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[Image, Top left - A large stone in a garden setting inscribed with the words ESTABLISHED 1865]
1865
1913
Fortyeight Years Successful Business!
Des Moines, Iowa, January, 1913.
To Our Customers:
The year 1912 was the most successful in the history of our house, and for this we are extremely grateful to our thousands of friends, who have made this possible with their confidence and patronage. We are delighted, too, with the thought that our patrons have harvested bountiful crops because it means that there will be a continued advance in the standard of living among our people and an added appreciation of the purity and quality of our CHOICE IOWA SEEDS.
The people of the United States are continuously advancing and are demanding in all lines better service. Competition among business houses is no longer simply a question of selling price but the larger competition is now based on quality. It is in this competition we want a place, and it is with a view to giving friends and patrons better gardens, better farms, and better homes that we want to be known as
"SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."
BY THIS WE MEAN NOT ONLY NATIVE BORN AMERICANS, BUT ALL RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY.
You Are Safe in ordering Seed Corn, Clover Seed, or any other seed from us, as you are protected by our
$10,000 GUARANTEE BOND
as you will note by the following:
OFFICE OF CENTURY SAVINGS BANK
DES MOINES, IOWA, Nov. 1, 1912
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This certifies that the Iowa Seed Company of this city has deposited with us a bond for TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) as a guarantee to any one ordering seeds from them, where cash accompanies order, that if any seeds are found to be unsatisfactory upon examination or test, they may be returned within ten days from date received and the money which has been paid for same will be promptly refunded.
L. E. STEVENS, President.
After the seed arrives examine it, test it, or have it inspected and tested by the State Seed Inspector, the State Botanist, or the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Then you be the judge. If their report or test is not satisfactory, or if for any reason, or without any reason, you want to return the seed to us within ten days from date received, we will return your money promptly without quibbling. Can any offer be fairer?
We want your trade on the combined basis of quality and price: quality first, price next. We have been in business many years, we are growers of seeds and we know what cost of production is as it varies from year to year. We know what it costs to maintain and increase our plant and what it costs to operate each season. We might furnish seeds at lower prices if we would be content to save all the crops for seed instead of culling closely to maintain excellence and purity; if we were willing to employ cheap, unskilled labor and forego the work required to clean and grade our stocks; if we would reduce the sums of money expended to keep our plant to its highest efficiency and for the purposes of testing and crop inspection. We believe that our friends want the very best service they can obtain, and are willing to pay a fair price for such service if honestly rendered. We know from tests covering many years that our seeds are not surpassed in quality and that for the quality given our prices are very low. You don't want poor seeds at any price, and all we ask is a moderate return for our efforts to supply first quality stocks, not only in seeds but in all the various lines we handle. Our crops this year are generally good, though some few items are rather short, but we believe we have ample stocks for our trade, and solicit your orders, believing you will be more than satisfied with results.
CHAS. N. PAGE, Pres.
M. KURTZWEIL, 1st Vice Pres.
E. T. PEIRCE, 2nd Vice Pres.
J. N. ALBRIGHT, Treas.
GEO. L. KURTZWEIL, Sec.
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 to 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 order sheets enclosed: one of 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 the execution 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 received the same 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, except those noted, are sent prepaid by mail or 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 on 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 vegetable 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 particularly 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 Century Savings Bank of this city, to the postmaster, or to any express company.
What We Guarantee: That all money sent to us for seed shall reach us if sent us by registered letter, postoffice or ex ress [express] money order, or bank draft, made payable to our order. That your order will be filled promptly and well. That goods ordered will 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.
About Warranting: We thoroughly test all our seeds and nothing is sent out which we do not believe to be good in every respect. When it is considered how many are the contingencies on which the success of any crop depends, such as sowing too deep or too shallow, too wet or dry soil, unfavorable weather, insects, etc., our customers will readily see that it would be sheer folly for anyone to warrant seeds to produce a perfect crop, and we want it plainly understood that while we exercise great care to have all seeds pure and reliable, and also true to name, we do not give any warranty express or implied as to description, quality, productiveness, or any other matter of any seeds, bulbs or plants we send out, and we will not be in any way responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not accept the seeds on these terms and conditions, they are to be returned at once, and the money that has been paid for same will be refunded. No officer, agent or employe [employee] of this company is authorized to make any warranty whatsoever. However, we have so much confidence in our seeds that we hereby agree to refill any retail order for vegetable or flower seeds free of charge should they prove otherwise than as we represent them. We know of no responsible seed firm in the world which guarantees seeds any further than this. Compare with other seed catalogues and you will see that we are right.
Market Gardeners and other who buy vegetable seeds in bulk to the amount of $5.00 or more are requested to send their list of seeds wanted to us and let us make special quotations.
Plant Orders: Orders for plants will be filled as early in the spring as we consider it safe to send them. If ordered for immediate shipment in severe weather they will be sent at purchaser's risk.
Small Orders: We take pains to fill orders promptly and correctly, no matter if only for but one packet of seeds, but we request that plant orders amount to at least 25 cents, and nursery stock to at least 50 cents, as otherwise they are filled at a loss to us.
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