Chronicling a little-known aspect of this country's rich agricultural history, this integral documentation highlights the illustrious history of the early seedsmen, and their remarkable contributions to the development of agricultural America. Presented in the social context of their times, the stories of 20 seedsmen and one woman - who founded the seed houses that began an empire that grew across America from 1795 to 1925 - are fittingly embodied by extraordinary chromolithographic illustrations first published in seed catalogues in the United States. With vintage catalogue text accompanying images ranging from line drawings in Aztec, Mayan, and Inca styles to detailed and illustrative photography, this enlightening lineage of America's horticultural scientific history provides enough insight to resonate with those fascinated by the origins of modern gardening.