50—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March, 5, 1977 looking as e' •v\ cs *** Burpee prepares for Springtime Positive signs of Spring’s arrival trigger many ex perienced and novice gardeners’ imaginations. These individuals draw up visions of a plot of ground flourishing with appetite-tempting tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, cantaloupes, and spirit reviving colorful flowers. A daydreaming trip out of the Winter doldrums into a sunny garden scene spurs ambition and hope for tilling the soil in a few weeks. Just when Winter-weary souls need it the most, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society sponsors its annual Philadelphia Flower and Garden Show. Having organized the first flower show in America in June, 1829, the society is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year the week of March 13 through 20. As one of the largest horticultural exhibits in the country, it draws huge crowds who come to marvel at the beauty of living plants. But, many of the visitors miss the ingenuity of mankind exhibited there in that the beauty results from behind-the-scenes scientific processes and time-consuming hand labor. Homestead Notes One of the many exhibitors at the flower show which has part of its enterprise established in Lancaster Farming’s coverage area is the W. Atlee Burpee Co. According to Jeannette Lowe of the gardening in formation department at Burpee’s, the company, which was founded in 1876, offered the first American produced seeds. Prior to that time, seeds were im ported from Europe. Hie Fordbook Farms in Doylestown, Pa., were established in 1888. Floradale Farm was established in 1909 near Lornpac, Calif., and Santa Paula Farm, near Ventura, Calif, was established in 1944. Most of the commercial seeds are grown in California for Burpee customers because growing conditions are ideal for developing vigorous strains. Thirty to 40 acres at each California farm are used for trials to see that marketed varieties are vigorous and true to type. Also at these farms, new varieties are developed. According to Burpee information, it usually takes 10 to 15 years to develop a new variety, and during this time many “hopefuls” are discarded. ' At the Fordbook Farms in Doylestown, the new varieties are tested under eastern growing conditions. There are large trial fields of Spring flowering bulbs at Fordbook and extensive programs of vegetable breeding and testing. 'lhis week, however, Fordbook Farms is busy getting the last plans completed for the [Continued on Page 51) By SUSAN KAUFFMAN Feature Writer These tomatoes look taste-tempting, although we really can’t look for ward to eating them until Summer. Seed companies, on the 4)thec. hand, never really forget the work they have to do with these plants since they are always testing new strains of vegetables for marketing. Photos courtesy of Burpee Seeds
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers