1904

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 9

ECONOMY In The Garden.

BARGAINS In Garden Seeds.

$1.00 Collection of The Best Garden Vegetables. Thirty-Five Varieties! ALL GOOD DESIRABLE SORTS. SURE TO PLEASE YOU. Consists of one full sized packet each of Improved Golden Wax Beans, Old Homestead Pole Beans, Market Gardeners' Beet, Henderson's Snowball Cauliflower, Washington Wakefield Cabbage, Short Stem Drumhead Cabbage, Oxheart Carrot, Golden Self-Blanching Celery, Early Sunrise Corn, Country Gentleman Corn, Perfect White Spine Cucumber, Improved Ground Cherry, American Mammoth Brussels Sprouts, Page's Striped Rice Pop Corn, Continuity Lettuce, Improved Hanson Lettuce, Rocky Ford Musk Melon, Duke Jones Watermelon, Large Red Wethersfield Onion, Mammoth Prizetaker Onion, Nott's Excelsior Peas, Early Scarlet Globe Radish, Perpetual White Summer Radish, Improved Table Guernsey Parsnip, Ruby King Pepper, Early Crookneck Squash, Long Standing Spinach, Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify, Market Gardener's Parsley, White's Excelsior Tomato, Matchless Tomato, White Egg Turnip, Purple Top Strap Leaf Turnip, Monarch Ruta Baga, and Vine Peach.

It is a BARGAIN!

Total 35 full sized packets sent postpaid for $1.00; at regular catalogue price they amount to $2.00. NOTICE.- These collections are all put up ready for mailing before our busy season begins and therefore cannot be changed or divided.

Can One Dollar be Better Invested?

WAGON LOADS OF FLOWERS. Flowers for Everybody. PRICE VERY LOW. NO TROUBLE TO SELECT.

40 FOR $1.00 Complete Garden Collection. Consisting of one full sized packet each of Ageratum, Mexicanum, Aster, all kinds mixed, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, giant, mixed colors, Balsam, choice mixed, Calliopsis, Golden Wave, Candytuft, best mixed, Chrysanthemum, mixed varieties, Canary Bird Flower, Canna, Crozy mixed, Cockscomb, Calendula, Cypress Vine, Dianthus, all kinds mixed, Eschscholtzia, Geranium, Grass Pink, Godetia, Gailardia, Heliotrope, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Morning Glory, Mignonette, Marvel of Peru, Ice Plant, Nasturtium, Imperial, Petunia, fine mixed, Portulacca, Grandiflora, Pansy, Imperial German, Poppy, all kinds mixed, Phlox, Grandiflora mixed, Ricinus, Sensitive Plant, Salpiglossis, Variveined, Sweet Peas, Perfected Mixed, Sweet William, Scabiosa, Stocks, Dwarf German mixed, Verbena, choice mixed, Zinnia, fine double mixed. Total 40 packets for $1.00.

20 for 50c Popular Collection. Consists of one packet each of Sweet Alyssum, Aster, Balsam, Candytuft, Convolvulus, Cypress Vine, Canna, Cockscomb, Dianthus, Larkspur, Ice Plant, Mignonette, Nasturtium, Petunia, Pansy, Poppy, Phlox, Sweet Peas, Sunflower and Zinnia. Total 20 packets for 50 cents.

12 FOR 25C. BARGAIN COLLECTION Consists of one packet each of Aster, Balsam, Cypress Vine, Eschscholtzia, Mignonette, Petunia, Phlox, Pansy, Pink, Sweet Peas, Verbena and Zinnia.

OUR 10 CENT TRIAL COLLECTION Consist of one packet each of Balsam, Candytuft, Pinks, Mignonette, Pansy and Sweet Peas.

THESE COLLECTIONS CANNOT BE CHANGED OR DIVIDED.

YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE! We want to make these collections popular with our customers, and can assure you, all the varieties named in them are desirable, and the seeds are just as fresh, pure and good as any ever offered. The varieties in the different collections do not duplicate with each other. AN EXTRA.-In addition to the sorts named we will send free with each collectlon one packet of some desirable new variety which is not listed in our catalogue this year.

Children's Garden Tools.

[image] BOY'S GARDENING TOO [TOOLS?]

Why not give your children a garden this year? It is not only healthful exercise but they consider it play, and the care of a garden teaches them much of nature and they early learn to love flowers. The following sets of garden tools are desirable. We do not prepay express charges on these tools. NO. 1. Consists of small hoe, rake and spade. Length about 22 inches. Price, set only 10 cents. NO. 2. Larger and much better tools. Price per set 25 cents. NO. 3. A really serviceable and desirable set. Used also by many ladies for working in their flower beds. Price per set 50 cents.

NOTICE.- POSITIVELY NO DISCOUNTS NOR PREMIUMS ALLOWED ON ABOVE SEED COLLECTIONS.

10 IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA.

SELECTED FARM SEEDS As the farm crop is more important to the general welfare of the country than any other, so the farm seed department should have the pre-eminence in seed catalogues, but we regret to say that with most seedsmen it has very little attention. Realizing the vast importance of this branch of our business, we devote careful attention to the growth and selection of the best farm seeds of all sorts. Our seed grain is grown especially for seed in the section best suited to its development and perfect maturity, is all carefully selected, thoroughly cleaned, of the best quality and we sell at reasonable prices. We take pride in our large and increasing trade in this branch of our business.

PRICES named in this department are subject to important market changes. Quotations are net and are not subject to premium or discount which is offered on other seeds. Clover and grass seeds are constantly varying in value, and we issue a price list daily during the busy season. Please write for quotations, sending list of requirements, when in need. Orders sent us will be given benefit of lowest prices on day order is received. Will take pleasure in mailing samples and quoting inside prices at any time on large orders. We have an excellent stock this year. Order early.

SEEDS BULBS ONLY ONE QUALITY. THE BEST PLANTS TOOLS

SHIPPING.-In this department everything that is quoted by the packet or pound is sent by mail postpaid; all large quantities, unless noted, are sent by express or freight, at the expense of the purchaser. Prices named include bags, except on clover and grass seeds. We deliver to depot here. NOTICE.-While we exercise great care to have all seeds pure and reliable, we give no warranty expressed or implied. However, if the seeds are not satisfactory on receipt and examination, they are to be returned to us at once and we will refund the money.

HIGH GRADE SEED GRAIN. It costs more to grow a crop for seed purposes than the ordinary farmer can understand. It requires extra choice stock seed, special preparation of the land, special cultivation, great care in harvesting, cleaning, testing, preparing for shipment, bags, etc., etc., so that we are obliged to ask a considerable advance over market prices, but any intelligent farmer will agree with us that such pedigreed seed is worth to him the price we ask for it. It Pays to Sow the Best.

SEED CORN. This is our great specialty, and we claim to supply more farmers with seed corn each year than any firm in the United States; that means that the Iowa Seed Store may well be considered the world's headquarters for choice seed corn. We ship annually to every state in the Union and to almost every country in the world. We are in the center of the best corn growing country of the world. For the season of 1903 we have the best supply of seed corn ever offered by any seed firm in the world. The varieties of field corn we offer are the best now in use. They were grown especially for seed purposes, and well matured, cured, carefully sorted by our own seed corn experts, and shelled with great care. Choice seed corn is scarce this year, and prices a trifle higher, but it will not pay you to buy doubtful seed at any price. All our seed corn is carefully tested, and none sent out that we are not certain will grow well under proper conditions. If not satisfactory on arrival and examination, it may be returned and we will refund money. If a large quantity is wanted, ask for prices. No extra charge for bags.

There is no question but that seeds GROWN IN IOWA Are the best. That is now quite generally admitted on many kinds. The reason for this is that the soil and climate here are well adapted to the perfect growth and maturity of the crop. Seeds grown here are better matured and are of stronger growth and vitality than those grown either north or south, and Will Produce Better Crops.

TESTED SEED CORN. WILL IT GROW? When brought in from the farm each ear is taken in hand by a seed corn expert and critically examined. After passing the first examination it goes to another man and is looked over the second time. It is then shelled with great care and carefully tested in soil and also given a severe test in cold water. The tests range this year from 92 to 100 per cent. Seed corn handled in this way is cheap at any price, but this year it costs you only about 25c per acre to use our seed corn.

THOROUGHBRED SEED CORN. THE IOWA SEED STORE is now recognized as headquarters for thoroughbred seed corn, and the varieties which we have originated or introduced are now listed by almost all the prominent seedsmen in America, Europe and Australia, who handle this grain, and are the best everywhere. Don't be satisfied with a second grade even if you can save five or ten cents per acre in cost of seed (one bushel plants eight acres), but send your order direct to Headquarters for Seed Corn and get the best.

IOWA GOLD MINE CORN. Best Variety of Yellow Corn in the World. Everyone who has tried it is enthusiastic in the praise of this splendid new variety which we introduced in 1892. Iowa is not called a gold mining state, but in this grand new variety farmers of this country will find a veritable mine of wealth. It has received the most cordial endorsement as the best and most profitable variety ever grown. It is early ripening, only a few days later than Pride of the North. Ears are not large, but of good size and symmetrical; color a bright golden yellow, as handsome as a twenty dollar gold coin just from the mint; grain is very deep, cob small, and therefore dries out very quickly as soon as ripe. Seventy pounds of ear corn makes 62 to 63 pounds of shelled corn, and in hauling to market it weighs out five bushels more to the wagon than common varieties in the same size wagon. We have shelled selected ears of this variety which produced 64 pounds of shelled corn and only 6 pounds of cobs to the bushel. This is an unparalleled record. It cannot be equalled by any other corn in the world. Thousands of our customers say that they consider it the ne plus ultra in corn; that it would be impossible to attain any nearer perfection. It matures perfectly, even in southern Minnesota. We can most confidently recommend it as the acme of perfection, and stake our reputation on its pleasing everyone who tries it. A carload of 400 bus. Iowa Gold Mine corn was carefully weighed, and after shelling it was reweighed and there was just 456 bushels. Just think of it - a gain of 14 bushels to the 100. Remember, if you want pure Iowa Gold Mine Corn you must purchase it direct from us. If you purchase from your local dealer, insist on seeing that our label is on every bag, plainly marked IOWA SEED COMPANY. It will pay you to change your seed, and don't fail to at least see a sample of Iowa Gold Mine before buying elsewhere. Pkt. 5c, lb 25c, 3 lbs 60c, postpaid; by frelght pk. 60c, bu. $2.00. 2 bu. or more @ $1.75 per bu., 10 bu. or more @ $1.50.

WHAT PRACTICAL FARMERS SAY ABOUT IOWA GOLD MINE CORN. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn yielded three times as much as any other variety. Think it is the best corn I ever seen.- C. H. Shearer, McHenry County, Ill. I have just harvested the Iowa Gold Mine and it is a grand corn. Our farmer is enthusiastic over it. The type and color are perfect. - J . H. Beagley, Ford County, Ill. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn is the best I ever saw and it is well adapted to this climate.- S. F. Reynolds, Dane Co., Wis. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn comes the nearest being all corn and no cob of any variety I ever grew.-H. F. Jacobs, Calhoun County, Iowa.

I bought some Iowa Gold Mine Corn of you and it is the best corn I ever used in my life.- Ernest Bolko, Monroe County, N. Y. I bought of you several bushels of Iowa Gold Mine Corn that has proven very satisfactory. -Harry D. Burress, Green County, Ill. I grew 480 bushels of your Iowa Gold Mine Corn on four acres last year. An average of 120 bushels to the acre.- W. W. Preston, Warren Co., Iowa. It pays to buy seed corn from you, as I have an excellent crop of both Iowa Silver Mine and Iowa Gold Mine.- Anton Karkosh, Tama Co., Iowa.

USE THE ROTARY HAND CORN PLANTER FOR SMALL FIELDS OR REPLANTING.

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 11

[image] (Section of ear, and man who grew prize crop - 215 bushels per acre.)

IOWA SILVER MINE CORN. THE GREAT $1,000 CORN - YIELDS 215 BU. PER ACRE. THE most marvelous variety of corn ever offered, and one which will surprise everyone who plants it. Thousands of farmers have tried it and doubled their crops and also made money rapidly by selling seed to their less enterprising neighbors. It is revolutionizing the corn growing of the country. Just think of this wonderful yield, 215 bushels per acre with ordinary culture. The seed corn trade is our great specialty, and we claim to be corn experts, and in the spring of 1895, when we first saw this corn, we purchased the entire stock for $1,000.00 cash. An offer of $10.00 per pound would not have induced us to sell all we had of it, as we wanted to save it for our customers. The average corn crop of the United States is only twenty-eight bushels per acre, and there was more than seven times this amount ot Iowa Silver Mine grown on one acre. Adopt our new method of culture, which will be sent free to every one ordering this variety of seed corn from us. DESCRIPTION. Stalk grows to a height of seven or eight feet, and sets the ears about three and one-half to four feet from the ground, just the right height for easy picking. One peculiarity which will be noticed in going over the fields is that there are no barren stalks, every one has an ear, many stalks have two or three good ears, and the originator says that has been characteristic every year that he has grown it. The type is very even. Ears measuring from Ten to Twelve inches in length and weighing one and one-half pounds are often found. The ears are very uniform in size and shape, with sixteen to twenty straight rows, (usually eighteen rows,) of deep, pure white kernels, set on a small white cob, and the ears are well filled out over the tip. It is early, maturing in less than ninety-five days, and never has been caught by the frost. The cob dries out rapidly, so that it is ready for market earlier than any other White Field Corn in existence. Seventy pounds in the the ear will make sixty-two pounds shelled. It is adapted to a wider range of soil and climate than any corn ever offered. From Minnesota to Florida, from Massachusetts to California, it will yield a paying crop where other varieties are grown at a loss. ITS PRIZE RECORD. Everywhere the Iowa Silver Mine captures the prizes over all other varieties. At one fair ten of the largest ears took first prize, ten of the smaller ears took second prize. Afterwards the same ten large ears took sweepstakes over all other varieties, both white and yellow, making a total of $95.00 in prizes taken at one fair by twenty ears of the Iowa Silver Mine Corn. It captured the big prize offered by us in 1896, for the largest crop, against all other kinds of any color, yielding 215 bushels. At the Illinois State Fair it took first premium for the best bushel of corn, any color or sort; first for best white corn in the state, and grand sweepstakes for the best corn of any color, competition open to the world. In 1899 the Illinois State Agricultural Society offered three large prizes for the largest corn crop grown on an acre, and the Iowa Silver Mine captured all three of them with crops of 196, 176 AND 154 BUSHELS PER ACRE. No other corn of any color can compare with it in wonderful productiveness.

Average of above is 176 bushels of shelled corn per acre. Has produced immense crops everywhere. Our customers all rejoice with us.

Read the Astonishing Record of our own prize contest. It produced 215 bushels per acre in Scott county, Iowa; 211 bushels per acre in Indiana; 201 bushels per acre in Askansas [Arkansas]; 178 bushels per acre in Illinois; 145 bushels per acre in Nebraska; 144 bushels per acre in Ohio; 137 bushels per acre in Texas. Now for 1903. To every one who orders Iowa Silver Mine Seed Corn from us we will send free, full information as to how 215 bushels of corn were grown on one acre and instructions so that you can do as well.

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL INTRODUCERS. And if you want pure Iowa Silver Mine Corn, it must be purchased from us. We have proof that other dealers are copying our descriptions and selling common white corn as Iowa Silver Mine. The cost of pure seed is almost nothing (only about 25 cents per acre).

$10,000.00 IN PRIZES. Everywhere the Iowa Silver Mine Captures Prizes. Over all other varieties, and it is estimated that they have amounted to over ten thousand dollars. At one great Corn Show it won eleven (11) of the best prizes offered, in competition with varieties of every color, kind and description, competition open to the world. In 1896 we offered $500.00 in prizes for the largest yield, and the first prize was won by Mr. Claus Jochimsen, a well-to-do German farmer of Scott county, Iowa, with a yield of 215 bushels of shelled corn per acre. 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 Company personally inspected and measured the field and estimated carefully the corn in the crib.

READ WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY. "The Iowa Silver Mine is all you represent it to be. It ripened in 90 days and produced ears ten inches long and seven inches in circumference."-H. R. Burton, Butler county, Pa. "I have been growing your Iowa Silver Mine Corn for three years past, and it yielded fully ten bushels more per acre than any other corn here this year, in spite of the unfavorable weather."- E. W. Parnell, Story county, Iowa. "Your Iowa Silver Mine Corn did exceptionally well with me considering the unfavorable season. It ripened earlier than any other corn in my neighborhood. It is strictly a number one corn, very solid on the cob and well filled out at the tips; makes also a superior quality of fodder."-M. S. Wittle, Lancaster county, Pa. "The Iowa Silver Mine purchased from you was planted one month after planting my native corn, but it ripened by the time the native corn was in roasting ear and made 50 per cent larger crop." W. G. Jordan, Chiekasaw [Chickasaw?] county, Indian Ter.

THE BEST ON A 22,000 ACRE FARM. "On this estate, comprising 22,000 acres, there was grown this year nearly 10,000 acres of corn, including almost all known standard sorts suited to this latitude, and we cousider that of the white varieties the Iowa Silver Mine is the purest and in all respects the most satisfactory."-W. A. Bichet, Manager.

PRICE Postpaid or by express prepaid: Per pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, 7 lbs. (will plant an acre) $1.00. Specimen ears 25c each postpaid. By freight or express, purchaser paying charges, per pk. 65c, bushel $2.00, 2 bushel or more @ $1.85, 5 bushels or more @ $1.75.

Order Early. There Is Sure to Be a Great Demand.

SOW DWARF ESSEX RAPE AND OBTAIN THE BEST HOG PASTURE YOU EVER HAD.

12 CATALOGUE OF SEEDS, PLANTS, BULBS, ETC.

FARMERS' RELIANCE CORN. A grand novelty in field corn, introduced by the Iowa Seed Company, and it is by far the earliest variety of dent corn in existence, and also the largest eared early corn. It is earlier than Pride of the North and a much better cropper. This new variety of corn is the result of a scientific hybridization made fifteen years ago by a practical seed corn grower, and this has been followed by careful selection each year since, the object being to obtain the earliest corn in the world. The corn is of a very strong, vigorous character, growing more rapidly than any other variety from the day it is planted. Its quick growth really surprises one with the speed with which it hurries on to make ears. The stalks usually have from nine to eleven blades, while most ordinary corn has thirteen blades. These leaves are quite broad, of a dark emerald green, healthy color. This corn has been planted as late as June 26th and yielded a splendid crop, earlier than Pride of the North, which was planted at the same time. We claim that it will mature any year in eighty to eighty-five days. The ears are much larger than Pride of the North, not as rough or hackled, thus making it easier to handle, and the yield is 25 to 35 per cent more than Pride of the North under same conditions. An average bushel of seventy pounds will make sixty pounds of shelled corn. It has for years been selected from stalks which set the ears three feet or less from the ground and this has a tendency to make it earlier. Fully 40 per cent of the stalks produce two good ears. It is the farmers' reliance every year. The originator has taken the first prize for early yellow corn at every fair at which it has been exhibited. Don't fail to plant at least a small quantity and thus obtain your seed for another season. Per lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid; by freight or exp. pk. 65c, bu. $2.00; 2 bu. or more @ $1.85; 10 bu. or more @ $1.75.

[image] Your Farmers' Reliance corn has proved very fine and I am much pleased with it.- W. A. Whitmer, Clinton County, Iowa. The Farmers' Reliance corn purchased from you has made a splendid yield.- Herman Hunt, Iowa.

Last year I purchased some of your Farmers' Reliance Corn and was very much pleased with the splendid crop, as it yielded 400 bushels of ears from three acres of ground. Your corn is all that you recommend it to be.-Mrs. Harriet Brown, Ashtabula County, Ohio. The Farmers' Reliance Corn yielded a big crop for me and I was much pleased with it.-Chas. Guilord, Jones County, Iowa.

I planted last season twenty varieties of your seed corn and took first premium on my exhibits at the Wisconsin Fair. Think it did exceptionally well.-I. Rezertee, Winnebago County, Wis. Your Farmers' Reliance is the earliest corn I have ever seen or grown, maturing in 80 days, being ten days to two weeks earlier than Pride of the North and yields double as much per acre."-H. H. Connell.

IMPROVED EARLY MASTODON. For about 15 years past Clark's Early Mastodon Corn has been a prominent variety, owing to its productiveness and large sized ear. In the celebrated American Agriculturist's corn contest in 1889, Early Mastodon out-yielded every other corn in America, Mr. Alfred Rose, of New York State, raising 213 bushels of shelled corn to the acre. It was, however, rather late, and was frequently caught and greatly injured by early frost. For ten years past, however, one of our most careful, painstaking seed growers in central Iowa has been selecting it to obtain the earliest maturity possible and still retain its large size ear and great productiveness. His success has been remarkable, and we now have an improved variety with mammoth ear, much smaller cob and deep grain. The butt of the ear is not so disproportionately large, it dries out quickly and ripens easily in 110 days, while it required 130 days for the old variety. Ears are quite even in size and four of them weighing 6 3=4 lbs. took first prize at fair. Farmers who delight in a handsome, large eared variety, will be pleased with the Mastodon, and when the crop is harvested no one can fail to be delighted with the yield. The corn has strong, rapid, vigorous growth, and is also desirable for fodder purposes. Pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid; by freight, pk. 65c, bu. $2.00, 2 bu. or more @ $1.75, 5 bu. or more @ $1.60. "I planted the Mastodon corn received from you on May 20th and it grew 10 to 12 feet high and made the biggest ears I ever saw."- I. C. Tap1ey, Floyd County, Iowa.

LEGAL TENDER. This is now one of the most prominent late varieties of yellow dent corn in the country. It is the result of about ten years' selection by a seed corn specialist in Iowa, and has taken first premium at many state and county fairs. The corn is productive, and of uniform pure yellow color, ear very large and long and a deep grain on a small cob, while the stalk does not grow too large. The introducer says: "Our ideal ear is an ear two-thirds as large around as it is long, containing sixteen to twenty rows, and small shank. The kernels are deep, the cob is small at the butt and the ear holds its bigness toward the point until near tapering off. It should be capped over and the kernels should hold their bigness toward the point, and the butt run out straight and not crinkle." It matures in about 115 days, but we do not recommend it for the extreme northern portion of this state. Our stock of this is extra select, grown from the originator's stock seed, but improved in earliness by being grown in a more northern latitude. Pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c. By freight per peck 60c, bu. $1.75, 2 bu. or more @ $1.65, 5 bu. or more @ $1.60. "Your Legal Tender Corn took first premium for the best yellow corn at the Cass County Fair. It was very fine."-F. B. Van Ornam, Cass County, Iowa. "The crop of Legal Tender Corn grown from seed received of you last spring is the best crop of corn I ever grew. It has matured well and I am very much pleased with it."-J. L. Walker, Polk County, Iowa. "I won a prize of $4.00 at the Hardin County Fair on ten ears of the Iowa Silver Mine grown from the seed purchased from you last spring."-E. W. Wolfe, Hardin County, Iowa.

IOWA YELLOW DENT. We always advise farmers to select the best named varieties in buying seed corn, and believe it pays them in the long run. This year, however, there are thousands of farmers in need of seed corn, and their main object is to secure at a low price a nice grade of good yellow corn which is well matured, thoroughly tested, of strong vitality, and will produce a good crop of sound corn. While this corn is not equal to our best named varieties, still we believe you will find it superior to nine-tenths of the corn in your neighborhood. At our price it will cost you only about 15 cents per acre to plant your fields with this variety and it will pay you well to order sufficient for your planting. Pk. 50c, bu. $1.35, 2 bu. or more $1.25, 5 bu. or more @ $1.15, 25 bu. or more @ $1.00.

FIRST AMONG TWENTY MILLIONS. It amounts to something to stand at the head of one's profession in any city; it amounts to vastly more to stand at the head in the entire state, and it is, therefore, no wonder that the people of Des Moines take pride in the IOWA SEED STORE, which not only is the largest in Iowa, but there is no seed store west of Iowa, way on to the Pacific Coast which compares with it in size or volume of trade. The Iowa Seed Company may therefore be said to stand FIRST AMONG TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE.

[image] LEGAL TENDER.

IF YOU WANT A LARGE QUANTITY OF SEED CORN ASK FOR SPECIAL PRICES.

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 13

EARLY LONGFELLOW DENT CORN. INTRODUCED BY THE IOWA SEED COMPANY. There is no telling when we will have a short season and early killing frost in the fall, and in such a case farmers who have their fields planted with an early maturing variety are truly fortunate. The trouble with most extra early sorts, however, is that they are too small and "nubbiny," but this new variety is of unusual length, our illustration showing an ear 15 inches long, but the average is about 12 inches. Its peculiar shape, which is different from any other sort, suggests the name. It matures fully as early as Pride of the North, is double the size and yields a far larger crop, which is ripe and hard before there is a thought of frost, thus making a variety that it will pay to "tie to." Stalks are of medium height, strong and not easily blown down. Grain is not as deep as some of our other varieties, but it is the corn of corns for selling on the market, as a wagon load of it is as pretty as a picture. We recommend it highly to customers in Northern Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas and other northern states, feeling sure that it will please every one. Order early, as there is sure to be a great demand. Per pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid. By freight, per pk. 65c, bu. $2.00; 2 bushels or more at $1.85; 5 bushels or more at $1.75. I planted the Longfellow Dent Corn May 5th on good bottom land. I have a good stand and it was out of danger from frost Sept. 1st. I just now measured an ear 13 1/2 inches long with sixteen rows. Many are 12 inches, few less than 11 inches long. A good business corn. As president of the first Corn Club organized in Iowa and a life long corn grower, I venture the opinion that this long eared corn is, for the farmer, a better and more satisfactory type than any of the show corn.-W. P. Dawson, Cherokee county, Iowa. Both the Early Longfellow Dent and Mastodon, purchased of you this year were dandy varieties and will yield 50 bushels per acre this season for me.-H. C. Rittgers, Palo Alto county, Iowa.

I was much pleased with our Early Longfellow Dent Corn this year. It was very early and yielded more bushels per acre than either of the other three varieties of corn that I grew. I consider it an exceptionally good corn for feeding hogs and prefer it to the deep grained sorts which are more apt to mildew. It also shells out better than one would expect from the looks of the ear, and is the easiest corn to husk I have ever grown.-T. J. Lee, Iowa. I obtained seed of your Early Longfellow Dent Corn and was much pleased with the result. It was fully as early as Pride of the North and yielded fully double as much.-Stephen Hardy, Polk county, Iowa.

REID'S YELLOW DENT. A well known variety which is very popular in Illinois and has taken many prizes at various corn shows and fairs, it being grown quite largely for an exhibition corn. Until recently but little known in Iowa, though during the past two or three years much has been said about it at corn shows, in agricultural papers etc. It has also been used as a standard at the corn judging school. This variety has been been bred up by selection for more than fifty years by Robt. Reid and his son. J. L. Reid, and its characteristics are fixed and quite constant. The ear is of excellent shape, nearly cylindrical, tapering slowly to tip; length about 9 1/2 inches, kernels firm on cob, eighteen or twenty-four rows with narrow space between rows, color medium yellow, with red cob. The ear is quite solid and rather smooth, matures in about 110 days and yields well although not equal in this respect to some other sorts. Grown quite largely by farmers who take pride in the quality of their corn, or desire it for exhibition. We procured stock seed from the originator three years ago and have grown it near Des Moines each year since and it is now well acclimated here. We can furnish strictly pure, carefu1ly selected seed at the following prices: Pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid; by freight, pk. 50c, bu. $1.75, 2 bu. or more at $1.60, ten bu. or more at $1.50.

[image] REID'S YELLOW DENT.

The seventy acres of corn planted with seed from your firm is the best field of corn in this county. It runs from two to three ears on each stalk.-D. M. McKinley, Kane county, Illinois. The seed corn I bought of you last spring was the best investment I ever made. It produced fully double as much as that of my neighbors and it is of the finest quality.- W. C. McHenry, Crawford county, Iowa.

STAR LEAMING. The Leaming corn, which originated with Mr. Leaming, of Ohio, was always a good variety, but it had some serious faults for culture in this state, and we have refrained from giving it our endorsement. A few years ago we found an extra fine lot in the hands of an enterprising Iowa farmer, who had been selecting it for many years. We were greatly pleased with it, but were not willing to offer it to our customers without still further selection. We now have a corn which is a great improvement on the Leaming, but it retains all the valuable characteristics of that variety, so that instead of giving it a new name we call it Star Leaming to distinguish it from other strains. The ears are large and handsome, with deep large grain of rich deep orange color, on a medium to small cob. It grows to medium height, setting the ears about four feet from the ground, husks easily, and the corn is snug on the cob, thus making a very solid, heavy feeding ear. Surface is quite smooth for dent corn. It is very productive, and it is the ideal variety for selling in the ear. We sold many thousands of bushels of this variety last season, and expect to exceed the record this spring. Don't plant common corn when you can obtain this grand variety so cheap. Pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c postpaid. By freight, peck 60c, bu. $1.60, 2 bu. or more at $1.50, 5 bu. or more at $1.40.

[image] STAR LEAMING.

PRIMITIVE OR HUSK CORN. It is from this wild variety that all of our cultivated sorts have sprung. The ears are of fair size and each individual kernel or grain is covered with a husk and all enclosed in an outer husk like common corn. In parts of Mexico the Primitive corn can still be found growing wild. It is quite curious and valuable for exhibition purposes, and attracts great attention wherever it is seen. Some stalks bear as many as 20 ears. Per pkt. 10c.

The seeds bought of you last year were first class. The Yellow Flint Corn was the best ever seen here. I had ears measuring 13 inches and from the quart of seed planted I gathered 25 bushel baskets full of ears, and have sold it to my neighbors for seed.- J. Doll, Otter Tail caunty [county], Minnesota.

I have just finished gathering my Golden West corn, and one field grown on sloping land yielded 103 bushels per acre and another field which was on low level ground and damaged considerably by overflow yielded over 80 bushels per acre.- Wm. Day, Dallas county, Iowa. Order early, there is sure to be a great demand.

Golden West Corn. The largest eared Yellow Dent Corn. See color plate on back cover and description on third cover page.