1885

Dorr's Iowa Seed Manual. ... 64

[continued from previous page] straight and perfect rows. There is perhaps no one thing that will make the subsequent cultivation easier, or contribute more to the owner's satisfaction in his garden than this, and a little extra effort in this respect at the first will give pleasure all through the season

Sowing the Seed.-There is no more prolific source of disappointment and failure among amateur gardeners than hasty, careless or improper sowing of the seeds. A seed consists of a minute plant minus the roots, with a sufficient amount of food stowed in or around it to sustain it until it can expand its leaves, form roots and provide for itself, the whole inclosed in a hard and more or less impervious shell. To secure germination moisture, heat and a certain amount of air are necessary. The first steps are the softening of the hard, outer shell, the developing of the leaves of the plant from the absorption of water, and the changing of the plant food from the form of [illegible] to that of sugar. In the first condition the food was easily preserved unchanged but the plant with its undeveloped leaves and no root was incapable of- using it, while in its sugary condition it is easily apppropriated [appropriated]; but if not used it speedily decays and induces decay in the plant. A seed then may retain its vitality and remain unchanged for years while after germination has commenced, a check of a day or two in the process may be fatal. There is no time from that when the seed falls from the parent plant until it in- turn produces seed, ripens and dies when the plant is so susceptible of fatal injury from the overabundance or want of heat and moisture as that between the commencement of germination and the formation of the first true leaves. and it is just then that it needs the aid of the gardener to secure favorable conditions. These are:

First-A proper and constant degree of moisture without being soaked with water. This is secured by making the surface of freshly dug soil so fine that the smallest seeds may come in immediate contact on all sides with the particles from which they are to absorb the required moisture, and the pressing of the soil over the seeds so firmly with the feet or the back of the hoe, that the degree of moisture may remain as nearly as possible the same until the plants are up.

Second-A proper degree of heat, secured by sowing each variety of seed when the average temperature of the localityy is that most favorable for its germination, This may be learned from a careful study of the following pages and the experience of the most sucessful gardeners of your vicinity.

Third-Covering the seed to such a depth that while it is preserved at a uniform degree of heat and moisture, the necessary air can readily reach it, and the tiny stem push the forming leaves into the light and air. This depth will vary with different seeds and conditions of the soil, and can be learned only from practical experience. In general, seeds the size of the Turnip should be covered with half an inch of earth pressed down, while Corn may be an inch, Beans two or three, and Peas two to six inches deep.

Fourth -Such condtion of soil that the ascending stem can easily penetrate it, and the young roots speedily find suitable food. We can usually seccure this by thorough preparation of the ground, and taking care never to sof fine seeds when the ground is wet. Occasionally a heavy or long continued rain followed by a bright sun will so bake and crust the surface that it is impossible for the young plant to find its way through it, or a few days of strong wind will-so dry the surface that no seed can germinate. In such cases our only remedy is to try again.

Cultivation.-Every weed should be removed as soon as it appears, especially while the plants are young; this will require almost daily attention, but if well done early in the season, the later work will be light, but mere destruction of weeds is by no means the only object of cultivation. A. J. Downing, who was perhaps the best horticulturist America has known, said: "If I were to preach a sermon on horticulture, I should take as my text, "Stir The Soil," and certainly the text would contain much of the gospel of successful gardening; frequent and deep stirring will enable one to grow fine vegetables on comparatively poor and slightly manured soil, while without it one fails to gain much advantage from the richest and finest soil. Care should be taken that the cultivation is not done when the soil is wet, or Peas, Beans and Melons stirred when the leaves are wet with dew, as such disturbance is liable to injure the leaves, and make them susceptible to injury from rust. With this exception cultivate as often and as thoroughly as possible.

Sundries. [Image: Drawing/Scratchboard illustration of hands using weeding tool. Caption- Lang's Weeder. Patj Applied For.]

Lang's Hand Weeder-The special advantage of thisover all other Weeders of this class is, that it has a band which passes over the fingers which when the tool is not in use gives full use to the hand for pulling weeds and thinning out plants without laying down the tool. It is neatly and strongly made. Price, by mail, post-paid, 50 cents.

Garden Trowels-By mail, each 40 to 50 cents.

Plain and Ornamental Flower Pots, Hanging Baskets, Vases, etc.-We keep a full assortment a full of these. Write for prices, sending list of what is wanted.

Fruit Boxes- These are put up flat to ship but are all ready to put together, which can be done very rapidly. Price on application.

Lawn Mowers-The best in use. Send for illustrated circular.

Bowker's Lawn Dressing-Do not disfigure your lawns, grass plats, or cemetery lots with strong offensive manure, full of weed seeds. This dressing is so prepared that it acts gradually through the season, producing a luxuriant growth of grass of rich green color. 10 lbs. or more by express at 5 cents per lb.

Pure Ground Bone-One of tbe best permanent fertilizers in use. Price per 100 lbs. $5.00.

Bowker's Food for Flowers-A fertilizer made especially for plants grown in the house, garden, or conservatory; clean, free from offensive odor, largely soluble in water, and producing healthy plants, free from vermin, and early and abundant blossoms to which it imparts a rich and brilliant color. Large sized package by mail for 50 cents.

Persian Insect Powder-1/4 lb, 50 cents; lb., $1.50.

Palmer's Plant and Vine Protector-Specially good for use on cabbages and other vegetable plants. Warranted non-poisonous. By mail, 1 lb. box, 45 cts.

Imperial Egg Food-For all varieties of Poultry. It comes to us very highly recommended. Will make your hens lay. Trial packages by mail. 50 cents and $1. Send for circulars.

Order Sheet for Dorr's Iowa Seeds.

[Image: icon of pointing finger.] Please be particular to Write your Name and Address distinctly and in full with each order. We are continually receiving orders where this is neglected, and are obliged to retain them until we hear again from the writer. Be sure to give Express Office, also name of Express Company, as some orders can be sent better and cheaper by prepaid Express than Mail. Order Early, so the orders can be filled before the stock is broken. No Goods sent C. O. D. Our terms are cash with all orders. [Stamped across text at angle: Iowa Seed Company, Successors To:]

[Form.] [Left column] C. W. Dorr & Co. Seedsmen, Des Moines, Iowa: Please forward the following order: (Be sure and fill out these blanks.) Your Name, Post Office, Exp's Office, Name of Exp's Co. County, State, Am't Enclosed, P. O. Order, $ ... Do ... do ... Draft, $ ... Do ... do ... Cash, $ ... Do ... do ... Postage Stamps, $ ... Total, $

[Right Column] Do not write in these spaces. Date Received. Amount, $ Filled by Checked by Forwarded by Date Forwarded

[Lower half of page, rotated, 3 columns, lines for writing.] [Column Headings] Quantity. Name of Seeds, Potatoes, or other articles wanted. Price. Amount carried forward,

[Form- horizontal, 2 forms, side by side.]

[Left form, Column Headings] Quantity, Name of seeds, Potatoes, or other articles wanted. Price. Amount brought forward, [Bottom of form] Amount carried forward.

[Right form, Column Headings] Quantity, Name of seeds, Potatoes, or other articles wanted. Price. Amount brought forward,

[Bottom of form] Total, Discounts, Net amount of bill corresponding with money enclosed,

Package "F." $2.30 for 50 Cents. The Best Offer of the Season! Our Special "Farm and Garden" Package for 1885. An unequalled opportunity to secure the "Farm and Garden," The Best Live, Wide-Awake Farmers" Paper in America, For One Year. And a supply of Choice Seeds as a trifling cost as an inducement to try them. We are bound to introduce them into thousands of new homes, and believe the best way to do this is by sending you this Sample Package at an exceedingly small price. We are willing to abide by the results of your trial of our Seeds, and trus in your future orders for our profits.

[Grid of compiled images, three images across, four images down.] Row 1 [Image: Watermelon, Caption - Water Melon, Cuban Queen.] [Image: Tomato, Caption- Tomato, New Favorite.] [Image: Cabbage, Caption-Cabbage, Chase's Excelsior.] Row 2 [Image: Four Carrots, Caption-Carrot, Long orange.] [Image: Two bunches of celery, Caption-Celery, Boston Market.] [Image: Head of lettuce, Caption-Lettuce, Green Fringed.] Row 3 [Image: Onion, Caption-Onion, Mammoth Red.] [Image: Three Parsnips, Caption-Parship, Long Sugar.] [Image: Cucumber, Caption-Cucumber, Boston Market.] Row 4 [Image: Bunch of radishes, Caption-Radish, Long Scarlet.] [Image: Turnip, Caption-Turnip, Purple Top.] [Image: Melon, Caption-Melon, Bay View.]

Order at Once and take advantage of the greatest offer ever made. Send your address with 50 Cents, postal notes or stamps, and receive the seeds by return mail, and the Paper One Year, All Fully Prepaid. The "Farm and Garden" Alone is Worth Many Times the Price of the Entire Package. The packages are put up ready for mailing, and cannot be broken or changed; but will be sent to any address, with the paper one year, All Fully Prepaid, by mail, on receipt of price. There is No Discount on These Packages, no matter how many are ordered. Old customers may avail them selves of the offer if they wish. If you are already a subscriber for the paper, order the Seeds for yourself and have the paper sent to some friend. Address all orders plainly to C.W. Dorr & Co., Des Moines, Iowa.

[Back Cover]

[Top of page] Now to Succeed, These Men Agreed To Plant Good Seed and Bought Dorr's Choice Seed Potatoes. [Image: Illustration of 4 men harvesting potatoes with potato forks.]

[Bottom of page, left side.] [Image: Illustration of two men and a bare field.] But These Planted Poor Seed, And Own It Was Not Bought Of C.W. Dorr and Co. Des Moines, Iowa.

[Bottom of page, right side.] [Image: Illustration of potato plant with roots and single, large potato.] The Parsons Prolific. Introduced to the Public in 1882, by C.W. Dorr and Co.

[Stamped across the images at the bottom.] Iowa Seed Company Successors To