A Gardener's Notebook

Archive.org has a host of old seed catalogs (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. I happened across a few in my Pinterest feed and gone completely down the rabbit hole in this treasure trove of information. Sure some ideas might be out of date, but you never know what you might find when you explore these catalogs. I’ll be sharing more catalogs as I find them in the coming weeks. –Douglas

Historical Seed Catalogs: D. Landreth Seed Company (1894) – 3 in a series

I was really struck by the color pages of this catalog. I didn’t think they went in for color much at this time (1894) and I would guess it had to be somewhat expensive for them to include that. I guess that speaks to the company’s success that they were able to afford it for those plants that really sold themselves with their color — in this case, sweet peas and nasturtiums. — Douglas

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SWEET PEA.

Sweet Pea and the Nasturtium each separately improved by the mixing or hybridization of distinct colors and qualities and the perpetuation of the new product, or in some cases by the seizing of accidental sprouts, now both take rank among the most valuable garden plants, not surpassed in brilliant effect by any biennials, while they both are within the easy culture of any one of the least gardening experience.

The Sweet Pea, as respects size, texture, diversity of colors, exquisite shades, phenomenal production of blooms, and exquisite perfiime, has, in the last few years, jumped to the first place among the sweetest of climbing plants. So productive is it that single plants have been known to have borne over looo sprays of flowers.

No praise can be too high for the Sweet Pea. It is the fashionable flower consequent upon its rare development in beauty, ranging froni deepest purple to pure white and, in perfume, fragrant as Mignonette.

It is in place everywhere, in bouquets, in vases, as masses on the lawn, as ribbons along paths, or trained as screens in the form of hedges, or clambering on trellises to hide unsightly objects.

It is the most useful and ornamental of all hardy annuals, growing best in a cool soil and most luxuriantly under conditions of rain or moisture.

In planting the seed it should be put into the soil in very early Spring, to secure an early development, as early, if not earlier, than the planting of garden peas.

If sown in rows, the trenches to receive the seeds should be marked out four inches deep and the seeds placed two inches apart, and covered at first -^rith only two inches of earth, the full covering being attained gradually.

The object of deep seeding is that the roots may be well down to resist drouth. Planted in single rows, one ounce of Sweet Peas will seed forty feet, but for eff’ective purposes, one ounce should be allowed to every twenty feet or even less.

More information on this catalog:

Learn more about gardening history with these books

††

* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
† Available from the LA Public Library

Archive.org has a host of old seed catalogs (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. I happened across a few in my Pinterest feed and gone completely down the rabbit hole in this treasure trove of information. Sure some ideas might be out of date, but you never know what you might find when you explore these catalogs. I’ll be sharing more catalogs as I find them in the coming weeks. –Douglas

Historical Seed Catalogs: Barteldes Seed Catalog (1919) – 2 in a series

I find the “Help Feed Europe” Ad and the opening introduction to the catalog to be a dramatic look at what it was like 99 years ago when the Armistice was only a few months old and men were starting to return from Europe after the war. It shows just how serious the damage was to Europe and how many millions were starving after nearly 5 years of brutal, global, total war. — Douglas

Download in Text, PDF, Single Page JPG, TORRENT from Archive.org

The war has been brought to a glorious end, but the need for food has increased instead of decreased. We must send food not only to our Allies but also to millions of other war stricken people. As this page goes to press, Mr. Hoover is in Europe getting first hand information and making plans to help these starving millions. When he comes back he will no doubt tell us that the need is much greater than anyone had realized.

Every one of us must do our part — not only in saving food, but, what is of greater importance, in producing it. Every farm should be worked to the limit and every garden should be made to produce to the utmost.

Plant vegetables that will save meat, transportation and wheat.

Gardening, which cuts your grocery bills in half, gives you healthful exercise during the long twilight evenings, and provides fresh vegetables for your table during the summer and a generous supply for winter storage, is surely a pleasant and easy way of aiding the war stricken people of Europe.

Plant every acre and every foot of ground but above all plant only seed that you know to be of high quality. To risk your labor and your land to seeds of unknown quality is the worst kind of folly. You may save a few cents in the cost of the seed, but on the other hand you may not only lose your crops, but also introduce on your farm a host of vicious weeds.

The farmers and gardeners all through the Middle West have been planting Barteldes Seeds for over a half century and they know they can be depended on.

YOU TAKE NO RISK IN BUYING FROM US. All orders are taken and shipments made subject to your being satisfied with the seeds on arrival. When the seeds arrive you can examine them, test them, and if for any reason you are not satisfied, and will notify us within five days of receipt of same, we stand ready to take the seeds off of your hands and refund your money. It is well known, however, that seeds of the best quality often fail through various causes beyond human control, and we therefore, give no warranty, expressed or implied, as to description, quality, productiveness, or any other matter, of any seeds, bulbs or plants we send out, and we will not be in any way responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not accept the goods on these terms they are at once to be returned.

PRICES. All ptices quoted in this catalog are subject to market changes but as a rule the prices of garden seeds hold goot^uring the season.

PINK LIST. Prices of field seeds change constantly and we therefore issue our “Pink List,” giving current prices of field seeds. We issue this frequently and are always glad to send it when asked to do so. A postal card will bring it to you.

In ordering from the Pink List be sure to note the date at the top which shows when the list was printed. If the list you have is an old one send for a new one to get the correct prices. A postal card will bring it to you.

In case the price is different from what you figure on in your order we will, unless you give us instructions, use our best judgment as to whether to send you more or less seeds, or perhaps write you in case the difference is considerable. You will in all cases get the full value of your money.

SEEDS BY MAIL. We will send postpaid all Garden and Flower Seeds at the prices given in the following list, with the exception of heavy seeds, as Beans, Peas, Corn, Clover, Grain, Grass Seeds and Onion Sets. If you order these by mail, be sure to add postage. 

More information on this catalog:

Learn more about gardening history with these books

††

* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
† Available from the LA Public Library