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Complete
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Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa.
LEEK—Ger. Lauch.
One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill.
This is a branch of the Onion family, and is preferred by some to the Onion. Sow early in spring, and when plants are three or four inches high,- thin to eight inches apart. Hoe the earth well up to the stalk to blanch it.
London Flag—Very hardy; per ¼ lb. 50c. oz. 15c... 5
LARGE R0UEN—A favorite variety with market gardeners. Largest and most uniform of all; per ¼ lb. 75c; oz. 20c... 5
MARTYNIA—(For Pickles,)
One ounce win plant 100 hills.
Plant in May, in hills four feet apart. The seed pods, which are used quite largely for pickling, should be gathered when they are green and tender. See novelty list for more full description; per ¼ lb. 75c; oz. 25c... 10
MELON—MUSK—Ger. Melone.
One ounce will plant about 80 hills; two pounds to the acre.
The soil best adapted to the culture of Melons is a warm, rich, sandy loam. Plant in hills five or six feet apart each way, ten to twelve seeds in a hill. When they begin to vine, thin out, leaving only four of the most thrifty. As Melons are very sensitive to cold, they should not be planted till the settled warm weather sets in, in this latitude about the middle of May. Cultivation should commence as soon as the plants appear above the ground, and be kept up once a week until the vines interfere too much.
EMERALD GEM—See Novelty List; per lb. $1.25; ¼ lb. 45c; oz. 15c... 5
IMPROVED EARLY HACKENSACK—This new candidate for public favor holds its size, rich flavor and other good qualities remarkably well, and withal is a great improvement on the Turk’s Cap or Hackensack in that it is fully ten days earlier. All should try it; per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
[image (Improved Early Hackensack muskmelon)]
[text in image: NEW EARLY HACKENSACK MUSKMELON]
Jenny Lind—A small very early Melon of most delicious flavor; almost round, flattened at the end; distinctly ribbed and finely netted, green fleshed; per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Golden Netted Gem—A very early, rather small round Melon, with thick light green flesh of luscious flavor. Very productive, of a handsome appearance; per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
OSAGE—This new variety has created quite a stir in Chicago, where it sells at double the prices of any other variety. The skin is thin, of dark green color and slightly netted. The flesh is of a salmon color, remarkably sweet and spicy in flavor, extremely thick, and delicious to the rind. The seed cavity is very small. All lovers of fine melons should try The Osage. Per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
Orange Christiana—One of the earliest and most delicious of all varieties; per lb. 80c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
MILLER’S ORANGE CREAM—A splendid novelty of 1887. Shallow ribbed, thin rind, finely netted; the flesh varies from a light green to a rich salmon in color, owing we believe to its being a hybrid; flavor is very sweet; per lb. 85c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
[image (Miller’s Orange Cream)]
THE PRINCESS—This new variety is nearly round, with heavily netted dark green skin; the flesh is of a rich salmon color, and in flavor is sweet and lucious[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 lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
Skillman’s Fine Netted—Fresh green, sugary and excellent quality; per lb. 50c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Green Citron—Per lb. 50c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Improved Green Nutmeg—Fruit oval, good size, rich, exquisite flavor; a general favorite; per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Bay View—This is of large size, deliciously rich, sweet and luscious; per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c. oz. 10c... 5
Improved Cantaloupe—Large size, flesh light green, most delicious flavor, superior for market or private gardens; per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Surprise——Thin, cream colored skin, thickly netted; flesh deep salmon color, very thick and highly flavored; surprisingly productive; per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Montreal Market——Uniformly of large size, averaging from fifteen to twenty pounds in weight. Flesh very thick and of fine flavor; per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
GARDNERS
Try an assortment of our best varieties
of melon seed this year.
Complete
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Seed Catalogue and Garden Guide.
New Banana—Attain a length of from 18 inches to three feet three inches, and are from two to four inches thick. Flesh very thick, of a salmon color; in flavor simply remarkably delicious, and equal to any melon you have ever eaten. It looks almost like an over-grown banana and moreover smells like one, hence the name. It is not only a curiosity, but in flavor unquestionably fine; per ¼ lb,[.] 50c; oz. 15c... 5
[image (New Banana Melon)]
[text in image: BANANA MELON]
CHAMPION MARKET—Almost a perfect globe in shape and densely netted making it one of the handsomest canteloupes[cantaloupes] known. Flesh is thick, light green color and of rich sweet flavor. Very productive; per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
PERFECTION—A favorite with some melon growers on account of its rich color and luscious flavor. Per lb. $1.00 ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
MELON—Ger. Wasser Melone.
One ounce will plant about 60 hills.
It is of the utmost importance that all Melon growers should have the very best of seeds, and those who have given our seeds a trial in the past, are so well pleased that they continue to use them. It pays to have the best. After several years trial we have dropped most of the small foreign varieties, believing them of little value here. Plant in hills eight feet apart and cultivate same as Musk Melon.
VICK’S EARLY—A new variety of medium size, flesh bright pink, solid and sweet; said to be the earliest variety in cultivation; per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
NEW WHITE GEM—A splendid new variety. See description in Novelty List. Per oz. 40c... 10
Phinney’s Early—Flesh deep red, superior quality, early and productive. v[V]aluable market variety; per lb. 70c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
PEERLESS or Ice Cream—(White seeded.) Of unquestionable quality, medium size, thin rind, flesh bright scarlet; per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
True Dark Icing, or Ice Rind—There are two distinct types of this melon; this one which we consider the best, is known as the dark icing. It is a very solid sort with a thin rind, and possesses a most delicious flavor; per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
Oemler’s Triumph—It is a variety originated in Central Asia, of medium size, dark glossy, green color, and the sweetest of any variety we know of. Flesh is dark red, mottled with yellow, very early. The seeds are so small that they can be swallowed without the slightest inconvenience; per lb. $2; ¼ lb. 60c; oz. 20c... 10
GREEN AND GOLD—The largest early variety in cultivation, ranging from 25 to 40 lbs. in weight; slightly oval; dark green outside, with blotches of fawn color when ripe. Flesh yellow as gold, sweet as sugar, and of unequalled flavor. Seed white, with a pink shade around the edges. When it comes to beauty and excellence, combined the Green and Gold takes the lead of all the early varieties. Per lb. $I.50; ¼ lb. 50c; oz. 15c... 5
True Georgia Rattlesnake, or Gipsy—Fruit large, oblong, striped; flesh red, of fine quality. An excellent variety for market, per lb. 65c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Haskell’s Excelsior—Flesh bright red; very superior quality, large size, frequently weighing over 40 pounds; per lb. 65c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Mountain Sweet—Per lb. 60c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
[image (Kolb Gem)]
[text in image: A.BLANC•PHILA]
KOLB GEM—This variety pronounced by many of our largest melon growers the most successful shipping melon ever introduced, The rind, though quite thin, is very tough. The flesh is bright red and of excellent flavor. All who have grown it agree in pronouncing it one of the largest, most productive, best keeping and shipping melons ever grown; Per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
[separation line]
Jamesport, Mo., Aug. 20, 1890.
I was much pleased with the garden seed purchased of you this spring. Allow me to thank you for the extra package of Radish seed, they were very fine.
Mrs. L. S. Power.
[separation line]
Remember that $1.00 pays for seeds in packets to the amount of $1.35. and to deduct 10 cents per lb. If you have seeds sent at your expense.
Complete
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Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa.
JOHNSON’S CHRISTMAS—A most valuable, new and distinct variety. They have been kept in a cool cellar for over four months, and cut open as fresh and delicious as the day they were picked. The flesh is of a beautiful rich scarlet, very solid, and of delicious flavor; per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 15c... 5
Orange—A curiosity. The rind of this variety, when ripe, peels off from the flesh like the skin of an orange; leaving it a very handsome fruit to place on the table; per ¼ lb. 45c; oz. 15c... 5
PRIDE OF GEORGIA—Is a dark green motted[mottled] color. nearly oval, rigid like an orange, grows partly upon its end; is firm, will ship well, attains a large size, and is very sweet and crisp; lb. 85c; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
Mammoth Iron Clad—Of very large size; has weighed 128 pounds, and an entire crop averaging 50 pounds each; attractive shape and appearance, and excellent quality; a good shipper; per lb. 80c; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
Gray Monarch—A mammoth, long, light colored variety which has been grown to weigh 90 lbs. Rather late but of good flavor and quite productive. Per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c:[;] oz. 10c... 5
Cuban Queen—Large size, productive; flesh bright scarlet, good flavor and a good seller. Per lb. 75c; ¼ lb. 25c; oz 10c... 5
Colorado Preserving—Are quite distinct and much superior to the common Preserving Citron. It makes beautiful, clear, transparent preserves of perfect flavor. Very productive, bearing large fruit; per lb. $1.25; ¼ lb. 40c; oz. 15c... 5
CITRON—Red seeded—For preserving; per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz 10c... 5
MUSTARD—Ger. Senf.
One ounce will sow about 75 feet of drill.
A pungent salad, used sometimes with Cress, also elegant for greens. Sow thickly in rows, and cut when about two inches high.
SOUTHERN GIANT CURLED—This mustard is very highly esteemed in the South. where the seed is sown in the fall, and the plants used very early in the spring as a salad. Per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c:[;] oz. 10c... 5
White English; or London—Per lb. 50c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
Brown or Black—L[l]b. 40c; ¼ lb. 50c; oz. 10c... 5
[separation line]
Forest Home, Iowa, Jan. 29, 1890.
Those seeds I bought of you last spring for my neighbors, gave good satisfaction and they want me to send for them again.
E. L. Beason.
[separation line]
OKRA, or Gumbo—Ger. Essberra.
One ounce will sow about 80 feet of drill.
[image]
[text in image: BLANC]
Why not try Okra this year? It is extra nice for soups, stews, etc., and also much liked when pickled. Sow at the usual time of all tender vegetables, in drills two inches deep, setting the plants from two to three feet apart.
Improved Dwarf—Very productive, per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
NEW DWARF VELVET—This new variety is well shown by our cut except that the pods are white. Pods are round smooth and of an attractive white velvety appearance, very tender and of superior flavor. Plants are dwarf and produce the pods in great abundance. Per lb. $1.25; ¼ lb. 45c; oz. 15c... 5
PARSLEY—Ger. Petersilie.
One ounce will set 150 feet of drill.
Sow in March thinly in drills one foot apart, half an inch deep. Soak seed in warm water a few hours before sowing. For winter use protect in a glass frame or light cellar.
Champion Moss Curled—A very select stock, beautifully crimped and curled. Decidedly the best and most popular variety for general use. Quite decorative for garnishing; per ¼ lb. 30c; oz. 10c... 5
Plain Leaved—The hardiest and strongest growing variety. Leaves dark green. The best flavored for seasoning; ¼ lb. 25c; oz. 10c... 5
NEW FERN-LEAVED—Exquisite in form and admirably suited for mixing with dwarf ornamental foliage plants in the flower garden; also for table decorasion [decoration]. Excellent quality; per ¼ lb. 45c; oz. 15c;[sic]... 5
Practical Instruction
For everyone who has a vegetable or flower garden or who grows small fruit is contained in the Western Garden, a handsome, illustrated 16 page monthly published at Des Moines, at 50 cents per year. By a special arrangement we can offer a years subscription to everyone who purchases of us, seeds in packets to the amount of $1.00 or in bulk to the amount of $3.00 without other premium or discount.
MARKET GARDNERS
Who use large quantities should send
[a] list of their needs and obtain prices.
Complete
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Seed Catalogue and Garden Guide.
ONION—Ger. Zwiebel.
One ounce will sow about 100 feet of drill; 4 pounds will sow one acre.
This is, with perhaps the one exception of Cabbage, the most important crop grown, both in market and family gardens, and there is no other vegetable where the quality of the seed exerts a greater influence upon the crop than in Onions. There is more
MONEY IN ONIONS
grown from the seed than in almost any other crop. Those grown from our select
HIGH GRADE ONION SEED
possess the following qualifications of superior merit;
[image (variety of onions braided by stems)]
[text in image (top): DRAWN FROM NATURE.]
[text in image (around images): 5. 1. 3. 6. 4. 2. J.B.T.]
[text in image (bottom): No. 1, Extra Early Red; No. 2, Large Red Wethersfield; No. 3, Yellow Globe Danvers: No. 4 White Portugal; No. 5, Extra Early Pearl; No. 6, White Globe.]
7 Points.
Earliness, Productiveness, Reliability, Perfect Shaped Bulbs, Solidity, Fine Texture and Keeping Qualities. Sowing seed to produce large Onions is the cheapest, easiest, best, and most satisfactory way. Large onions can easily be grown the first year from the seed by obtaining our seed, which is all northern grown, and new, crop of 1890. It won’t pay you to use the cheap imported or southern grown seeds, which produce a large proportion of scullions and Onions that will not keep well. Poor seed, even as a gift, is the dearest the planter can use. We want you to try OUR seed, and have therefore put the price down to as low a rate as good, reliable seed can be sold at.
CULTURE—As early as the ground can be worked in the spring, sow the seed in drills fourteen inches apart, covering one-half inch. They should be in rich, sandy soil, which is as free from weeds as possible. Commence hoeing as soon as the rows can be seen; skim the ground over the surface; avoid stirring deeply and work the soil away from the bulbs. At second hoeing, weed carefully and thoroughly by hand. When the tops die, pull and spread evenly over the ground; stir or turn until fully dried, then cut the tops one-half inch from the bulb.
FOR PICKLES OR SETS—Good ground should be prepared as above, and the seed should be sown very thickly in broad drills, about 40 pounds to the acre for sets, and 15 to 20 lbs. for pickling.
For sowing onion seed and cultivating crop it will pay you to purchase a good drill and hand cultivator, see description elsewhere.
Lang’s Hand Weeder (price 30 cents, postpaid), is the best hand-weeder made. Try it.
EXTRA EARLY PEARL—Earliest of all. Pearly white translucent, growing almost with the rapidity of a Radish, form flat, flavor very mild. Wonderfully fine. Try it; per lb. $2.50; ¼ lb. 80c; oz. 25c... 10
Extra Early Red—Very early, matures about two weeks before the Wethersfield; per lb. $1.50; ¼ lb. 45c; oz. I5c... 3
White Portugal, Silver Skin—Matures early, very mild flavor, medium size, and generally preferred for table use; not a good keeper; per lb. $2.40; ¼ lb. 70c; oz. 25c... 5
LARGE RED WETHERSFIELD—The standard sort throughout the West, as they are more hardy, and immense crops can be raised, when more tender varieties would fail. They grow to a large size, fine form; skin deep purplish red, moderately fine grained and strong flavor. Very productive and an excellent keeper. For shipping purposes it is considered one of the best, as it will bear almost any amount of handling without any apparent injury. We offer Iowa grown seed, extra select,—5 lbs. or more by express, at $1.25 per pound, or postpaid per lb. $1.50:[;] ¼ lb. 45c; oz. 15c... 5
Large Red Wethersfield—Eastern grown, such as is commonly sold. 5 lbs. or more by express at $1.10 per lb. or postpaid.—per lb. $1.35; ¼ lb. 40c; oz. 15c... 5
IT PAYS TO HAVE THE BEST.
Our best grade of Onion
Seed is sure to please you.
Complete
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35
Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa.
YELLOW GLOBE DANVERS—A very handsome, round or globe-shaped variety, of large Size, with thin yellow skin white flesh, fine grained, mild, very firm, and the best of keepers. It ripens early and sells readily at the highest prices in our markets; per lb. $1.25; ¼ lb. 40c; oz. 15c... 5
LARGE WHITE GLOBE—The handsomest market variety we have ever seen. Large size, oval form, very even, mild and pleasant flavor, good keeper, out-sells every other variety; per lb. $2.40; ¼lb. 70c; oz. 25c... 5
Southport Red Globe—Differs from above only in color; per lb. $I.70; ¼ lb. 50c; oz. 15c... 5
[image (Mammoth Silver King onion)]
[text in image: A.BLANC. PHILA.]
MAMMOTH SILVER KING—Grows uniformly larger than any other Onion in cultivation, except the Copper King. The bulbs are of attractive shape, as shown by the illustration. The average diameter of well grown specimens is from five to seven and one-half pounds. The skin is a beautiful silvery white, flesh white, sweet and pleasant, and can be eaten raw like an apple; per lb. $2.70; ¼lb, 50c; oz. 25... 10
COPPER KING—The largest of all. See novelties; per lb. $2.50; ¼ lb. 75c; oz. 25c... 10
Marzagole—Large silvery Onion; per lb. $3; ¼ lb. 50c; oz. 20c... 5
NEW MAMMOTH SPANISH KING—This is the new celebrated Spanish fancy Onion which is annually imported from Spain, and sold by confectioners and fruit dealers in all the larger cities. They do well in this country, and have been grown here to the weight of 3¾ pounds. Skin is of a rich yellow color, while flesh is pure white, sweet, mild and tender; per lb. $2.65; ¼ lb. 75c; oz. 25c... 10
New Queen—A very nice extra early silver-skinned Onion, the best keeper of the foreign sorts. Very mild flavored and excellent for pickling; per lb. $2.40; ¼ lb. 70c:[;] oz. 20... 5
Giant Rocca—Very large, frequently weighing three and one-half pounds. Globular form, mild, delicate flavor; per lb. $2.00; ¼ lb. 60c; oz. 20c... 5
Paris White Pickling or Small Silver Skin—For pickling. This is of small size, silvery white, and used almost entirely for pickling on account of its small size, handsome appearance and mild flavor; per lb. $1.60; ¼ lb. 50c; oz. 15c... 5
[separation line]
BLAIR, NEB., Dec. 31.
I had a good crop of onions from your seed. Grew 315 bushels of nice onions on 77 rods of ground.
JOHN BALLARD.
[separation line]
ONION SETS.
We always keep a supply of the best quality of onion sets in stock during the season. Price by the peck or bushel on application. You may deduct 15 cents per quart if sent by express.
White, from seed per qt... 50
Red “[from seed] “[per qt]... 40
Yellow “[from seed] “[per qt]... 40
Top or Button “[from seed] “[per qt]... 45
Potato Onions “[from seed] “[per qt]... 50
Perennial or Winter—usually set out in fall but can also be set in spring... 40
PARSNIPS—Ger. Pastinake.
One ounce will sow 200 feet of drill; five pounds to acre.
Sow early in spring in good rich soil, which has been plowed deep, in drills fifteen inches apart, covering half an inch. Thin to five or six inches apart in rows. They are improved by frost.
[image (parsnip showing root underground and green tops)]
Long Sugar or Hollow Crown—The standard for either table use or stock feeding, very tender, sugary, excellent flavored, large sized, white and smooth; per lb. 50c; ¼ lb. 20c; oz. 10c... 5
IOWA SEED CO.’S IMPROVED GUERNSEY—The best variety grown. Try it. See novelties; per lb. $1.00; ¼ lb. 35c; oz.15c... 5
3 KINGS
One packet each Mammoth Copper King,
Spanish King and Silver King for 20 cents.