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16
Seed Catalogue and Garden Guide.

215 Bus.
Per acre.

Iowa Silver Mine Corn.

It Can Be Done!
It Has Been Done!
Can You Do It?

The most marvelous variety of corn ever offered and one which will surprise everyone who plants it. If the farmers take hold of this as they should it will revolutionize the corn growing of the country. It is adapted to a wider range of soil and climate than any corn ever offered. From southern Minnesota to Texas, from Massachusetts to California, it will yield a paying crop where other varieties are grown at a loss.

You Can't Afford to cultivate the ordinary varieties and get an ordinary crop when you can grow as much of the Iowa Silver Mine on one acre as of other corn on four to eight acres. Cost of seed is almost nothing, two bushels of corn added to your crop will more than pay for it and this variety of corn is of such extra choice appearance that it will usually bring at least 2 cents per bushel above market price for ordinary corn.

Read Page 37.

How He Grew This Crop.--A full statement of how this wonderful crop was produced, and also of the two other largest crops ever grown in the world, will be sent free to everyone ordering Iowa Silver Mine Seed Corn from us. Also full instructions so that you can grow 200 bushels to the acre. This information may be worth $100.00 to you.

Read This Proof.--Practical farmers who know what a good crop of corn is from actual measurements, will look incredulous when we talk of 200 bushels grown on one acre, and we don't blame them. The reports astonished us although we knew that it was a wonderful yielder. There were three reports of larger crops than the prize winner. Two of them did not comply with the conditions while the third was clearly fraudulent. We went to considerable expense and traveled about 1,000 miles to see these crops, as we were bound to have the prize go to the proper person. Mr. Claus Jochimsen, the winner of the first prize who grew 215 bushels shelled corn to the acre, is a well-to-do German farmer of Scott county, Iowa. His written report was signed, also by two neighbors, who helped him to measure the ground and gather the corn, and it was weighed by the public weighmaster who also made a written report. To verify this the president of the Iowa Seed Co., personally inspected and measured the field and estimated carefully the corn in the crib. It is a German neighborhood and all the talk in Mr. Jochimsen's family, and between the neighbors was in that language. Our representative understood all that was said without their knowing it and if everything had not been right he would have found it out. He came away thoroughly convinced that the report was correct.

[images]
An average in size, depth of grain and size of cob, also picture of prize winner.
Dwarf Emerald.
Splitz.

Over $500.00 in Prizes For Best Acre of Corn.

Anyone purchasing one-half peck or more of the Iowa Silver Mine corn direct from us this year can compete. You can plant one acre only but we believe that it would pay you better to plant a larger field and then select the best acre at time of harvest. The competing acre must be all in one field and not divided. Use your own judgement as to time and manner of planting. Use any kind of land and fertilize and cultivate as you please. In the fall measure the acre of land, and cut one or more rows of the other corn stalks away from around it, so as to entirely separate it. An acre of land contains 43,560 square feet. The ground must be measured and the corn gathered and weighed in the presence of two witnesses not financially interested in the result, who will sign statement. Reports must reach us by November 15, 1897. Corn to be weighed any time after November 1st, 70 pounds of husked ears to the bushel. If weighed before November 1st, 75 pounds are to be allowed to the bushel.

Competition Open To All.

First Prize.--Consists of $100.00 in gold for the largest crop of Iowa Silver Mine corn grown on one acre in any part of the United States.

Second Prize.--Eighty (80) acres of good farm land offered by the Alabama Land & Development Co., of Mobile, Ala., for the largest crop of Iowa Silver Mine corn grown on one acre within 15 miles of the main line of the Mobile & Ohio R. R. in Alabama or Mississippi.

Third Prize.--Forty (40) acres of good farm land offered by the same company for second largest crop grown in same section.

Fourth Prize.--Forty (40) acres of land for the largest crop of Iowa Silver Mine corn grown on lands adjacent to the Louisville & Nashville R. R. Address W. D. Chipley, Pensacola, Fla., for further particulars.

Special Prize.--Forty (40) acres of land offered by the K. C. P. & G. R. R., of Kansas City, Mo., to the winner of the first prize, provided crop is grown on lands adjacent their railroad.

For more full particulars about the above lands see enclosed circular or write to the parties making offer. This land is worth about $3.00 to $10.00 per acre thus making a total of about $1,000.00.

Dwarf Emerald Broom Corn.
(Novelty of 1897.) This splendid new variety which we now offer for the first time is the result of a cross between the Dwarf Evergreen and California Golden. It is the greatest advance which has been made for years past. The stalk is short its one object seems to be to produce the long, perfect shaped brush in the shortest possible space of time so that it loses no time making tall stalks. The brush is long and straight, almost every pound being suitable for hurl, and of a handsome green color which never gets red. It is very productive a large quantity can be grown to the acre and it will bring a high price. Per lb. 35c, 3 lbs. 75c, postpaid. By fgt., 10 lbs. $1.75, 25 lbs. $3.00, 100 lbs. $10.00.

Spotted Drouth Resister Corn.
A novelty received from one of our customers last year which has proved to be a great yielder of good sized curiosly [curiously] colored ears. Desirable for dry sections. In packets only per pkt. 10c.

Negro Equality Corn.
A great curiosity in corn, sure to attract attention during the growing season from every passer-by. A white corn, but the cob, husk, stalk and leaves are dark red, nearly black. Per pkt. 10c, lb. 50c.

Spiltz.
A most wonderful new grain which is now offered for the first time by any seedsman in America, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be the first to introduce a grain which, we believe, will prove of so much value. For centuries past it has been grown in a limited way in Eastern Russia near the Caspian Sea, its value not being known to the agriculturists of the civilized world. Six years ago an emigrant from there brought some to this country and has been growing it since. A prosperous American farmer who lives near him secured sufficient seed from him to sow five acres two years ago and was surprised at the large crop. Last year again it produced a large crop yielding more than barley or oats. He says that under the same circumstances it will produce double as much as barley. He has been feeding the grain quite extensively having no thought of offering it for seed, so that we could obtain only a small quantity. Our illustration which represents one head shows somewhat the shape of the grain which is intermediate between wheat and barley the spikelets, being separated from each other in such a manner that the crop is not readily injured by the weather. The chaff adheres to the grain when thrashed. We believe it will prove of much value for milling as as well as for feeding. Will grow well and produce immense crops on poor soil, and the dry weather appears to have no effect on it. Botanically it is known as Triticum Spelta and is supposed to be the grain grown in Egypt in the time of Moses. We can only offer it in small quantities but it will pay farmers to test it this year. Per large pkt. 10c, lb. 50c, 4 lbs. $1.50, by mail, postpaid.