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M. KURTZWEIL, President.
M. L. PAGE, Vice-Preident.

ESTABLISHED 1871.
INCORPORATED 1889.

L. W. TERRY, Secretary.
CHAS. N. PAGE, Treas. and Mgr.

. . . . OFFICE OF . . . .

Iowa Seed Company,
613- 615 LOCUS STREET.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 1, 1896.

[image]
Our New Store - 44 x 122 feet.

HEARTY greetings and good wishes are hereby extended to our many friends and customers, and we thank you for your orders during the past year which was the most prosperous season that we have ever had. The number of orders and total cash
receipts were more than 40 per cent larger than the previous year. The demand for our CHOICE IOWA SEEDS is becoming more extended, and orders are now being received not only from all parts of the United States, but also from many foreign countries. We are not, however, catering to the trade of foreign countries, as it is our aim to offer nothing which is not fully adapted to culture here. In examining foreign catalogues it is interesting to note how much value and importance they attach to being "Seedsmen to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria," or to "His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales," or to "His Most August Majesty, Emperor William of Germany." With us, our highest ambition is to be known throughout the country as the
"Seedsmen to the American People."
By this we mean not only the native born Americans, but all residents of this country. Many of our most valued customers came from other lands, and, in fact, one of the proprietors of this company is of foreign birth, but he is now just as loyal as anyone to our beloved country.
We claim that the soil and climate of Iowa are especially adapted to the perfect growth and maturing of seed crops, and for a quarter of a century we have been located here and devoted much time and labor to testing, experimenting, selecting and improving our various choice strains of seed. If you think that our years of practical study of varieties suited to culture in this locality would be of benefit to you, we solicit your orders and will do our best to please you. With few exceptions all of our crops are good this year.
Our new store is as conveniently arranged a building as there is America for the seed business and orders can be filled with great rapidity, our mail during the busy season averaging 1,000 to 1,800 letters and postals per day. About five blocks away, located beside the railroad tracks is our warehouses, where large quantities of seed are stored and hauled to our city store as needed, no orders being filled from the warehouse except carload lots.
FARMERS.- It will pay every farmer to thoroughly examine our field seed department. This is a specialty with us and we believe that there is no seed firm in the country which gives more close attention to growing and handling farm seeds. We have many desirable new sorts, and it will pay you well to renew your seed corn, oats, etc., with better and more profitable varieties. Iowa grown seeds are the best.
Again thanking you for past favors, and respectfully soliciting a continuance of your
patronage, we remain,
Your friends,
IOWA SEED COMPANY.

[image. Medal with the inscription: IOWA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 1895. Awarded to Iowa Seed Co. Des Moines Best and Largest Exhibit of Field Garden and Flower Seeds.]
Medal awarded to us at the Iowa State Fair, 1895.

SUGGESTIONS TO CUSTOMERS.

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. 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 as cash.

SHIPPING.- There are five express companies and fifteen railroads centering 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 route, unless ordered otherwise, and we guarantee their safe arrival. Seeds sold by the peck or bushel, field seeds, potatoes, implements, and other heavy goods are sent by freight or express, purchaser paying charges.

TESTING.- All seeds are carefully tested, and nothing sent out which we do not believe to be good in every respect.

OUR PRICES.- Our constant aim is to make the highest quality the first consideration, and next to put our prices as low as good reliable seeds can be sold.

DISCOUNTS.- ON ALL ORDERS FOR SEEDS IN PACKETS the purchaser may select twenty-five cents' worth extra for each one dollar sent us. This refers only to seeds in packets, not in bulk. For other discounts see heading of the respective classes of goods. Each year we put up thousands of packets of seeds for free distribution among our customers, by adding liberally of them to orders. We will allow you a discount of ten cents per pound on vegetable seeds, such as are listed as prepaid, if you are willing to have them sent by express or freight at your expense.

SMALL ORDERS.- If you only want a single packet, do not hesitate to send for it. We take as much pains to fill small orders promptly and correctly as we do large ones. Orders for Flower Plants and Nursery Stock, however, must amount to at least fifty cents.

NEWSPAPERS.- Your choice of a year's subscription to either the Western Garden, Rural Northwest, Farm Journal (Phila.) or American Corn Journal to anyone ordering seeds to the amount of $1.00 or more and asking for it in place of other premium.

WHAT WE GUARENTEE.- That all money sent us for seed shall reach us if sent by registered letter, P. O. 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 that they have ordered articles which they have omitted, and blame us for not sending them.

NOTICE.- The importance of GOOD SEEDS cannot be overestimated, and we are certain that after a trial all our customers will agree that our seeds are the purest and best to be had. Still, when it is considered how many are the contingencies on which the success of any crop depends, our customers will readily see that it would be sheer folly for any one to warrant them to produce a perfect crop and we want it distinctly understood that while we exercise the greatest care to have all seeds pure and reliable, and also true to name, we do not give any warranty, express or implied. If the purchaser does not accept the seeds on these terms and conditions, they are to be returned at once, and money that has been paid for same will be refunded. No officer, agent or employee of this company is authorized to make any warranty whatsoever. However, we have so much confidence in our seeds 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 who guarantees seeds any further than this. Compare with other seed catalogues and you will find that we are right.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY.- As this book will probably go into the hands of many who are unacquainted with us, this question will naturally arise, and in answer to the same we refer you by permission to the Valley National Bank of this city, to the postmaster, or to any of the various express companies.

MARKET GARDENERS and others who buy VEGETABLE SEEDS IN BULK to the amount of $5.00 or more, are requested to send for our Market Gardeners' Price List. This list for market gardeners is intended only for large buyers, and is exclusively for those who order vegetable seeds alone by weight or measure amounting to $5.00 or over. Club orders which call for this amount of bulk seeds altogether are entitled to these prices.

WE ARE ALWAYS PLEASED TO RECEIVE SAMPLES OF ANY NEW, RARE OR SUPERIOR SEEDS YOU MAY SEND US FOR TRIAL.

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