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4. SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.

BEETS.
One ounce sows 50 feet of drill; 4 to 6 pounds for one acre.
For early, sow as soon as the ground can be worked and about the middle of May for general crop, in drills fifteen inches apart and one and a half inches deep. As the plants grow thin to six inches in drills. The young plants make excellent greens. The seed will germinate more freely if soaked in warm water twenty four hours before sowing; but care should be taken not to plant soaked seed in very dry ground. The soil should be a deep, rich loam.

[image] MARKET GARDENERS' BEET

IOWA SEED CO.'S MARKET GARDENERS' BEET. [logo]I.S. CO[\logo]--Undoubtedly one of the best novelties ever introduced, and it receives much praise from our customers each year. Its shape is well shown by the accompanying engraving. It is very symmetrical, with small tap root and but few fibrous roots. Unusually small tops. Although on some soils the Egyptian can be marketed a few days before the Market Gardeners, still within a week it will be found larger than the Egyptian, while it continues to grow until late in the fall, attaining a large size, and making a good eating and selling beet for winter. By the first of October they measure eight inches in diameter and average six pounds each in weight. One sowing only is necessary to produce early beets for market and main crop for winter use, which is not the case with any other variety. Color deep blood red; fine grained and unsurpassed in quality. Summing it all up, we find in it the best beet for early market, and the best beet for winter use. Owing to the small tops, permitting them to be grown close together, and the peculiar shape of the bulb, it is the most profitable beet for the market gardener and for the family garden of any we know of. Mr. E. S. Goff, of the Geneva Station says: It is a short, conical variety, of large size and quick growth. Wm. Henry Maule says: I consider it the best general purpose beet in cultivation. Per pkt. 10c, oz. 20c, 1/4 lb. 65c, lb. $2.00.

CROSBY'S IMPROVED EGYPTIAN.--We believe this to be the earliest variety in existence. It was originated by Josiah Crosby, a leading market gardener for the Boston market, and is a great improvement on the old Egyptian, being thicker, handsomer, and more regular in shape, smooth, with very small tops and small tap root. It is of perfect shape when small thus making a good beet for bunching, and is very popular with the Des Moines market gardeners for this purpose. Try it, and we know you will be pleased. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 40c, lb. $1.25.

EXTRA EARLY ECLIPSE.--Remarkable for its wonderfully rapid growth, the smallness of top, and extra fine quality and is about as early as the Egyptian. Roots smooth, round, intense blood-red skin and flesh, fine grained and sweet. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 65c.

[image] CROSBY'S IMPROVED EGYPTIAN.

CAULIFLOWER.
One ounce will produce about 3,000 plants.

This is acknowledged by all to be one of the most delicious of vegetables. Any soil that will grow cabbage will grow cauliflower, as their requirements are very similiar; but as the product is more valuable, extra manuring and preparation of the soil will be well repaid. Culture same as cabbage, except that they need a cool and mosit atmosphere and should be watered during dry weather. As the flower heads appear, the large leaves should be broken down over them to shield them from the sun and rain. Out stock of seed is the best obtainable. Don't fail to try it. These are the very best varieties.

HENDERSON'S EARLY SNOWBALL.--Throughout the country this is considered not only the earliest of all cauliflowers, but it is more certain to make a head than any other sort. Its dwarf habit and short outer leaves allow it to be planted as close as eighteen to twenty inches apart each way, thus making it especially valuable to market gardeners. Dr. E. L. Sturtevant says that this variety stands at the head in his test of the thirty-eight kinds, forming first head in ninety-seven days, and above the average in size. Our stock is extra choice and cannot be excelled. It is grown in the locality where this variety originated by a grower whom we believe to be the best in the world. Per pkt. 20c, 1/4 oz. 75c, oz. $2.50.

EXTRA EARLY DWARF ERFURT.--Valuable for forcing. A very popular variety in Europe and with eastern gardners. First quality. Per pkt. 15c, 1/4 oz. 60c, oz. $2.00.

EARLY PARIS.--Well known. Per pkt. 10c, oz. 50c.

LENORMAND'S.--There is considerable call in this market for a late variety of cauliflower, and in the Lenormand's we have just what is wanted. It is of large size and produces well formed heads of excellent quality. Per pkt. 10c, oz. 75c.

CAULIFLOWER PLANTS.--See list Vegetable Plants.

[text box] SIZE OF ORDER. Order just what you want, even if only a single packet. We believe, however, that if you look carefully through our list you will find many that you want. You can select either flower or vegetable seeds in packets amounting to $1.25 for only $1.

[image] HENDERSON'S EARLY SNOWBALL.

[image] DEWING'S IMPROVED.

EGYPTIAN TURNIP--Very deep red, tender and delicious. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.

DEWING'S IMPROVED BLOOD TURNIP.--An improvement on the old Early Blood Turnip. Shape is well shown by our illustration; deep blood-red color, fine form and flavor, desirable for main crop; good keeper. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.

BASTAIN'S EXTRA EARLY RED.--Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.

EXTRA LONG DARK BLOOD.--Standard winter; smooth, tender and sweet. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.

SWISS CHARD.--For greens only. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 25c, lb. 75c.

I intend to make an exhibit at our county fair this fall of the products of your seeds which are A 1 this year.

W. A. FOX.
Portage, Wis.