1889

4 ... Specialties and Novelties for 1889.

Iowa Seed Co.'s Perfect White Spine Cucumber

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, field of vines and cucumbers.] [Caption: Crop of Perfect White Spine Cucumbers.] [Sub-caption] [From a Photograph taken on our Adair Co. Seed Farm.]

We are proud of our Perfect White Spine Cucumber, and well we may be, as prominent horticulturists and experienced market gardeners pronounce it to be undoubtedly the best strain in existence. For nine years we have been growing and improving this variety on our seed farm, and as a result we offer to our customers this improved strain, which has been pronounced by good judges as superior to either the Peerless or Arlington. It is certainly the most excellent variety that we are acquainted with. The fruit is of even and good size, straight and always well formed and symmetrical. When small it is deep green in color and of uniform shape, making it unexcelled for pickling. When of usual size for slicing it still holds its beautiful green color, shading to light green at blossom end. As it matures it turns to a clear, beautiful white, very handsome and showy for market, so different from the common White Spine, which is of a dirty yellowish brown color. Immensely productive. Keeps longer solid and crisp than any other variety we know of. We have had them shipped a long distance and kept in a warm room for two weeks with no sign of rot or withering. Outyields any other variety for pickles. Per pkt. 5 cts.; oz. 15 cts.; 1/4 lb. 40 cts.; lb. $1.35.

Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1888:-Seeds of the Perfect White Spine Cucumber were planted April 24th, plants in bloom July 5th, of pickle size July 16th. The plants were very productive and the fruits were uniform in size and shape, indicating careful selection. Peter Collier, Director N. Y. Agr'l Experiment Station.

Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify.

Why don't you grow Salsify? We are certain if you grew it one year you would never be without it, and especially after having tried this magnificent new variety which averages fully double the size of the Long White. It is pure white, tender and delicious. Of great value to market gardeners. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 40 cts.

Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa. ... 5

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, partial cross-section of muskmelon. Overprinted text-New Early Hackensack Musk Melon.]

Improved Early Hackensack Musk Melon. The common Hackensack, or Turk's Cap Melon, has been long and favorably known to all melon growers, it being very large and rich flavored, but inclined to be late. This new candidate for public favor holds its size, flavor and other good qualities remarkably well, and withal is a great improvement n its progenitor in that it is fully ten days earlier. All should try it. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 15 cts.; 1/4 lb. 50 cts.; lb. $1.50.

Tne Emerald Gem Melon. The melons are about the size of the Netted Gem, but, unlike that variety, the skin, while ribbed, is perfectly smooth and of a deep emerald green color. The flesh, which is thicker than in any other melon of the same size, is of a suffused salmon color, and ripens thoroughly to the extremely thin green rind. It is peculiarly crystalline in appearance, and so very juicy and rich that it almost drops to pieces (like a rich cake) when dipped out with a spoon. The flavor is sweet and luscious beyond description. On our trial grounds in Adair County, this melon surpassed all others in quality, and we are sure that all who grow the Emerald Gem this year will praise it as the finest flavored melon they have ever tasted. Mr. Edward L. Coy, of Washington Co., New York, says that "the Emerald Gem ripened first of twenty-two varieties I had growing this season, and was very much superior in quality to any other I ever saw. But they are so thick meated they yield but little seed. I verily believe it to be the very best melon in the world." Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 20 cts.; 1/4 lb. 65 cts.; lb. $1. 75.

New Celestial Pepper. This new pepper, from China, is one of the most ornamental varieties we have ever seen, and is so beautiful in growth that it deserves a prominent place in the flower garden. The plant sets its peppers very early and continues until frost, branching freely and bearing profusely. It is wondrously productive, forty peppers having been counted on a single branch. Up to the time they are fully ripe they are of a delicate creamy yellow color, then suddenly changing to an intense vivid scarlet. They are all carried upright, and the brilliant contrast in colors makes a plant loaded with fruits an object of the most striking beauty and oddity. The peppers are of superior quality, of a clear, sharp flavor. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 60 cts.

Mammoth Silver King Onion. Grows uniformly larger than any other Onion in cultivation, except the Copper King. The bulbs are of attractive shape, flattened, but thick through, as shown by the illustration. The average diameter of well grown specimens is from five to seven and one-half inches, thus making the circumference from sixteen to twenty-two inches. Single bulbs have been grown to weigh over four and one-half pounds. The yield is immense, having reached nine hundred bushels per acre. The skin is a beautiful silvery white, flesh white, sweet and pleasant, and can be eaten raw like an apple. Silver King cannot be too highly recommended for family use, for market or for exhibition. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 25 cts.; 1/4 lb. 85 cts.; lb. $3.00. [Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, Onion, A. Blanc. Phila.]

6 ... Specialties and Novelties for 1889.

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, melon and a melon slice, Williams. Text in ribbon-like banner - The most delicious of all melons. Text overprinted on melon slice-The Princess.]

The Princess Musk Melon. The introducer says that after a thorough trial the past two seasons this has proven the best and richest in flavor of over forty varieties tested. It is quite distinct from all other varieties, and possesses so many strong points of superiority that it must speedily become the most popular variety for family and market purposes. Our engraving, made from nature, shows their shape, which is nearly round, with heavily netted dark green skin; the flesh is of a rich salmon color, and in flavor is sweet and luscious beyond description. They ripen early and grow to good size, frequently weighing eight to ten pounds each. This is a grand new variety which it will pay you well to try. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 20 cts.; 1/4 lb. 65 cts.

Iow Seed Co.'s New Garden Lemon. We are pleased to introduce this to our customers this year as a novelty of 1889 well worthy their attention. A sample of this was sent us by one of our valued customers, and we have tested it two years on our Adair County and Polk County seed farms, and can recommend it highly. It resembles the Vine Peach in manner of growth and shape of fruit, but is distinct in that the unripe fruit is striped with very dark green, nearly black, while the Vine Peach is plain green, and when ripe it is not russeted like the Vine Peach. Fruit is somewhat smaller than Vine Peach, has thinner flesh and is most decidedly more acid, thus dispensing with the sliced lemons which are so important in putting up the Vine Peach. The illustration on cover of our catalogue shows its manner of growth. Cultivate like musk melon, in hills three feet apart each way. Full directions for cooking in various manners accompany each packet. Don't fail to try it. In pkts. only, each 15 cts.; 4 for 50 cts.

Iowa Seed Co.'s New Perpetual White Summer Radish. This variety introduced and offered by us last year for the first time, has given splendid satisfaction to all who tried it. They are of the shape shown on the cover of this catalogue, pure white, of uniformly good quality, crisp and brittle and they keep longer in a fit condition for the table than any variety we know of, hence their name, Perpetual White Summer. Can be sown any time of the year, and will always produce good radishes fit for market earlier than the Chartier and keep in perfect shape for marketing for about four weeks, or longer than that for home use. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 15 cts.; 1/4 lb. 50 cts.

New Pepper --Mammoth Golden Queen. The Largest, Handsomest and Most Productive of all. We feel fully warranted in making the above strong claims for this handsome new Pepper, growing to twice the size of Golden Dawn, and averaging a third larger than Ruby King, of the most perfect shape and uniform large size. Each plant ripens from twelve to sixteen perfect fruits, from eight to ten inches long, and four to five inches through. In color they are bright, waxy, golden yellow, and so mild in flavor they can be eaten like tomatoes, with pepper and vinegar. Seed hould be sown early, in hot bed or box in house. We grew a splendid crop of these on our Adair County Seed Farm the past year, and we can recommend them most highly. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 70 cts.

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, pepper. Caption below-Mammoth Golden Queen Pepper.]

Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa ...7

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, bowl with peas and vines. Text on left-Cleveland's Alaska. Text on right-The Earliest Pea Grown.]

Cleveland's Alaska Peas. Mr. Cleveland, the originator of this new variety, is also the originator of the celebrated Rural New Yorker Pea, which has attracted such universal praise. He claims that this is the earliest, the most prolific, the best in flavor, the best keeper in the pod, and the best color when shelled of any early variety of Peas. This variety has been given a thorough test by our customers, and especially by the Des Moines Market Gardeners, and they claim that they average two days ahead of all other extra earlies although the pods were somewhat smaller, so that when varieties like the Extra Early Challenge came in, the Alaskas were not so saleable. All gardeners will, of course, realize that the first few days are the cream of the market in Peas, and those who want to obtain the highest prices will not fail to plant the Alaska. Per pkt. 10 cts.; pt. 30 cts.; qt. 50 cts.; all by mail postpaid.

Wonderful Yard Long Beans. A rare curiosity and withal a bean of very good quality. The pods grow to the extraordinary length of three feet, are highly ornamental, are used when half ripe when the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil, being round and altogether stringless; in sweetness, tenderness and superior flavor, equal to that of asparagus, excels all other beans. As a climber for arbors, porticos, etc., it is much admired, attractive and beautiful. Per pkt. 10 cts.; 3 for 25 cts.

Iowa's Challenge Peas. An extra early variety of superior merit which is a great favorite with Des Moines market gardeners. We can in all confidence say that after a trial of nearly all extra early varieties offered to the trade, we have not found one possessing more merit, hence its name. For the market gardener it has no superior. It is not only extremely early and prolific, but it is of most luscious flavor. All the good qualities of the extra early are most nearly brought to perfection in the Challenge. Vines eighteen inches. Per pkt. 10 cts.; pt. 30 cts.; qt. 50 cts.; postpaid.

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, pea pods on the vine, A. Blanc.]

Lucas, Iowa, Nov. 12, '88:-All your seeds gave good satisfaction. The Market Gardener's Beets are the best I have ever seen. The Challenge Peas are the only kind I shall grow after this, they can't be beat for a good early Pea. The Table Guernsey Parsnips were the largest and best I ever suw [saw]. I took first premium at our County Fair with Silver King Onion, seed from your house. WM. PLOWS, M. G.

8 ... Specialties and Novelties for 1889.

King of the Mammoths Pumpkin. This magnificent new pumpkin, recently introduced here, came from France, and is an acquisition to our list of Mammoth Pumpkins. The flesh and skin are of a bright golden yellow, fine grained and of good quality. They are very often grown to weigh from one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds, and the one from which our cut is made, raised in 1885, reached the enormous weight of 245 pounds. Wherever it has been grown t[it] has attracted much attention. Henry West, of Rhodes, Iowa, writes us that he grew one weighing 158 pounds, and on the same vine had five other pumpkins weighing from 90 pounds to 104 pounds each. Over 640 pounds grown from one seed. Farmers and gardeners, just think of that kind of a crop in spite of dry weather. Will it not pay you to grow the King Of Mammoths and exhibit them at your county fair? Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 20 cts.; 1/4 lb. 65 cts.

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard Illustration, pumpkin, Williams. Caption-King of the Mammoths Pumpkin.]

Extra Early Des Moines Sweet Corn. (See Illustration on Cover.) Since introducing the Early Des Moines to the public we have received many flattering testimonials of its great value as an extra early variety. It is as early as any we have found, except the Cory, with ears much larger than most early sorts; supremely delicious flavor; very prolific. It has been grown and improved by some of the best market gardeners in this vicinity for something over twenty years, and since its introduction to the public by us, the demand has increased very rapidly, especially among market gardeners. The quality is not excelled in any sweet corn. Uniformly white cob. Per pkt. 10 cts.; qt. 40 cts.; postpaid.

"The Early Des Moines Corn with me comes in just right after Cory. It is but very little later, while the ears are much larger and the rows are very close set on cob, which is a good point in sweet corn." M. KURTZWEIL.

The New York Agricultural Experiment Station reports that the Early Des Moines Sweet Corn was planted May 23d, fit for table August 11th. Stalks grew four feet tall, the ears were from five to seven inches long, eight to ten rowed and were produced abundantly. It was much sweeter than most of the early varieties.

Iowa Seed Co.'s Imp'd Table Guernsey Parsnip. This is a greatly improved and wonderfully fine strain of the Guernsey Hollow Crown Parsnip. It is strictly a table variety, and has no resemblance to what is called the Guernsey Stock Parsnip, which is not good for table use. The roots do not grow as long as the Hollow Crown, but are of a greater diameter and more easily gathered. It is a very heavy cropper, the roots are smooth, with a very deep hollow crown and small top. The flesh is fine grained and sweet all the way through, and of excellent quality. Cooks evenly all through to the center, which is just as fine and soft and even in quality as outside portions. A field of these which were being grown for us for seed attracted the universal attention of market gardeners by reason of their extraordinary small tops as compared with other kinds, and their fine shape. It is sure to please all who try it. Last year our stock of seed was sold out long before the season was over, so that we were obliged to return considerable of the money sent us. However we have a good supply of it this year of our own growth. See illustration on cover. Per pkt. 10 cts.; oz. 15 cts.; 1/4 lb. 50 cts.