The Rural New Yorker didn’t devote regular or significant space to dogs in its weekly journal. The September 26, 1891 edition was an exception as its lead story was titled, “The collie dog: Man’s most faithful friend” (images below). It included profiles of two collies bred by W. Atlee Burpee (1858 – 1915), best known for his mail order seed business.
In 1888, Burpee bought a several hundred acres farm he named Fordhook in Pennsylvania. Along with additional farms Burpee would purchase later, Fordhook was used to research, develop and manufacture plants and seeds, such as the Fordhook lima bean. He also took Fordhook as the kennel name for his collies.
Burpee submitted descriptions of his collies and breeding business for the article, including the following:
Fordhook Farm today stands as a historical site, sometimes open to the public.
Burpee introduced iceberg lettuce in 1894. Its popularity grew over time and is currently the subject of a recall related to a massive cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States.
Related:
A profile of Champion Scotilla, mentioned in Burpee’s notes, is contained in this post.
YesBiscuit! 
I love your vintage posts – even though they are sometimes stark reminders of how attitudes toward animal welfare have changed in a relatively short time. I rarely comment, but wanted to pop in today just to say I’m relieved that the cyclospora mention in the headline does NOT mean you are sick with it!!
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Thank you. I’m doing my best to avoid the bad bugs but not sure how I’m supposed to cook my lettuce, grapes and kiwi to 158 degrees…
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