1923 Autumn Catalogue for Plants, Bulbs, & Seeds, Toronto Canada

‘Hyacinths, Narcissus, Daffodils, Easter Lily, Strawberries, Vegetable seeds, Cedar Plant Tubs, Spraying machines, “Queen City” Lawn Grass…’ 

Inside is glued a blue order sheet. Also inside (loose) is a pre-addressed envelope for mailing order in (137 & 139 King St. E. Toronto)

28 pages

Stain on front cover. Slight smudging on back cover

23 x 10 cm.

Steele Briggs Seed Company, founded in 1873 by Richard Steele and Sylvester Briggs

In the early decades of the 19th century, seed production was an enormous business. Canada was a rural nation, the number of families who farmed the land a far greater a percentage of the population than today. The rural areas of the provinces, especially in Western Canada, were the company’s largest customers. As well, homes in cities across the nation maintained gardens to grow vegetables and herbs for their kitchens. The mail-order seed catalogues published each year in late-winter or early spring were eagerly sought. Purchasing seedlings from growers was considered too expensive for most families, so they bought seeds. Nurseries that sold plants were rare, although town markets sold seedlings.

https://tayloronhistory.com/2014/07/27/the-steele-briggs-warehouse-at-49-spadina-ave-toronto/