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1915
KAISERIN CHAMPION OF THE WORLD RHEA REID
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY EDITION MARKING THE HALF CENTURY MILE POST IN THE PROGRESS OF THE IOWA SEED CO. DES MOINES, IOWA.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION 5 SUPERB ROSES FOR 50 CTS.
SUNBURST ETOILE DE FRANCE
ONLY ONE QUALITY THE BEST
SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
STECHER CO., ROCHESTER, N. Y.
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OUR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ROSE COLLECTION FIVE OF THE LOVELIEST ROSES OF THE EVERBLOOMING TYPE
For general list of roses of the various types and colors see pages 111 to 116 of Catalog.
Many fine bargains in roses and and numerous special bargain collections pp. 111-116
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FIVE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ROSES, STRONG PLANTS, POSTPAID FOR 50 CENTS IN TWO YEAR OLD PLANTS FOR IMMEDIATE BLOOMING, ONLY $1.00
KAISERIN AUGUSTA VICTORIA The finest of the pure white ever-blooming roses. It surpases the ordinary kinds in form of flower, in freedom of bloom and in delicious fragrance. The plant Is generally conceded of superior excellenve by commercial growers. Each 15c; two-year-old plants 30c.
RHEA REID A most vigorous variety. Plant extra strong, Beauty in size. Our illustration is not equal to the flower itself in beauty. The buds are long, pointed and oval, and of a splendid rich crimson color. Is a prize winner amond the strongest competition. Each 20c; two-year-old plants 40c.
ETOILE DE FRANCE (Star of France),- Clear dark, red a prominent place in all rose collections. without doubt it is the finest red hybrid tea rose in our long list of varieties. Form of slower is perfect and the plant is of splendid habit. Each 20c; two-year-old plants 40c.
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD For several years we have included this magnificient pink rose among the leaders of our list. It is perhaps the most free blooming of any of the ever-blooming roses, and exquisite fragrance, make it a general favorite. Each 15c; two-year-old plants 30c.
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"Complete Garden Collection"
35 Varieties Best Garden Vegetables
FOR $1.00
All Good Desirable Sorts Sure to Please You
Consists of one full sized packet of each of Improved Golden Wax Beans, Old Homestead Pole Beans, Eclipse Beet, Henderson's Snowball Cauliflower, Washington Wakefield Cabbage, Shortstem Drumhead Cabbage, Oxheart Carrot, White Plume Celery, Early Sunrise Corn, Country Gentleman Corn, Emerald Cucumber, Improved Ground Cherry, American Mammoth Brussels Sprouts, Monarch White Rice Popcorn, Continuity Lettuce, Improved Hanson Lettuce, Rocky Ford Musk Melon, Duke Jones Water Melon, Large Red Wethersfield Onion, Mammoth Prizetaker Onion, Iowa Challenge Peas, White Icicle Radish, Rosy Pepper, Early Crookneck Squash, Hester Squash, Bloomsdale Spinach, Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify, Stone Tomato, Matchless Tomato, White Egg Turnip, Purple Top Strap Leaf Turnip, Monarch Ruta Baga, and Garden Lemon.
Total of 35 Full Sized Packets Sent Postpaid for $1.00
At Our Regular Price They Amount to About Two Dollars
NOTICE: These collections are all put up ready for mailing before our busy season begins, and therefore cannot be changed or divided. Varieties described in Vegetable Seed Dept.
It is a Bargain. Can a Dollar be better invested?
The best investment I ever made with one dollar was this spring when I sent to you for garden seeds. I wish you could see my garden, It is grand,--Mrs. David Horton, Caseville, Mich.
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1865 1915
Fifty Years Successful Business!
Golden Anniversary Editino Des Moines, Iowa, January, 1915
To Our Customers: In offering our Golden Anniversary Catalogue, we wish to send with it our sincere thanks to all our friends for the generous patronage so freely given. It is a half century since the beginning of this business and for twenty-eight years of this time it has been under the direction of the present management. This fact of itself is a guarantee of the character of our house, because no firm can successfully continue for that length of timie unless they deal justly with their patrons and give satisfaction. We will continue to treat you liberally and give you satisfactory results with our CHOICE IOWA SEEDS.
It is our old customers who have traded with us for so many years that made it possible for us to grow and expand our business, and to these old friends we owe a debt of gratitude. To these have been added each year a vast number of newer patrons in every nook and corner of the United States, until we now count our friends by the hundreds of thousands and can truthfully designate our company as
"SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE." BY THIS WE MEAN NOT ONLY NATIVE BORN AMERICANS, BUT ALL RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY
OUR GUARANTEE You have to buy seeds without seeing them. If any seeds you order from us are not satisfactory upon arrival and inspection, you can return them to us and we will refund the money you paid for them. With this understanding you can trade with us by mail just the same as the customer who buys in our store over the counter. You are sole judge; all we require is that they shall be sent back to us within fifteen days from date of receipt by you. This applies to garden, farm or flower seeds. We cannot guarantee a crop, but we can and do guarantee to take the seeds back that you yourself are not pleased with. The fifteen days will give you ample time to test them in any way you want to do so. It will give you time to send samples for inspection, analysis or test to the State Seed Inspector or to the Agricultural Experiment Station. We know that our stocks will stand the closest scrutiny and are ready to be judged accordingly.
To each and every customer, new and old, we extend our sincere thanks for the countless favors received at your hands. We start anew this year, firm in the determination to merit your continued friendship with quality stocks, fair prices and square dealing. This printed greeting seems but a poor return for your kindness, and we shall strive to ass to its effectiveness by serving you with increased efficiency during our Golden Anniversary year.
To the thousands of prospective customers to whom this catalogue comes as the first introduction from our house, we want to say just a few words. Read this book carefully, weigh all statements, and then give us a trial order. We are very glad to leave in your hands the question of future and continued patronage. Each year our friends increase in number, and this increase comes because those who give us trial orders become our firm friends and continuous patrons. We are not a cheap house. We do, however sell the best possible stocks at the lowest prices consistent with the profitable merchandising. Price, however, must be second to quality. You do not want poor seeds at any price. We affirm without qualification that our prices are as low as the quality supplied will justify. IOWA SEED COMPANY
M. KURTZWEIL, Pres. E. T. PRICE, First Vice Pres. F. H. PAGE, Second Vice Pres. J. N. ALBRIGHT, Treas. GEO. L. KURTZWEUL, 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 so
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 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 the execution of your orders. Terms are invariable 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 Pleants, 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 for freight at your expense.
Premiums: each year we put up thousansd 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 pleast our plant customers by adding something to their order when shipping it.
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SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.
FIFTY YEARS FROM THE BEGINNING OUR STORE AND OFFICE BUILDING AT 209-211 WEST WALNUT STREET
We do not have room in our catalog to show our friends the real magnitude and extent of our business. It would require a larger book than this to show all of our different departments and buildings in the detailed way. On this page we show you photographs of our magnificent new retail store and office building, located at 201-211 Walnut street. They will give you some idea of the spacious rooms and splendid facilities for handling your business. In other portions of the book we show photographs of our greenhouse plant, the corn house and elevator at Altoona and the warehouses along the railroad tracks for our wholesale trade. We have one of the greates seed houses in the country, and we have undertaken to place it in quarters befitting its importance. How well we have succeeded you can judge when in our city. Our retail store building is located in the civic center of the city. It is only a half block from the celebrated "River Front" of Des Moines, upon which is located the Municial Building, the Post Office, the Public Library, and the Coliseum, besides several other large and imposing mercantile buildings. The City Market is only half a block away. The Interurban Passenger Station is two blocks distant, and the stations of the steam roads are close at hand. We are splendidly located to give our patrons, both local and out-of-town, the best possible service and our store is most convenient to all who desire to visit it in person. We are proud of our employees, we are proud of our store, and we wish every one of our thousands of customers could call and inspect our establishments, as we think it would add to your confidence in our house.
[pictures of: Outside of Building, INTERIOR OF GENERAL OFFICE, WORK ROOM AND MAIL ORDER DEPT., RETAIL STORE: CUT FLOWER DEPT., SEED DEPT.]
THE ADDITIONAL PARTS OF OUR ESTABLISHMENT THIRTY-TWO GREENHOUSES erected during the past few years are devoted to growing plants for the mail order trade, and contain a greater variety of plants than any other greenhouse establishment in the west. They are located convenient to the electric car line, fronting five blocks on 31st street, from Center street north to Kingman Boulevard, one of the finest driving streets in the city. Here we devote fully twelve acres to flowers, making the finest display to be found in the west.
WHOLESALE BUILDING is locted at 208-210*212 South Eighth street, about eight blocks from our store. The railway tracks beside the building give us excellent facilities for handling carload lots, and we are centrally located between various freight depots so that all shipments can be made promptly. Our machinery is operated by five electric motors, and our mills for cleaning seed cannot be surpassed. Most of our employees have been with us many years, and no "green hands" handle bulk seeds.
THE WAREHOUSE on South Fifth street we have occupied for many years for storage purposes only. Large lots of seed which come in after harvest are thoroughly cleaned and then put away in this building for the spring trade.
SEED CORN HOUSE.--Wehave a very large trade in seed corn and to care for it properly we erected this building on our seed farm at Altoona. We now have capacity for 25,000 bushels of seed corn, every ear of which can be given the personal inspection of an expert.
OUR NEW GRAIN ELEVATOR.-- Just completed at Altoona, with 12-bin capacity, for caring for our seed grain, the demand for which is expanding to enormous proportions. Photograph on page 39.
SEED FARMS.-- It requires the seed crop from about 8,600 acres to supply our trade and the farms are widely be grown to advantage here, and we contract with practical seed growers elsewhere to grow for us.
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IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA [page] 3
VEGETABLE SEEDS Our stock of vegetable seeds we are sure cannot be excelled either in quality or selection by any firm in the country, as we watch our growing crops with great care, taking pains to isolate and keep pure and true to name. Every variety listed is desirable and has our recommendation. Our packets are, we believe, as well filled as any reliable seed dealer's in the United States, and, in fact, a comparison has shown that they contain more seed, on the average, than those of any other firm whose packets we have secured. We pay the postage at these prices, except on Beans, Peas and Corn at the 3 lb. peck or bushel rates. We make it a rule to carefully test all seeds as soon as received from the grower, or as soon as they are brought in from our seed farms. We also carry on extensive trials on our grounds by which we are enabled to offer only those strains of seeds which come up to the standard of purity and excellence, and are of the highest vitality, and the result is that we rarely have complaints as our Choice Iowa Seeds are sure to please.
SEEDS BY PARCELS POST BE SURE AND ADD ONE POUND ADDITIONAL TO COVER WEIGHT OF PACKING Many of our friends will prefer to have their seeds come by parcel post rather than by express. There is not much difference in the cost of transportation by these two methods, but if you want the seeds to come by mail you must send postage, because it must be prepaid. We submit herewith a table showing the postage per pouind to each state. This is figured in the way to be most easily understood by our friends. The only thing to remember is to add one pound over the actual amount of seeds you order to cover the weight of packing. For example, you live in Alabama and you order three pounds of Gradus peas by parcel post. You will add 24 cents to the price quoted in the catalogue. If you live in Illinois and want a peck of peas by parcel post, add 64 cents to the price in the catalogue. If the postage you send is more than is necessary the surplus will be returned to you inclosed in a small envelope within the package. If you do not send postage we will take it for granted you want the goods forwarded by express or freight.
STATE Postage Per Lb. Alabama 6 cents Alaska 12 cents Arizona 8 cents Arkansas 4 cents California 10 cents Canal Zone 12 cents Colorado 6 cents Connecticut 8 cents Delaware 6 cents Dist. Columbia 6 cents Florida 6 cents Georgia 8 cents Guam 12 cents Hawaii 12 cents Idaho 6 cents Illinois 8 cents Indiana 4 cents Kansas 4 cents Kentucky 4 cents Louisiana 6 cents Maine 8 cents Maryland 6 cents Massachusetts 8 cents Mexico 12 cents Michigan 4 cents Minnesota 4 cents Mississippi 6 cents Missouri 4 cents Montana 8 cents Nebraska 4 cents Nevada 8 cents New Hampshire 8 cents New Jersey 8 cents New Mexico 8 cents New York 8 cents North Carolina 8 cents Ohio 6 cents Oklahoma 4 cents Oregon 10 cents Pennsylvania 6 cents Porto Rico 12 cents Rhode Island 8 cents Samoa 12 cents South Carolina 6 cents South Dakota 4 cents Tennessee 6 cents Texas 8 cents Utah 8 cents Vermont 8 cents Virginia 6 cents Washington 10 cents West Virginia 6 cents Wisconsin 4 cents Wyoming 6 cents
ASPARAGUS (One ounce will sow forty feet of drill. For asparagus roots, see page 38.) Asparagus is so easily grown and such a large quantity is produced on a small amount of ground that every garden should contain ia bed. A bed ten feet square requiring 50 plants will give abundant supply for any ordinary family. Soak the seed 4 hours in tepid water; sow early in spring in rows a foot apart; keep clean by frequent weeding and hoeing. Ask for free circular giving instructions for making an asparagus bed. COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH WHITE.--A new and entirely distinct variety, that produces shoots which are white and stay white as long as fit for use. Is more robust and vigorous in habit, and throws up larger shoots and fully as many as Conover's Colossal, and requires no earthing up in order to furnish the white shoots so much sought after. Per pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c. PALMETTO.--Stalks frequently measure 2 inches in diameter, and even when 12 inches long are perfectly tender when cooked. Per pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c. CONOVER`S COLOSSAL.--The standard variety. Per pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.
ARTICHOKE This vegetable is a great delicacy, highly valued in all parts of Europe, and also one of their most prominent table vegetables in California and other parts of this country. It is a perennial producing the large flower heads, which are the part eaten, the second season and every year thereafter. The young stalks are also sometimes tied and blanched like celery, but they are not equal to the flower heads. Cook like asparagus and serve with cream or butter sauce. Sow seed early in hotbeds or box in the house, and when weather becomes settle transplant in rows four feet apart and two feet in the row. When started early sometimes blooms the first year.
LARGE GREEN GLOBE.--The best variety for general use; buds large; scales green; very thick, fleshy. Per pkt. 10c; oz. 35c; 1/4 lb. $1.00
ASPARAGUS ROOTS IN ONE- AND TWO-YEAR-OLD PLANTS OFFERED ON PAGE 38.
[drawing of COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH ASPARAGUS ASPARAGUS ROOTS ARE OFFERED ON PAGE 38. YOU SAVE A YEAR`S TIME BY PURCHASING ROOTS