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Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa. 11.

[Left column.]
Musk Melon.
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 or 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 the cold, they should not be planted until the settled warm weather begins--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. You will be pleased with our melon seeds.

Iowa Mastodon--See Novelties. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 20c, 1/4 lb. 60c, lb. $2.00.
McCotters' Pride--See Novelties. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 20c, 1/4 lb. 60c, lb. $2.00.

Grand Rapids--The main characteristic of this melon is its extreme earliness. Grand Rapids is well known on account of its progressive market gardeners, and in that wide awake city the Grand Rapids melon has been on the market two weeks earlier than any other sort, and sold readily at $2.50 per dozen to hotels and fancy grocers, while melons grown in the south were practically unsalable. The flesh is pure yellow, clear to the rind; skin finely netted. To attain the best results, and to show its remarkable earliness and productiveness, we would advise our customers to pinch off the runners; while it has no tendency to run more than other varieties, at the same time by throwing the growth into fruit, it makes the fruit of larger size and earlier. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $1.00.
Perfected Delmonico.--This improved type of the Delmonico melon is almost a perfect globe in shape; the skin a peculiar grayish green until ripe, when it changes to a bright yellow. The melons average six inches in diameter, have a very small seed cavity, and are exceedingly thick and heavy for their size. The flesh is a deep, rich, orange yellow color, is of very fine grain and uniformly high quality. It is a strong, hardy grower and very prolific. We can recommend it either to the market gardener or amateur. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. 85c.
Banquet.--The flesh is dark, rich salmon color, uniformly thick and of that granulated character which always indicates a good melon. Of round shape, densely netted over its entire surface; very handsome. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 65c.
Montreal Market.--Uniformly of large size, averaging from 15 to 20 pounds in weight. Flesh very thick and fine flavor. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.
[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard illustration of a melon, one slice cut away, Caption-Osage Melon.

[Right Column.]
[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard illustration of two melons, one cut in half with a spoon in the hollow, Caption: Perfected Delmonico Musk Melon.]
[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard illustration of a melon, Caption- I. S. Co.'s Improved Green Nutmeg.]

Iowa Seed Co.'s Improved Green Nutmeg.--Everybody is delighted with our improved strain of this most excellent old kind. For many years we have been constantly selecting and improving the old Green Nutmeg melon, until now it is one of, if not the best musk melon in existence, and it cannot be surpassed in rich, delicious flavor. Fruit of a fair size, very rich, melting, and of exquisite flavor. Outside dark emerald green, flesh light green; more productive than any variety we know of. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $1.00.
Improved Early Hackensack.--Of large size, rich flavor, and withal is a great improvement on the Turk's Cap or Hackensack in that it is fully ten days earlier. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.
Osage.--The skin is thin, of dark green color, and slightly netted. The flesh is salmon color, remarkably sweet and spicy in flavor, extremely thick, and delicious to the rind. The seed cavity is very small. It is seldom that one of poor quality is found. The whole crop is very even and extra heavy, owing to the thickness of the meat. All lovers of fine melons should try the Osage. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.

Perfection, or Princess.--This splendid variety is nearly round, with heavily netted, dark green skin; the flesh is of a rich salmon color, and in flavor it is sweet and lucious [luscious] beyond description. They ripen early and grow to good size, often weighs 8 to 10 lbs. each. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.

Bay View.--This variety is one of the most prolific, best melons in cultivation. It has been grown to weigh from fifteen to twenty pounds and from fifteen to eighteen inches long. It is hardy, vigorous, and continues a long time in bearing. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.

Champion Market.--A superb variety. Almost a perfect globe in shape, and densely netted, making it one of the handsomest cantaloupes known. Flesh is thick, light green color, and rich, sweet flavor. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c.

Banana.--Attains a length of from eighteen inches to three feet three inches, and is from two to four inches thick. Flesh very thick, of a salmon color. It looks almost like an overgrown banana, and smells like one, hence the name. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 25c, lb. 75c.

Winter Pineapple.--Entirely distinct from any other variety. They have thick flesh with but a small seed cavity, almost solid. When ripe the outside skin is of rich yellow, intermingled with light green color, spicy, melting and delicious. They do not ripen on the vines like other musk melons, but have to be picked before hard frost and laid away in a cool, dry cellar, where they will keep sound and sweet for months. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $1.00.
Improved Cantaloupe.--Flesh of a light yellow color and delicious in flavor. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.
Emerald Gem.--This is one of the most delicious little melons we have ever eaten. The flesh is thick of a suffused salmon color, almost red, and ripens thoroughly to the extremely thin, green rind. It is peculiarly crystaline in appearance, juicy and rich. The flavor is sweet and lucious [luscious] beyond description. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 50c.
Mixed Musk Melons--All of the above and a few other kinds grown separately and the seed mixed together. An ounce of this will make you a nice melon patch, and produce melons throughout the season. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $1.00.