This seed box was made for Hiram Sibley for his seed house business. He sold seeds priced by the weight or the space they took up e.g. bushel. This box allowed for seeds to be divided by type, size or even date. The box was strong and easy to cart and store. It was also a handy item to 'recycle' as a storage container for other items. The Sibley seed box is a desirable collectors' item. A large variety of sizes and shapes are still available today in various stages of condition. Hiram Sibley developed seeds that were strong and the plants that grew from these seeds produced many seeds. Varieties of Sibley seeds and plants are still advertised for sale in modern times. HIRAM SIBLEY (1807-1888) - Hiram Sibley was born in America. He had a natural mechanical ability and became skilled in many trades. He and his partner Don Watson opened a sawmill then a machine shop and foundry. He became involved with Alfred Vale and Samuel Morse and their work on the telegraph. Eventually he became the first president of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Later, after leaving Western Union in the early 1860s, Sibley bought and sold railroads, manufactured sold, ran timber mills, and became involved in farming and seed supply. In this area he used his skills to engineer seeds that were stronger and develop plants that produced more seeds. The production of seeds became his main business. He bought land cheaply and improved to soil so that he could produce seed and grain, and graze herds of cattle. He became the owner of 14 large farms. Hiram Sibley earned the reputation "as the most extensive farmer and seedsman in this country". The business of Hiram Sibley & Co. was conducted his warehouse in Rochester and his seed house in Chicago. One department of the business sold farming equipment, another department imported ornamental plants from overseas countries Sibley went on to invest a large amount of money in a bank, and to be financially involved in the community by making large donations to public services such as a library and a school of music. At one point he was the richest man in Monroe county.This box is significant for its historic connection with Hiram Sibley, who is famous for many reasons, among which is his very profitable business of seed engineering to improve the production of crops. This box also represents the value of containers used for selling products in the 1880s, being re-used for other useful purposes. The box is an example of goods imported for use in Australia. The text and images of the box are an example of 1880s advertisingBox, wooden, with two brass hinges joining lid to base. Base has two wooden partitions, divided into three unequal sized compartments. Lid's underside has label with drawings of buildings and produce, text with maker's name and description of vegetables. Front edge of box has stencilled text and diagrams. Outside lid, and the other three sides, have no inscriptions. Made by Hiram Sibley & Co., USA. (Box is currently used to store quoits 1436.2 and cones of cotton thread 1436.3.)Marked "HIRAM SIBLEY & CO / SEEDS", "WAREHOUSE - "ROCHESTER N.Y. ", "SEED HOUSE - CHICARGO, ILL.", "SEEDS BY WEIGHT & MEASURE", "PUT UP BY / HIRAM SIBLEY & CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y. AND CHICARGO, ILL."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, hiram sibley & co, rochester n.y., seeds, wooden seed box, seed box, seedsmen, arable farming, chicargo illinois, seed house, seed engineering, seed distribution, seeds by weight and measure

SEEDER, METAL CONTAINER WITH LONG HANDLES AND WHEELS AND HOE ASSEMBLYIMPRINTED IN THE LID OF THE METAL SEED BOX "PLANET JR NO.4"seeder, agriculture equipment

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid715 - Tsuga caroliniana

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidLarix Kaempferi, Mt Fuji, Japan

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidOn Box: Picea brachytyla ( sargentiana crossed out). Western Szechuan China. Note inside: Tsuga Canadensis, Eastern hemlock, pinaceae. Habitat: Canada and Eastern USA, origin USA

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidNote inside: Name: Picea Sitchensis, Sitka Spruce. Family: Pinaceae. Habitat: W. North America. Origin: Creswick Plantation

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix gruelini var. principis, Northern China.

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix americana Northern N. America, U.S.A. Label on one specimen: Larix Americana

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix potaninii Batal, Western Szechuan, China. Note inside:Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 910. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea glauca. Var. albertiana. Colville National Forest. State of Washington.. Note inside: Pacific N.W. Forest Experiment Station 424 U.S. Court House, Portland Oregon. Species: Picea glauca albertiana. Date colledted: Fall 1935. Latitude: 40/50 N. Longitude: 119/20 W.

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea monitggena. Western Szechuan, China. Note inside: Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Picea montigena (Most pic. aspuata?) No. 2056. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea morrisonicola. Formosa. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 9789. E.H Wilson 1918

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix gruelini, Dahurian Larch, Korea. (Crossed out: dahurica var. viridis)

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix gruelini, Siberia, Korea, Manchuria

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea rubens. (Crossed out: rubra)

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea mariana U.S.A. (Crossed out: nigra Mariana). Notes inside: 1# Picea mariana J.H.Willis. 2# 712 picea mariana

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidPicea retroflexa China.

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea bicolor. Cultivated Hayes Estate, Lexington Mass. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Picea bicolor mayr. (collector) C.E.Faxton Nov. 1, 1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Tsuga heterophylla. West Coast, North America. Note inside: Tsuga heterophylla: "Carminow", Mt Lofty, S Aus. November 1943. Coll: E.S.Booth

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea orientalis. Caucasus. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Caucasus. Picea orientalis C.S. Sargent

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea asperata Western Szechuan, China. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 2080. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea Jezoensis. Korea. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Korea. Picea Jezoensis Carr.No. 8964. E.H Wilson Aug. 26, 1917

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea brachytyla. Western Szechuan, China (ascendens crossed out). Note inside: Name: Picea Glauca White Spurce. Family: Pinaceae. Habitat: Canada, N. U.S.A. Origin: unknown

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea Engelmanni. Western N. America. Note inside: 711 Picea Engelmanni

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid.On Box: Picea brachytyla, Western Hupeh, China. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvrad University. Western hupeh China.No. 2052, E.H. Wilson 1907-09

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea hirtella. Western Szechuan, China.Inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University, E.H. Wilson 1907-09

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidPicea orientalis Asia Minor (crossed out = Western Himalayas (Creswick Plantation))

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid and note.Larix Mastersian, Eastern Szechuan, China. Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. No. 906, E.H. Wilson 1907-1909