12

10 Dorr's Iowa Seed Manual.

within a few years. Therefore, we say plant them year after year, and the average price will pay as well as any crop we know of.
Do not be discouraged and stop because of low prices you obtain for your crop.
The Onion thrives best on very rich, loamy soil. Unlike most vegetables, it flourishes when cultivated on the same land for many successive years. If possible, plow ground in the Fall. Sow four pounds of seed per acre as early in Spring as ground can be worked, which must be thoroughly pulverized and leveled, in drills fifteen inches apart; cover one-half inch. Commence hoeing soon as rows can be seen; skim the ground over the surface; avoid stirring deeply, and work the soil away from the bulbs. At second hoeing weed thoroughly and carefully by hand ; thin plants to three inches in the row. When the tops die, pull and spread evenly over the ground; stir or turn until fully dried, then cut the tops one-half inch from the bulb. To keep the Onions through Winter, a cool, dry, outside cellar (those under dwellings being usually too warm) or barn may be employed, any cool (not freezing), dry, well ventilated room will do. If in a barn,
protect on all sides with two feet of good straw. Do not pile them in more than
ten-inch layers between the straw. Freezing does not injure if not allowed to thaw and freeze again. To grow sets from seed, sow early and thick in drills. When tops die down, about middle of July) they are ready to harvest. For the cultivation of Onions, we know of no tools so useful as Comstock's Horticultural Implements and Planet, Jr., tools; see last part of manual for descriptions of these. Our seed is grown from bulbs selected for perfect shape and small necks. Prices are as low as first-class fresh seed can be sold at. We are aware of the importance of the Onion crop, and pay special attention to this seed. Our customers are unanimous in their praise of our Onion seed wherever grown, therefore it is unnecessary to say anything to them. But to new customers we would respectfully say, Give Us A
Trial Order.

Per Packet, 10 Cents, Except Where Noted.

Large Red Wethersfield.-This is the standard variety, and the favorite onion in the east, where immense crops are grown for shipment. Large size ; skin deep purplish-red ; form round, flat; flesh purplish-white; moderately fine-grained.
Very productive, the best keeper, and one of the most popular for general cultivation. The staple variety of the western onion growers. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.25.
Extra Early Red-Fortnight earlier than Wethersfield, little smaller. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.00; lb. $3.50.
Yellow Danvers-A fine variety, originated in South Danvers, Mass. Above the medium size, globular in form: skin yellowish-brown; flesh white, sugary, comparatively mild and well flavored; a good producer, frequently producing six hundred bushels to the acre, from seed sown in the spring. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.25.
White Portugal-Handsome, mild flavor; not extra good keeper; extensively grown for pickling. Oz. 25c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.25.
Large Yellow-One of the oldest sorts, and as a market variety, probably better known and more generally grown in this country than any other. Flesh white, fine-grained, mild, sugary and well-flavored. Hardy and productive. Pkt.5c; Oz.20c; 1/4 lb. 60; lb.$2.
New Queen--A very nice extra early silver-skinned Tripoli Onion, as remarkable for its keeping qualities as for the rapidity of its growth, being the best keeper
of the foreign sorts. Very mild flavored, and excellent for pickling. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. 1.10; lb. 4.00.
Large White Globe-The handsomest market variety we have ever seen. Large size; oval form; very even; mild and pleasant flavor ; good keeper ; outsells every other variety. Oz. 50c; 1/4 lb. 1.50; lb. $5.00.
Red Globe-Ripens ahead of the Wethersfield. It is a very productive and extremely popular market sort. Oz. 30c; 1/4 lb. $1.00; lb. $3.50.
Giant Rocca-Very large, frequently weighing 3 1/2 lbs. Globular form; mild, delicate flavor. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.10; lb. $4.00.
Marzagole-Very handsome, large silvery onions; extremely early. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.10; lb. 4.00.
Large Red Tripoli-Also very large and mild flavored. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.10; lb. 4.00.
Large White Tripoli-Similar to the red except color; Oz. 35c; 1/4. lb. $1.10; lb. $4.00.
Extra Early Bloomsdale Pearl-The most remarkable onion ever introduced. Earliest of all. Pearly white, translucent, growing almost with the rapidity of a radish. Form flat; flavor very mild; keeping qualities good. Try It. Wonderfully fine. Pkt. 15c; oz. $1.00; 1/4 lb. $3.00; lb. $10.00.
Small White Silverskin-For pickling. This is of small size, silvery white, and used almost entirely for pickling, on account of its small size, handsome appearance and mild flavor. Oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.00; lb, $4.00.

Parsley.
Sow in March, thinly in drills, one foot apart, half an inch deep. Soak seed a few hours in warm water before sowing. For winter use protect in a glass frame or light cellar.
Covent Garden-Finest curled. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c.

Parsnips.
Sow early in spring, in drills 15 inches apart, covering half an inch. Thin to 5 or 6 inches apart in rows. They are improved by the frost, and it is usual to take up in the fall a certain quantity for winter, leaving the rest in the ground until spring; in this latitude they need no protection if left in the ground.

Per Packet, Five Cents.

Long Sugar - Best for general use; very tender, sugary, excellent flavored; large size; white and smooth. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 25c; lb. 75c.
Maltese-A new, long, very fine English variety. Oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 25c; lb. 75c.
Sutton's Student-A fine-flavored variety. Oz. 10c: 1/4 lb. 25c; lb. 75c.

Peas.
Peas mature quickest in light, dry soil, not too rich. May be sown as early as the ground can be worked, and for a succession every two weeks up to July, after
which there is danger of mildew. Sow in drills four to six feet apart, according to varieties, one inch apart in the drills, not less than 4 inches deep, and late in the
season 7 or 8 inches. Occasionally a good late crop can be obtained sowing an early sort as late as the 20th of August. Wrinkled sorts are marked *. They should
be sown thicker in the row than the smooth varieties, as they are more liable to rot. Twenty-five cents per quart must be added to pay postage when Peas are
ordered by mail.

All Peas, Per Packet, Ten Cents, Postpaid.

*Bliss' American Wonder-The earliest and most prolific dwarf, wrinkled Pea, unurpassed for early sowing. This new and fine-flavored variety is a seedling, the result of a cross between the two favorite varieties, Champion of England and Little Gem, raised by Mr. Chas. Arnold, the well-known Canadian agriculturist. It combines all the good qualities of both of its parents, with the additional ones of
superiority in flavor to the Champion and of greater productiveness than the Little Gem, besides being earlier than any other of the wrinkled varieties. Peas
planted June 5th were ready for the table in thirty-three days from date of planting. On good soil, each vine will average twelve pods, and each pod six peas.
Fifteen pods have been counted on some vines, and nine large peas in some of the pods, and every pod is well filled. The vine grows from eight to ten inches
high, according to the soil and season. Since 1878 it has been tested in various parts of the world, and has met with the unqualified approval from all who have
grown it. It has the highest endorsement from the most eminent agriculturists in the country. So great has been the demand, since first introduced, that it
has been impossible to supply all applicants with even a small quantity. Our seed is genuine. Do not fail to give it a trial. Pt. 40c; qt. 75c; pk. $5.00.
Telegraph-This is an extraordinary acquisition, the peas often being so close together as together as to appear to be forming a double row in the pod. It is fine second and early variety, very robust in habit, bearing immense pods; the peas, when cooked, of a fine deep green color; a great bearer, and of fine flavor; height
5 feet. Pt. 35c; qt. 60c; pk. $4.00.