1911

ESTABLISHED 46 YEARS ANNUAL CATALOGUE FOR 1911 RAINBOW ROSE COLLECTION

75 ¢: LARGE TWO-YEAR OLD PLANTS

$ 1.85

CHARGES PREPAID.

\ { IOWA SEED CO. THE

AMERICAN PEOPLE

Des Moines, Iowa, U. S.A.

Rainbow Rose Collection

There is no flower sweeter, or more fragrant and beautiful than the rose, and they are so universally satisfactory that the demand for them is almost doubling every year. This superb collection which we are this year givving special prominance by illustrating in colors on the cover of our catalogue, contains some of the finest roses ever offered and we are sure every rose lover will want it. The collection should really sell for at least 1.50, but we have propagated a large number this season and offer one strong plant of each for 75 cents, postpaid.

Blue Rambler.—(Vellchenblau.)—The wonderful new rose introduced last year which has attracted so much attention. It resembles the well known Crimson Rambler in its climbing habit and maner of growth, having glossy green foliage and bearing large clusters of medium sized flowers. When first opened, its color is an attractive shade of violet-crimson, later changing to a more distinctive and the unique shade of violet-blue. It is markedly distinct in color from any other rose within our knowledge: and from a conservative standpoint, is a novelty deserving of attention and trial on pillar, arbor on trellis. Strong, young plannts ea. 25c; large two-year-old 50c.

White Killarney.—Probably no rose has ever taken such a prominent place as quickly as the Killarney, and this new variety is exactly like it except in color. It is one of the best of our garden roses being perfectly hardy in this climate with slight protection. In growth, it is strong and robust and as free flowering as any rose we know. The color is pure, snowy white; the blooms are large and the buds long and pointed. The petals are very large and of great substance and just as handsome in the full-bloomed flower as in the bud form. In the garden, the flowers are very last ing and color remains clear and pure to the last. Each 15c; large two-year-old 40c.j

Queen Beatrice.—The $30,000 rose. This new hybrid tea rose is one of the finest varieties ever sent out. It is a strong, vigorous grower, free flowering, pro ducing large, perfect-shaped blooms of delightful fragrance. When first opening, it is a beautiful, dark, rich pink and gradually fades to the beautiful silvery pink of the La France, when the rose is at its best. The form of the flower resembles that of Liberty, large, full and double. It is a strong and healthy grower and very free flowering, and a splendid keeper. It is ideal for cut-flower purposes. each 20c; large two-year-old plants 40c.

Golden Nugget.—(Blumenschmidt.)—A vigarous grower, bearing its large, beautiful flowers on long, erect stems. Color deep golden-orange, shading out to creamy-yellow, occasionally washed with salmon-rose. This magnificent varitety will certainly prove one of the best yellows among they hybrid teas. It is the most beau tiful golden yellow color we ever saw in any rose and suggestive of the name. The freedom with which its blooms are producced, combined with their long lasting quali ties, will render it a most valuable rose for cutting. Each 25c; large two-year-old 50c.

1911

Des MOilles, Iowa, January, 1911. To Our Customers: We owe you increased gratitude for your kindnesses extended to us during the year just past. Our trade was greater than ever before and you have added greatly to our hope for the future by the confidence expressed In hundreds of kind letters which you sent us. We realize from reports recieved that this year you will make still heavier demands upon us and we assure you we shall do everything in our power to keep up the quality and excellence of our Choice Iowa Seeds. Competition, with us, is only a secondary matter. The question ot price or the offers of competitors worry us not a bit, but our unceasing thought andffort is that the customer shall get satisfaction in results. We believe that it is this policy that has caused the growing demands for our stocks and added so greatly to our constantly increasing list of customers, so that we can justly claim to be "SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" By this we mean not only native born Americans, but all residents of this country.

[imagine of a handwritten note that states] A satisfactiory business deal must benefit both the buyer and seller. We consider your interests as well as our own in every transaction.

If you are an old customer no Introduction or solicitation on our part Is necessary, and we shall only ask that you accept our sincere thanks. Every year, however, we meet fifty to seventy-five thousand prospective buyers and we desire to solicit the trade of such on the basis of quailty of stocks supplied and service rendered. Look over this catalogue carfully, and note the great diversity and completeness of our line. Read our descriptions carefully, and note our offers. We take great pains to not exaggerate but to set forth in plain words descriptions that will describe and not mislead; illistrations that will truthfully convey to the mind the object shown. The catalogue itself is intended to be a reflection of the house and its methods- neat, not gaudyclean, showing care and pains,-honest, telling the truth as we know it,- and fair, offering a square deal to both parties, and we believe you will coucede the truth ot these clalms if you will favor us with a share of your patrpmage. This year we have made our usual careful investigation of goods and stocks offered. We have spent a great deal of time and money in personal inspection of crops and testing of varieties; also in testing and comparing tools and miscellaneous articles in our list, and we believe we have the very best. to be obtained In every department of our business. IOWA SEED COMPANY

See our bond proposition on page 39.

SUGGESTIONS TO CUSTOMERS. Our constant aim is to make the highest quality the first consideration and next to put our prices as low as good seed can be sold, Order Early: The best time ot order is just as soon as you receive this catalogue, as we can always give your orders more of our personal attention if they come in before the rush of the spring trade. Please use the order sheet, as it makes it more convenient for us in filling orders. You will note there are two ordersheets enclosed: one for seeds, tools and miscellaneous goods, and the other for plants, bulbs and nursery stock. If you will use them as intended, it will greatly facilitate tje execition of your orders. Terms are invariably cash with order, as we keep no book accounts in our mail order department, and the expense of sending goods C. O. D. is quite large. Postage stamps recieved as cash. Shipping: There are five express companies and fifteen railroad lines at Des Moines, so that quick shipments can be made to any town in the United States. Charges Prepaid: All Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Bulbs and Plants, express by the quickest and most direct routes, unless ordered otherwise, and we guarantee the safe arrival. Seeds sold by the peck or bushel, Field Seeds, Potatoes, Implements and other heavy goods are sent by freight or express, customers paying charges. Remember seeds go at special rates by express. Delivery: The point of delivery of all goods is on cars at Des Moines, When we quote a delivery price it means simply that we prepay the freight, express charges or postage. Many of our farmer customers live at railroad stations where there are no agents. In such cases we must request them to send sufficient money to prepay freight charges oon heavy shipments: also in cases where perishable or other goods are ordered to be sent by freight or express to such great distances that cost of transportation will nearly or quite equal the value of the goods. Discounts: We have this year made the prices in this catalogue as low as our high grade seeds can be sold, and we can give no discounts. In ordering seeds in bulk you may deduct ten cents per pound on vegtable seeds such as are listed prepaid, if you are willing to have them sent by express or freight at your expense. Premiums: Each year we put up thousands of packets of new or particulary desirable varieties of seeds for free distribution to our customers. We will send these out with the seeds ordered by you and will treat you liberally in this respect. We shall also try to please our plant customers by adding something to their order when shipping it. Our Responsibility: As this book will probably go into the hands of some who are unacquainted with us this question will naturally arise, and in answer to same we refer you, by permission to the Centruy Savings Bank of this city, to the postmaster, or to any express comany. What We Guarantee: That all money sent to us for seed shall reach us if sent us by registered letter, postoffice or express money order, or bank draft, made payable to our order. That reach you safely. Keep a copy of your order. Sometimes persons think they have ordered articles which they have omitted, and blame us for not sending them.

2

SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUlDE.

ADDED IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1911.

A STATEMENT OF OUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE PRESENT YEAR. No changes have been made In the dlrecth'e forces of our mon ... y In new clenning machine."}" ill buihJlng for increased el'llablJllhment. The same managt:m{,llt conUnues In force storage s pace. "nd tn new Cfluil)lllent to ('nable us to move and the !Same 1)01lcle8 will be the rule as ror former seasons. larger stockS than WC'"(' posillb1e l)efon:. I~Xl)CI'lence counls. nnd ench rcar nddll to the knowledge vr At Altoona we hn,-e addc(i :\(ldilional room r ... r corn aonOUI' chlers who remain In dlr(lction of Ihe different dt'pnl't-

lng,

Inc,'eased Olll' I<hclltng ('aml(,lly.

In~ t al1ed llIore !nadlng

melllS of our busltu'ss. We consider lhe y('ars of trnlnlng machinery; and in faet h1\\e neal'1y doublcd the oally oulgiven to our mell our cillcfcHt hope tor the fulure, as we vut 01 Hee d cor n ,,( the b{,1H quality, and !hls halO bel'n know that the same care and conscien ti ous effort which accomp]lshed only by an <J\ltlar of a cousi\lerable 'Hlm, nave prevailed In the past will continue: and result In KO matedal ch1llige has been mll.d(' at thl' r!'tall store Illcrea l:lc d numbers of firm fl'lends and gene rOllS Ilntrons. e;<('cpt that new apJ)1inn,'CS and !jxh,res ha\'e Ilecn lIlstallcd, \Vhl1 e tho persunal torce b yeal'ly gruwing stronger (rum 80 that un lncre(v.... d tl'atle of torty vel' C(,lIt has been added knowledge , the Cal;:llitles tor handling th e tr:ule are handled without added !l'pace. ('onstautly helng increased by tho Investment Of eurnlngs Se\'eral hunored acres wo,'O this year I.Hlded to our plantin new buildings and al)pUanCes to save time and labol' and lngs. and we [lrc Illeased to say that OUI' l"'UpS \Viii not only a~sis l In the rapid and succeSSful handling of the buslnl'611 be lncrealled In Q\1antlt~· but the q\1aht~, gelll'rall)' Is SUlleI'ntrul';led to us. The enormous gl'owth of our plant trade rlor to moat seasona. has forced us 10 extend ten of our greenhouses, adoing This bUSiness has now reachetJ s\1('h proportioll~. and Is 110 diversified that It IS Impossible to conduct It all under 12.000 feet of glass to our already large plant, and we have I)cen (,Ol»llclled to place additional heating UI)plll'atus; these one 1'00(, and the accompanying Illustrations will Ih'lp you Iml)rOl'cm f'nts togl'ther ("Ollting sevl'ral thOIl"l1n(l dOllars. appredllte OUI' error!s In Dl1l1dlng up one of tho moat subAt the ml\.ll order building we l,ave spent lari":'~'~'~"'"i~'_O:;f;;;;;'~t~.~n~t~'~"~lE.:::n~tl erpr,ses In the worHJ today,

OUR ESTABLISHMENTS 'fH g 10\" " ~I·; "; J) S'I'O IH~ is ao well known In Dell Mol n N! t hat it would be dlmcult to fiOiI en'n n "hUd In I hls city or )00,000 inhabHa,lU who does not kno\V lUi 10l;atlon. It Occllpie8 the la,.ge building at 613-615 Lo cust 1:I1I'eet. within" c('w blOCks of the Ilostoiflce, ('x press <)fflcel< and th(, Ilrillclpal ra. llr oad passenger station s. The larg(, s tore room,s full or Illtere,.;t to ever)'one wh~ Ims n fatnl or ~lIrdcn. o r whO love!:! flowers. Here ar(> located the officea und cOl" "CSI)ondenre departmcnl. Durl ll g t hc b\ll:lY IIeason we !"eeel\'(' 2,000 to 7,000 letterll e"ery day. 'Ve are alwaY!f blad to hn\'o.! 01>" t'u~lomers ";"1.1\ and sce us, TUIU'I' \ -'I'HIIF.I': (illl~ "; N"1I01 ' SI~S erecte(l during the pal; t few }'I'ars nrc th'voted i'xclu,,[\"ely to growing plants for t he malt or,ler o'ade, and contain n gretHer variety of plan t s than any other gl"el'nhou.'<(' e!<tabllshment In i he wcst. They are localed eon\"(>nlenl to the electric Cllr line and fronting on Klng:man bO\lI<,','nrd, one of th(' fineM driv_ Ing sll'eets In til(' cit)', lI('re we (Ie\'Ole fu]ly tw el"c acres to 110w('rll. making the I1ne~tdlsl)la)' to he (ound in the "'''!It. 'IAII. Onn)':ll U11 II.I)I'(: .-O\lr trurl e Ilas Increased 80 constan tly that we I)U1" rhasl('d the groun<'l at 208-210-212 South Eighth street. about !llx blO('ks f,.om ollr store, and erected th{'l'eon n lal'ge blllldlul-(' "tle<'lRII~' arranl{ed fo r our business, Tllc railway track!'! 1)l"l'ide the Il\tlldlng give us

excetlent ' ... <.: .1111'''1 (or handling c .. rload lnl!!, ana we are centrally located between the \'l. rlouH fre ight ,'<,pols 60 that IImal] shlpmenta can be maclc promIHIy-. Our machlner)" Is opl'rated b~' four eleNrlC enotorl', and we claim that our mills for cleani ng seed cannot be surpassed We ('an r('adlly fill 2,000 to 4,000 Ol'ders per lIay In Iht s blll](ilng·. and they are I'Rndled III SU(,11 a careful way that errors seldom occur. Mo!; t ot our eml)IOY(,!1 !la\'e been \V1!h us many y('ors, ano no 'gl'een hand!il" handl(' seetll! In bulk '1'ln: n ,\lU;1I0 1 SE on SOulh Firth st,'e('1 we ha\",' o('u pied Cor many ~'earl! ror stol'age purposes only La.rge lots of IIeed which como in after harvest an~ lhorotlghly cleaned and then put away in this building for the spring trade "' 1·;.,;0 ('O lt N HOI T .s I~.-The seNl corn branCh of 01.11" blll<lness has continued to grow ('\'('1'1' rcar Rnu III oroer to handle It In the b('st mann('r Inerea!<ed facilities were n('cessary, To meet this ",.gent need and provide for f uture growth which was I!ure to ('ome. w(' erected thl!! building on 0\11' s('ed farm at Altoona, "'I' 110 .... hR\'e capaeHl' for ~5,OOO bu~hols of sel'd ('orll, evcry car ot Which can be given lne I,,-,rsonal Inspection of Iln eXllerl. !Ii"'; I~ 1) 1,·,\Il 'l iol.- lt requIres Ole s('ed crop from about 8,600 a(,,'es 10 sUJ)ply our trade nnd the, farmll are widely Isola teo so al! to avoid anv mixture". Some S(>('<lII cannot he gTown to advantage hel'e, and 11'(' I;:Ontr8(·t With practical !!eeO growe,·s elsewhe re to groW for 1.18,