1916

1916

ULRICH BRUNNER

NO WINTER TOO COLD

MRS. JOHN LAING

FRAU KARL DRUSCHKI

PAUL NEYRON

J.B. CLARK

IRONCLAD COLLECTION 5 BEAUTIFUL HARDY ROSES FOR 60 CENTS POSTPAID TWO YEAR OLD PLANTS $1.25 POSTPAID

51ST Annual Catalogue OF THE IOWA SEED CO. Des Moines. Iowa. SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ONLY ONE QUALITY THE BEST

IRON CLAD ROSE COLLECTION FIVE CHOICE PLANTS POSTPAID FOR 60 CENTS IN TWO-YEAR-OLD PLANTS FOR ONLY $1.25

We consider this our best offer of rose for the amateur grower. Every variety is hardy and will stand the winters successfully. All bear blooms of extra size and the variation in color is sufficient to give all the shadings required for best effects. They are all June bloomers and belong to the hybrid perpetual class, so that they will succeed under ordinary conditions without too great labor. They will, however, amply repay special care with extra size and an increased number of beautiful blossoms.

PAUL MEYRON This is a beautiful shade of deep pink or rather is a bright carmine crimson. It is distrinct in color and certainly one of the loveliest of the hardy roses. Perfectly hardy, and survives the winter in any locality. Blooms are extra large and of splendid form. Each 15c; large two year old plants 30c.

MRS JOHN LAING A fit companion in size, hardiness and form. Color soft blush pink, delicate and fragrant. One of the best because of large blooms and profuse bearing habit. Ea. 15c; large two year 30c

J. B. CLARKE Awarded the gold medal of National Rose Society. A hybrid perpetual of unique color, being an intense scarlet shaded dark, rich, crimson maroon. Flowers very large and fine. Ea 20c; large two year 40c.

FRAU KARL DRUSCHKI One of the very largest blooms among white roses. A strong, upright bush. Selected for this collection as the best hardy pure white rose, and best suited to accompany the really choice sorts that make up this collection. Each 15c; large two year old 30c.

ULRICH BRUNNER A splendid rose. Is really second to none. The color is the popular glowing scarlet. Form and size equal to the best, while in hardiness and adaptability it will be satisfactory in any planting. Each 15c; large two year old plants 30c.

THE IRON CLAD ROSE COLLECTION OF FIVE CHOICE, HARDY PLANTS, POSTPAID 60c. IN TWO YEAR OLD PLANTS, $1.25

AMERICAN BEAUTY ROSE COLLECTION

Who has not heard of the American Beauty, the rose famed in poetry, story and song? The cut flowers are frequently sold during the winter at $10.00 to $25.00 per dozen. What flower lover has not hoped some day to have a "garden of roses" with American Beauties galore? This collection has proven very popular and we are growing cast numbers of plants for the immense demand. Read carefully the list of varieties fully described in the Plant list and notice the very low prices.

AMERICAN BEAUTY, WHITE AMERICAN BEAUTY, BLACK BEAUTY, STRIPED BEAUTY, PINK BEAUTY and MOSS BEAUTY. By mail prepaid to any address in the United States. SPECIAL RICE: ONE STRONG PLANT OF EACH OF THE ABOVE SIX ROSES FOR SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS. ONE LARGE TWO YEAR OLD PLANT OF EACH FRO $1.50.

"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 each of Refugee Beans, Old Homestead Pole Beans, Dewing's Beet, Swiss Chard Beet, Henderson's Snowball Cauliflower, Washington Wakefield Cabbage, Shortstem Drumhead Cabbage, Danvers Carrot, White Plume Celery, Early Sunrise Corn, Country Gentleman Corn, Emeral Cucumber, Improved Ground Cherry, American Curled Mosbach Kale, Monarch White Rice Popcorn, Continuity Large Red Wethersfield Onion, Mammoth Prizetake Onion, Iowa Challenge Peas, Chartier Radish, Rosy Gem Radish, Improved Table Guernsey Parsnip, Market Gardenern's Parsley, Large Bell Pepper, Early Crookneck Squash, Hester Squash, Bloomsdale Spinach, 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 Regula Price They Amount to About Two Dollars

NOTICE: These collections are all put ready for mailing before our busy season begines, 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 invesemtn 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.

1865 1916

Fifty one Years Successful Business!

Des Moines, Iowa, January, 1916.

Greetings to Our Customers

Our annual greeting carries with it to all our friends and customers the sincere thanks of our firm for the generous patronage during the past year. The volume of trade continues to increase, and we are deeply indebted to our friends for this evidence of confidence and good will. We hope for your continued favors and will give you the best service possible, and our quality stock of CHOICE IOWA SEEDS. We hope to have a liberal orders. Our business continues to grow, and we intend to keep it increasing by unceasing effort, and unwearied care in the conduct of all departments that we may meric by the great and widespread popularity of our house and goods the slogan we have chosen:

"SEEDMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."

OUR GUARANTEE You have to buy seeds without seeing them. If any seeds from us are not satisfactory upon arrival and inspection, return them to us and we will refund the money you paid for them. You are sole judge; all we requre is that they shall be sent back to us within fifteen days from date of receipt by you. This applies to garden, farm and flower seeds. We cannot guarantee a crop, but we can and do guarantee to take 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. It will give you time to send samples for inspection, analysis or test to the State Seed Inspector or to the Agricultural Experiment Station. Our stocks will stand the closest scrutiny and we are ready to be judged accordingly.

TO OUR NEW FRIENDS Each year this catalogue goes to a great number of prospective buyers who have never traded with us and are not acquainted with our stocks or methods. To such we desire to say just a few words of solicitation. Read our catalogue carefully, weight all the statements and send us a trial order. We will gladly leave in your hands the question of future and continued patronage. Each year our friends increase in number, and this increae comes because those who give us trial orders become firm friends and continuous patrons. We sell the best possible stocks at the lowest prices consistent with profitable merchandizing. 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 quality supplied will justify.

[picture of the Iowa Seed Company building]

[picture of interior of general office] [picture of work room and mail order dept.] [caption below last two pictures: Our city retail store building, showing interior views of office and mail order work room.]

THE ADDITIONAL PARTS OF OUR ESTABLISHMEN 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 located 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 six elecgtric 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 the bulk seeds. THE WAREHOUSE on South Fifth street we have occupied for many yers 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.--We have a very large trade in seed corn and to care for it properly we erected a large building on our seed farm at Altoona. We now have capacity for 25,000 bushels of seed corn, every year of which can be given the personal inspection of an expert. GRAIN ELEVATOR.--At Altoona, with 12-bin capacity, for caring for our seed grain, the demand for which is expanding to enormous proportions. Photograph on page 37. SEED FARMS.--It requires the seed crop from about 8,600 acres to supply our trade and the farms are widely isolated so as to avoid any mixtures. Some seeds cannot be grown to advantage here, and we contract with practical seed growers elsewhere to grow for us.

SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE. 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 beleive, 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 on vegetable seeds 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. The vegetable seed department is under the personal supervision of the president of our company. He places the contracts, inspects the growing crops, superintends the farm operations in summer and during the busy months in spring he gives personal oversight to the order filling department. 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 pound to each state. This is figured in the way to be most easily understoof 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 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. Remember that we pay the postage on garden seeds ordered by the packet, ounce, quarter pound or pound, no matter what the cost; but on larger quantities postage must be added if we are to send them by mail. OUR POSTAGE RATE FROM DES MOINES TO ALL IOWA POINTS IS ONE CENT PER POUND. 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 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 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. Seeds by Mail: Seeds, plants and bulbs may be sent by Parcel Post. The table of rates above gives amount of postage required on quantities over one pound. Miscellaneous merchandise may go by Parcel Post, and and mailing weight is given on items of this kind. 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 unaquainted with us, this question will naturally arise, and in answer to same we refer you, by permission, to the People's 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 to us by registered letter, postoffice or 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 too 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 of this company is authorized to make any warranty whatsoever. However, we have so much confidence in our seds 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 others 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. IF YOU ONCE PURCHASE VEGETABLE SEEDS OF US YOU WILL CONTINUE A PATRON. THE QUALITY INVITES CONFIDENCE.