raising enough of good double ones, for I calculated upon two thirds of them being single, and not worth the saving, and in this I was not disappointed, yet after having made Mr. Floy a severe and, I hope, seasonable lecture, on the abominable trash of stock seed he had sold me, I observed among them four double ones different, and I thought better than I had ever seen before. 


Botanische wandplaten 1899
But, alas, they would produce no seed, and the whole multitude of the wide placed long pedicled narrow sharp pointed flower buds were watched for and examined with an anxiety at the recollection of which, I have often since laughed heartily.  (No commas, but all the descriptive words were right on! :-)

At last, two stubborn dwarf stinted looking dogs began to open their close plane short pediciled bloom. Their seed had certainly been produced in the same pericarpium, as that of the four doubles. I forgave Mr. Floy for my disappointment in all the rest, and even sold him one of the single and one of the double new sorts for two dollars, upon the express condition that he was to raise none of the seed of that sort for sale, nor to part with any of the single flowering plants upon the pain of losing his lugg, alias, his right ear. Which condition I believe he faithfully fulfilled, for a period of more than seven years, during which time very few of the double plants that either he or I raised were sold for less than a dollar, and some good plants at pinching times after brought us nearly two. 

At last about the year 1815 some of the single plants found their way in a manner not necessary to be described from my garden to several of my neighbours who afterwards informed me of the circumstances, on which we sometimes to this day pass some hearty jokes when we meet together. 


1620, Bessler - Hortus Eystettensis
About fifteen or sixteen years ago, I sent some of the seed of this sort to London by a gentleman of Middletown, an experienced gardener, who afterwards informed me it was much admired there, and had not, so far as he could learn, ever been known there before.
Mr. Thomas Hogg, now a nurseryman in this city, who is well acquainted with the horticultural productions about London, considers this to be a superior and distinct variety from those formerly raised in England. 
I have also sent seed of it to Mr. Stewart Murray, of the Royal Botanic Garden of Glasgow, who has acknowledged in letters I have received from him since, that it is the finest sort he ever saw. But in a letter I received from him lately, he says he thinks it either degenerates there, or he had lost the breed. 
(Hogg came to NY  from Scotland, via London, in 1822.)

That certain plants succeed Better in particular situations than others, is well known to horticulturists; and New York may well be proud of this daughter of Flora, for its cultivation here has succeeded to such a degree that many instances are to be found of single flowering plants producing numbers of double flowers, as the specimens I exhibited at the meeting of the New York Horticultural Society, about a week ago, clearly proves. And this is a circumstance which I have never heard of taking place in any of other variety of the stock but this, nor in any other part of the world but New York. 

Seed from these plants which have the double flowers intervened, generally produce four double plants to one single, and sometimes they come almost nit double together. All these plants regain a strong short stocky form; the flowers are almost sessile on the peduncles, and are of such a large size and so close together, that the whole plant when in full bloom has the appearance of one universal expansion of flower petals. And in this state, they continue for months together; nor are the plants like the ten week stocks, lost when their bloom is over, but for successive years do they continue to produce their rose coloured blossoms. 

It has long been known in this place by the title of Wilson's Stock, and until some other plan can be, upon better authority, suggested for its origin, I see no impropriety of styling it the New-York Stock. It will be likely long to continue to decorate the gardens and green houses in this place, and it has already well repaid all the pains bestowed upon it by

WILLIAM WILSON.

Murray Hill Nursery,
May 27, 1828.


William Wilson, Nurseryman, beside a large greenhouse, at the corner of 4th and Macdougal St. (now corner of Washington Square), had an extensive nursery at Murray Hill, covering about 10 acres.

ANOTHER nice info and seed source:
http://www.seedaholic.com/matthiola-incana-ten-week-stock-mix.html

Sunday, April 30, 2017

1923 - Mr. Cook's Roots Disappoint Mrs. Graves

A delightful letter.  I wonder how A. T. Cook responded! 


A. T. Cook links - (1) (2) (3) (4 This one is on cinnamon vines, too.) (6) (7) (8)



Friday, April 28, 2017

Watermelon History...really...

I was watching Mind of a Chef when this popped up!  Luckily this section was posted on YouTube.

Do I believe this history of the watermelon?  I don't know.  
I think  a little research would be interesting. 




Watermelons mentioned are the Lawson, the most desirable, and also the Carolina Sweet and Mountain Sweet.  Another history on the NPR site of the Lawson, (also called the Bradford melon) gives more information from the Bradford family. It's a great article, well worth reading!



Thursday, April 27, 2017

1824 - Thomas and Alfred Bridgeman, Seedsmen, of New York

This charming woodcut is from Thomas Bridgeman's 1835 Florist's Guide.



I first heard of the seedsmen, father and son, Thomas and Alfred Bridgeman from this article.

Early New York Florists  (from 
American Florist 1913)

One of the older florists recently recalling the flower trade of this city in the sixties (1860s) said that business was better then than now. He cited the prices paid for large decorations in those days as being higher than now. From the difficulty experienced in securing flowers, it would naturally seem to be the case. Men would be started very early in the morning and cross the Hudson to New Jersey, and then in some instances take the stage, until they reached the greenhouses. They were not always fortunate in securing flowers but in any event it was near noon before they got back to New York.


 Nearly all the New York florists had at that time small greenhouses and gardens of their own. A florist who's advent into the business in this city seems to have been at a date beyond the memory of any one now in the trade, was Isaac Buchanan, who was located on Seventeenth street, west of Broadway.  There are men now in the business who worked for him but nobody seems to remember just when he came here. Some think that it was he that erected the first greenhouse in this city. He seems to have been a prosperous florist, as it is said that he owned and lived in a four-story brownstone residence.’
  • David Clarke, whose sons continue the business which he founded came here in 1849 and immediately started in business for himself, eventually locating on what is now Broadway, but was then called the Bloomingdale road.
     
  • J. N. Hauser located on what is now Fiftieth street. His sons are yet active in the business.
  • Thomas Bridgeman was both a florist and seedsman on Eighteen street and the name “Bridgeman's Seed Warehouse" has existed for business purposes until a very recent date.
  • John B. Nugent had greenhouses at Fourteenth street and Second avenue. He is the father of John B. Nugent, Jr., the senior member of the firm of Young & Nugent, and is now an aged man.
  • Others of the old florists were Hauft Bros. This firm still exists; formerly located at Broadway and Third street;
  • D. Wilson, Fourteen street east of Sixth avenue;
  • Klunder & Long, N. E. corner of Broadway and Second street;
  • Wm. Brower, Broadway and Twenty-third street.
  • Other florists of former days of whom little is now remembered were Buist, Gableson, “Scotchy” Reed and Riddit. 
It would indeed be a novelty to find a greenhouse and garden at the present time at the places they were found fifty years ago.

The “wholesale store" of those days was a basket or a box with a strap attached for convenience in carrying. We hear much complaint at present of low prices and poor business, but harking back to the old days we believe that many of our present day florists do not realize how well off they are. If there were no other considerations, the multiplication of facilities for doing business is a great compensation for an occasional surplus. We would say that the actual labor is but as child's play, compared to what it was in the earlier years of the flower industry.





First, the father, Thomas.   What a wonderful engraving from the The Fruit Cultivator’s Manual!  The artist is Charles E. Weir.  I think Weir only lived to age 22, 1823-1845. This portrait is from 1843.
"Thomas Bridgeman was an English gardener, born in Berkshire, who came to New York in 1824, leased land on what is now 874 Broadway, and at once built greenhouses, and sold seeds. 
Like so many of the gardeners of the Old World, at that date, he was a man of broad intelligence, and he wrote valuable works on fruits, vegetables and flowers. His “Young Gardener’s Assistant” (published in 1829) went through several editions, and has a good sale even unto this day. He died in 1850."  
source: Meehans' Monthly: A Magazine of Horticulture, 1899

A little more background surfaced in the Boston publication Horticulture which  proudly reported:
The British Encyclopedia of National Biographies says that Thos. Bridgeman who settled in New York in 1824 and wrote on horticulture is a descendant of the Bridgeman who planned the Kew Gardens and who is mentioned by Horace Walpole in his “Memoirs” as the one who revolutionized landscape gardening in England and who was a friend of Alexander Pope.

Thomas Bridgeman had two sons both of whom made a name in horticulture, Andrew as a plantsman and Alfred as a seedsman.  W. A. Bridgeman, who is responsible for the elegant window displays in the Thos. F. Galvin store on Tremont street, Boston, is a son of Andrew Bridgeman. “Blood will tell.”

View entire
Thomas Bridgeman had a store at 17th Street and Broadway in New York City where he sold seeds.  His seed offerings are artfully included in his publications which are focused on proper growing of the plants.  

  • The Young Gardener’s Assistant (1832)
  • Florist’s Guide (1835)
  • The Kitchen Gardener’s Instructor (1836)
  • Report of the Committee On Horticulture (1844)
  • The Fruit Cultivator’s Manual (1844)
  • The American Gardener’s Assistant (1867)  (completed by his son, Alfred Bridgeman)

His son, on the other hand, has some catalogs on the internet starting with this one from 1871.  There should be earlier ones as his father dies in 1850.  He references his father's business as starting in 1824.



Here is a description of Alfred's business from 1885.

Alfred Bridgeman, Importer, Grower and Dealer In Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seed, No. 37 East 19th Street.— 
Among the old established houses which have been identified with the growth and development of the metropolis and which have kept pace with the improvement and progress of the time, is that of Mr. Alfred Bridgeman, importer, grower and dealer in vegetable, farm and flower seed.  
This business was established in 1824, and has always enjoyed a career of prosperity. The house was for many years located at No. 876 Broadway, and some time ago was removed to the present elegant quarters. The premises now occupied are of modern construction and are artistically finished in a most pleasing manner. 
A large and valuable stock is carried and a business is done which extends to all points in the United States. Mr. Bridgeman is an old resident of this city, and is one of our old time merchants. During a long and busy career he has always maintained the principles of integrity and honorable dealing. He has always taken an active interest in every movement that has for its object the advancement and welfare of his fellow citizens, and is esteemed by all with whom he has had business transactions.    
NEW YORK'S GREAT INDUSTRIES - 1885

More telling of the general history of the business is this article from The Horticulturist, and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste of 1858 where they were reviewing a new edition of
the Young Gardener's Assistant. 


This is an original work, by the late Mr. Bridgeman, which has long kept its place as a standard book in the gardening world, and, with McMahon's (published in Philadelphia), continues to be the guide to the novice no less than the practiced hand. 
We like to record the success of practical men. In the case of the Messrs. Bridgemans, we find an industrious and thoughtful father successful through a lengthened career, and leaving his sons established in the same business and in the someplace, after his death. 
Nos. 876 and 878 Broadway, New York, are now the property of the two sons, Andrew and Alfred. The seed department is managed by Alfred, and the greenhouses by Andrew Bridgeman, in two well-built stores, with their dwellings above. 
The business was first commenced in 1828, by the father, and continued by him until 1850 (the period of his decease), when the sons erected two four-story houses, well adapted to their objects; the southerly one is devoted to the sale of vegetable, herb, flower, and grass seeds, horticultural books, and garden tools and implements; the walls are plastered on all sides with cement, and the floor is of concrete, making it secure from dampness and the attacks of vermin. In the house devoted to the plant department, the basement is divided into a flower-room for keeping and making-up cut flowers, and a packing-room and general stowage; the store is appropriately fitted up with shelvings, counters, &c, and floored with encaustic tiles; in connection with it is a greenhouse, eighteen feet wide and one hundred and thirty feet long. A neat fountain with gold fishes in the front part, attracts much attention from the Broadway loungers. 
This greenhouse is heated by two of Hitching's hot-water apparatus, advertised in this journal, and which Mr. B. assures us answer admirably. 
The country establishment is at Astoria, where there is a fine propagating house, five greenhouses, two rose-houses, one rose pit, and about forty sashes of frames for violets, pansies, &c. The grounds are ornamented with different varieties of fruit-trees, and are occupied principally in growing roses, ornamental and flowering shrubs, fruit, herbaceous and greenhouse plants, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, &c. &c.  Mr. B. is prepared to execute orders to any amount for forest trees, dwarf pears, &c.
In the city store will be found one of the finest collections of bulbous roots; a number of each kind are potted for those who desire to have them already started —a convenience which many salesmen cannot afford. Here will also be found fancy flower-pots, bulb-glasses, and baskets for flowers, of which latter ornaments they fill innumerable orders during the winter season, as well as hand-bouquets and designs for parties and suppers. The greenhouse in the city is filled with plants suited for private houses during winter, and, in spring, they are replaced with bedding-out plants, for which the establishment is famous throughout the Eastern and Middle States. 
This sketch of the business of two brothers in the heart of New York, realizes an agreeable picture, and is an example of exactly what we like to see. To minds imbued with a love of nature's gifts, and, of course, admirers of the floral world, it would seem to us to afford an amount of enjoyment which few other occupations can give. We record it for the encouragement of those who may now be struggling with economy and industry to found similar establishments elsewhere. There is not a city in our land where equally persevering attention and honesty may not bring like results.




This letterhead is from the 1880s.  It was printed with the date 188_, to be filled in.


The interior of this 1902 catalog is as artistically boring as the cover.  The new century brought the end of the age of great seed catalogs.



Saturday, April 22, 2017

1850 to 1910 - An Old Seedsman's Perspective


I learned some interesting new things from this memoir of the seed trade. Brill is an entertaining writer who switches from high-falutin' purple prose to pissed off old man in the same sentence.  



   



I live an hour from here.  It looks much the same today! 

Here is the house shown above.  These Comstock, Ferre & Co. images are here because the writer, Francis Brill , references the company and their catalog of one year earlier, 1849.

I've added links after names that go to info in this blog on those people, as well as links that go other places.







Below from American Florist, 1910


Past, Present and Prospective

of the Seed Trade in America. 

BY FRANCIS BRILL. 



Some five years ago, when nearing the time of life allotted to the human race, I began to realize that after an experience of half a century in the seed business that I knew but very little thereof as compared with the younger generations in the trade, and the thought suggested itself that the little I did know of  "The Past, Present and Future of the Seed Business of America" might interest the members of our association and perchance some non-members.   To the officers then in, control of the association I offered my services, but was informed that the program for 1905 had already been made-up.   The next year I again sought the honor in ample time for the convention of 1906 only to be informed that another person had been asked to prepare a paper on the “Early History of the Seed Business". 
A few months ago in correspondence with President Robinson the matter was referred to and through his courtesy it was arranged for me to prepare a brief paper on “The Past. Present and Prospective of the Seed Trade of America", which I now present to you. 



SIXTY YEARS AGO.
1875ish - Broadway and Eighteenth street



As to the past, my memory goes back fully 60 years, when, as a boy, I knew personally several of the pioneer seedsmen of America, among them Grant Thorburn, Sr., his sons George C. and William, and later on the sons of George C., the well known firm of James M. Thorburn & Co. [(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)];  

Thomas Bridgeman, and later his son Alfred for whom I clerked in the early fifties at the old seed store, Broadway and Eighteenth street, which locality was in those days considered “away up town," and was, in fact, in close proximity to many small market gardens where today stand great hotels and theaters, grand residences and lofty skyscrapers—monuments to the wonderful advance of civilization and progress in the new world, and the rapid and substantial growth of the city of New York practically, within three quarters of a century.  




Alexander Smith, Thomas Dunlap, and Young & Elliott, all of New York; 

Robert Buist, Sr. [(1)], later Robert Buist, Jr., David Landreth and Pascal Morris & Co., (by whom I was employed as clerk in 1857) all of Philadelphia; 

John Stair of Cleveland, founder of the present house of Kendel, and James Vick of Rochester, N. Y. [(1) (2) (3) (4)].


I remember well when, in 1847, Peter Henderson and his brother James came to Jersey City and bought out my uncle's establishment, market gardening and two or three small greenhouses on rented land immediately adjoining my father's patch on the Van Vorst property. 

They were young men without much capital but plenty of grit. James died early, and the business was continued by Peter, who later on was associated with one Fleming in the seed trade in Nassau street, New York, and later was the head of the well known firm of Peter Henderson & Co. 

I am writing from memory and may have overlooked some of the solid “old-timers", but they will not feel slighted, for undoubtedly they have passed away, and in company with those above named who have gone before, are now enjoying the reward promised to all who sell honest seeds, in that beautiful land “Where moth nor rust doth not corrupt nor thieves break through or steal," nor over zealous congressmen and state legislator meddle with the seedsman's business. 

In this connection I desire to say that seedsmen who deal in vegetable and flower seeds, and handle only stocks of undoubted purity need have no fear of any laws hatched out by members of congress or members of state legislatures, which are absurd, uncalled for, and unnecessary.


OLD TIME CATALOGUE PRICES

To get rid of dishonest dealers who sell “any old thing" that can be bought for “any old price" give them rope enough and they will hang themselves. I do not handle grass seeds but it seems to me it must be very difficult to detect foul seeds in most varieties thereof and undoubtedly some of the laws enacted or proposed are very unjust. In my boyhood days, and even up to 30 years ago, prices were higher and profits much greater than now; seedsmen turn their money practically but once a year and in former days seeds were sold at the seedsman’s legitimate profit and not as now as too often the case, on the grocer’s or dry goods merchant's margins, or along other lines where capital is turned monthly, or weekly, and why have conditions changed? Simply because some of our craft, not satisfied to do a legitimate competitive business have adopted a system of cut-throat opposition. 

I was able to procure several old time catalogues to help me out, but have been disappointed— some claiming that such had not been preserved, and a few failed to respond although in each case I complied with the usual custom demanded. 




My thanks are due and hereby tendered to F. W. Bruggerhof of J. M. Thorburn & Co., for a copy of the catalogue of G. Thorburn & Son, 1827, 4x7 inches, 96 pages, in large part a treatise on the cultivation of seeds and flowers.    

Also “Catalogue of Seeds." James M. Thorburn & Co.. 1847  and a bound volume of their catalogues from 1864 to 1877.      











S. F. Willard has also kindly loaned me a “Wholesale Price Sheet" of seeds for sale by Comstock, Ferre & Co.. 1849.


It is interesting to compare these with the catalogues and price lists of the present day. 

For instance, to take a few leaders, Comstock, Ferre & Co., wholesale: 
  • Beet, per pound, including mangels and sugar, 50c; and Bassano (now scarcely known), 75c; 
  • cabbage, mostly imported varieties, $1.25 to $1.50; 
  • carrot, 75c to $1; 
  • cucumber, 75c; 
  • lettuce, $1.25 to $2; 
  • melon. about 75c: 
  • onion. 75c to $1; pepper. $2.50; 
  • radish, 50c; 
  • spinach, 40c to 50c; 
  • squash. 50c; 
  • tomato, $1.50; 
  • turnip, 50c to 60c. 

In the catalogue of G. Thorburn & Son, 1827, there are enumerated a line of seeds, some names of varieties still familiar, while others, having served their day and generation, are no longer in vogue; for instance, the list of cabbage seeds, mainly imported, comprises more than 20 varieties, 15 of which cannot now be found in any American seed catalogue. 
The various articles are not priced as now, but are prefaced by characters such as the (*), (),  (), (§), etc.. and letters (a), (b), (c) and (d), which refer to “A Key to the Prices of Esculent Vegetable Seeds" on the fly leaf at the front of the book.  No pictures, no paint, in those days. Prices were 12 1⁄2, 25 1⁄2, 37 1⁄2 and 50 cents and $1 per ounce, and 12 1⁄2,  25, 37 1⁄2 and 50 cents per quart, nothing said about packets, pecks or bushels. 

The subsidiary coins of those days and up to 1857 were largely the Spanish sixpence, 6 1⁄4 cents and shilling, 12 1⁄2 cents, which accounts for the fractions. By an act of congress passed in 1857, the value of these foreign coins was fixed at 5, 10, 20 and 40 cents, which soon drove them out of the country.



Flower seeds were sold at six cents per paper, 100 papers for $5.  In the 1847 catalogue of James M. Thorburn & Co., we find prices quoted: 
  • Beans, per quart, dwarf or bush, 25 cents; pole varieties. 25, 37c and 50 cents;
  • Indian corn, seven varieties. including but one of sweet or sugar, 25 cents per quart, six cents per ear; 
  • peas, 14 varieties at 25 cents, 12 varieties at 50 cents per quart, and seven new varieties at 25 cents per packet. 
Very few of the names of the varieties are now familiar. 
  • Beet - seven varieties, including Swiss chard, mangel, and two of sugar beet, 12 1⁄2 cents;
  • yellow turnip and Bassano, classed as new, 25 cents per ounce; 
  • cabbage -  26 varieties including kohl rabi and savoy, two-thirds of which are now unlisted. 25 cents per ounce; 
  • carrot -  two varieties for table use, 12 1⁄2 cents per ounce, two varieties for cattle, 75 cents per pound; 
  • celery- -25 cents; 
  • cucumbers - Early Frame and Early White Spine. 12 1⁄2  cents; Long Green Southgate, Long Green and Long White Turkey, 50 cents per ounce; 
  • lettuce - 12 varieties, six at 25 cents and six at 50 cents per ounce; 
  • egg plant -  $1 per ounce; 
  • melon -  25 cents; 
  • onion -  25 and 50 cents; 
  • parsley and parsnip - 12 1⁄2 cents; 
  • pepper -  four varieties, 50 cents; 
  • Sweet Spanish and Sweet Mountain. $1 per ounce; 
  • radish, 12 varieties, 12% cents; 
  • spinach. 12% cents; 
  • squash. 12%. 25 and 50 cents per ounce; 
  • tomato. Large Red, Large Yellow, Cherry and Pear, only four varieties, probably enough for those days, as I have heard my father say he could well remember when there was not a half peck of tomatoes sold in New York city.  He was born there in 1800. and as a market gardener dated back to 1828 at Jersey City, N. J. 
  • Of turnips - 16 varieties, including two rutabagas, are listed at 12 1⁄2 cents per ounce; 
  • flower seeds. 6% cents, some at 12% cents. and a very few at 25 cents per packet. 
There are too many kinds to enumerate.,but I must note by way of comparison the universal favorite. sweet peas, of which hardly a dozen varieties, including everything under the head of “Lathyrus” are mentioned, while today there are varieties and sub-varieties, types and strains, running into the hundreds.


CALIFORNIA SEEDS.

I have a daughter married to a member of an extensive seed growing firm in California. A few years ago in writing home she said, "The soil of this section does not admit of our having such magnificent lawns as are common in the east, but we have 140 acres of sweet peas in our backyard."  The next year 360 acres were grown; last year 500 acres, and still a greater acreage soon to be harvested in 1910. This is only on one ranch and probably not one-fifth of the annual output of sweet peas in the wonderful state of California, where thousands upon thousands, yea, hundreds of thousands of acres are cultivated in seeds of every description from beans and all sorts of vegetables, to the very finest of flowers.

By chance I found a copy of my 1860 list - a one-sided sheet, 5 x 9 inches - with prices for market gardeners.
  • Asparagus - 75c;
  • beet - 75c;
  • cabbage - $5 to $6;
  • carrot - $1.25;
  • cucumber - $2;
  • celery - $4;
  • leek - $2.50;
  • lettuce - $4;
  • melon - $1.50 to $2;
  • onion - $1.50 to $2;
  • parsley - $1.00;
  • parsnip - 75c;
  • pumpkin - $1.50
  • raddish, 75 cents to $1; 
  • spinach - 63 cents; 
  • squash, - $1.50; 
  • tomato -  $3 ;
  • turnip - 75 cents per pound; 
  • egg plants and pepper - 50 cents per ounce.

All figures given are by way of comparison with prices ruling at the present day. It is true that conditions have changed, and very materially so within the past 25 or 30 years. Seventy-five years back there were very few regular seedsmen in America. and they depended mainly upon Europe for their supplies. Sixty and even up to 50 years ago market gardeners to a great extent grew seeds for their own sowing and aimed to have plenty, hence frequently they had a surplus which was eagerly sought for by the few seed dealers who were willing to pay good round prices and did not "kick" as is sometimes the case in these days, if a few pounds were sold here and there to neighbors who chanced to be short.  

I well remember 60 years ago how the five market gardeners on the Van Vorst property at Jersey City interchanged seeds— each one growing one or more kinds and selling surplus to seedsmen.  Dr. Tracy of the Department of Agriculture, whom all of you know, writing of "Vegetable Seed Growing as a Business" asserts: “Records of only about 45 firms that were in business in this country as distinctly seed merchants previous to 1862 can be found, while a list of American seedsmen published in 1908 includes the names of over 800 American firms whose sole business is the growing and handling of seeds: with more than 650 other firms making seeds an important part of their business."


Were it not for making my paper too lengthy I would like to quote further from Dr. Tracy whose article is full of information, and as a whole quite to the contrary. I will cite just one instance. My father and my uncle were the first to grow Early Wakefield cabbage in this country, having received it from Europe about 65 or 70 years ago, and it remained in the hands of the five Jersey City market gardeners for a number of years.

 Among those who were eventually attracted to its good qualities was one John Lundergan,

of Watervliet near Albany. N. Y., whose custom it was for several years to come down to my father every fall and buy seeds of various kinds, especially Early Wakefield cabbage.  Upon one occasion my father's crop thereof was almost a total failure, so when Mr. Lundergan came there was no seed of that variety for him. My father had explained to him that his entire crop was but a single pound which he must retain for his own sowing for market and for growing seed in subsequent years.  

After trying all sorts of persuasive argument. Mr. Lundergan drew from his wallet a $50 bill which he offered my father for that one pound of seed, but of no avail. That was a matter of confidence, the cornerstone upon which the seed business more than almost any other must rest for a successful upbuilding.
Mr. Lundergan's Patent





(Mr. Lundergan turned up in a search as an inventor.)

















GOVERNMENT FREE SEEDS.

I am writing hurriedly and somewhat disconnectedly. I am very busy, and my health none too good, so you will kindly pardon any imperfections. In regard to the government free seed distribution: If such must exist, why not confine it to seeds of American production, the best of their kind that can be procured, ignoring entirely all commonplace stocks, and importing, if at al, only new and rare things, not yet introduced into this country?  But Uncle Sam will have to get around early to be ahead of the enterprising, hustling seedsmen.

Now, in conclusion, why is it that while almost every other business is protected in some manner, working along in perfect harmony, yet so many of our craft are at swords points, cutting and slashing? I am utterly and unalterably opposed to trusts and combinations organized for the purpose of greed and robbery, but as “self-preservation is the first law of nature," why should not we work together for our mutual benefit?

If I am correctly informed, the Wholesale Seedsmen's League has an understanding among the members as to prices at which seeds shall be sold, not exorbitant, but giving legitimate profits. Why not our association formulate some plan whereby every branch of our business can be honestly protected? Ridiculously low prices are not an incentive to gardeners and farmers to buy large quantities — each one knows for himself just how much seed he must have to produce a certain number of plants or to seed a given acreage, and whether the seeds costs $1 or $10 per pound he buys the necessary quantity—entirely unlike living commodities, for instance, meats.   If beef sells for 10 cents per pound the laborer will buy more beef for his family than he will at 20 cents per pound. The same argument applies in the purchase of wearing apparel and other necessaries of life.

I have given you an idea of prices prevailing half a century and more ago. You know what they are in these days. Of course, Europe with its cheap labor, and California, with its even climate and many other superior advantages. are important factors in making prices with which other sections have to compete; still, I am of the opinion that it is up to our association to take action whereby all may live and let live.

At the age of 74, I can hardly expect to attend many more conventions. My relations with my fellow seedsmen, as a whole. have been pleasant. I thank you for your patience in listening to such a dry and seedy subject. If I never again meet with you in convention, I trust that we may one and all meet in the good seedman's paradise. I shall endeavor to at least be entitled to a rear seat.




Thursday, April 13, 2017

1899 - Anticipating Tulips!!!

Spring 2017:They are on their way! Tulips, tulips and more tulips!

       John Lewis Childs knew how to design a catalog cover.  I can't stay away from them.









Tuesday, April 4, 2017