24

22. Seed Catalogue And Garden Guide.

Selected Farm Seeds.

Our farm seeds are grown especially for seed, in the section best suited to their development and perfect maturity, are all carefully selected, thoroughly cleaned, of the best quality, and we sell at reasonable prices, which are subject to any important market changes. These prices are net and not subject to premium or discount which is offered on garden seeds.
Notice.--While we exercise the greatest care to have all seeds pure and reliable, we do not give any warranty expressed or implied. Samples sent for testing if desired.

Shipping.--In this department everything that is quoted by the packet or pound is sent by mail postpaid; all large quantities, unless noted, are sent by express or freight at expense of the purchaser. Prices named include bags, except on clover and grass seeds, and delivering to depot here.
It costs less than 25c an acre to use our carefully selected and tested seed corn.
Seed Corn.
Is it wise to risk doubtful corn when good seed is so cheap?

The varieties of field corn we offer are the best now in use. They were grown especially for seed purposes, and well matured, cured, carefully sorted by our seed corn experts, and shelled with great care. The value of the corn crop in Iowa alone would be increased two million dollars by an average increase of one bushel per acre, and it has been demonstrated that the crop can be fully doubled by planting some of our improved varieties. We are in the center of the best corn growing country of the world, where the soil and climate are peculiary [peculiarly] adapted to its culture, and now we can say without fear of contradiction, that for the season of 1898 we have the best supply of seed corn ever offered by any seed firm in the world.
The necessity of planting the very best varieties is plain, and it will not pay you to experiment with the many sorts which we have tried and found worthless, nor to purchase from unscrupulous dealers. We claim to have supplied more farmers with seed corn last year than any other seed firm in the world ever did before. Some dealers, last year, seeing the great success we had made in the seed corn trade, purchased common crib corn and sold it out untested and under fictitious names, and it made their customers a great amount of trouble. All our seed corn is very carefully tested, and none sent out that we are not certain will grow well under proper conditions. We do not warrant it, but we will mail samples for testing to prospective customers. If a large quantity is wanted, ask for prices. No extra charge for bags.

Iowa Silver Mine.
The Great $1,000.00 Corn--Yields 215 Bushels Per Acre.

The most marvelous variety of corn ever offered and one which will surprise everyone who plants it. If the farmers take hold of this as they should it will revolutionize the corn growing of the country. Just think of this wonderful yield, 215 bushels per acre with ordinary culture. We don't blame some practical farmers for looking incredulous when this is mentioned; we did not believe it ourselves until we had measured the ground and proved conclusively that the report was correct. The seed corn trade is our great specialty and we claim to be corn experts, and in the spring of 1895, when we first saw this corn, we purchased the entire stock for $1,000.00 cash. An offer of $10.00 per pound would not have induced us to sell all we had of it, as we wanted to save it for our customers. Our judgment was correct as proven by the past seasons crops which were the most marvelous ever grown. Just think of it! The average corn crop of the United States is only 28 bushels per acre, and there was more than seven times this amount of Iowa Silver Mine grown on one acre. Would you like to grow this kind of a crop? Plant Iowa Silver Mine corn, plant your whole farm to it. Adopt our new method of culture which will be sent free to every one ordering this variety of seed corn from us.

Origin.--Ten years ago in selecting over some unnamed white corn, one of the best seed corn experts in America found one ear which was of ideal shape, size and color. He planted it carefully in an isolated spot, and from the crop selected only one ear for planting the next season. He continued his careful selection of only the one best ear out of crops for five year s until the type was fully fixed. It has been kept very carefully and none of it has ever been allowed to leave the originator's place until we purchased it.

Description.--Stalk grows to a height of about seven or eight feet and sets the ears about three and one-half to four feet from the ground, just the right height for easy picking. One peculiarity we noticed in going over the field was that there were no barren stalks every one had an ear, many stalks had two good ears, and the originator says that that has been characteristic every year that he has grown it. It has not a large growth of fodder, having been bred essentially for grain, though it has plenty of blades to support the growth and it is well rooted as any corn grown. The type is very even, so unusually so that in selecting exhibition ears for the fair in the field he could take the ears as he came to them with very few exceptions. Ears measuring from ten to twelve inches in length and weighing one and one-half pounds are not uncommon. The ears are very uniform in size and shape, with sixteen to twenty straight rows (usually eighteen rows) of deep, pure white kernals [kernels] set on a small white cob, and the ears are well filled out over the tip. It is early, matured last year in less than ninety-five days, and has never been caught by the frost. The cob dries out rapidly so that it is ready for market earlier than any white field corn in existence, fully two weeks earlier than Champion White Pearl. We claim that it is the only strictly pure white corn now on the market. In its yield it will surpass all other varieties of any color. Seventy pounds of corn in the ear will make sixty-two pounds shelled. It is adapted to a wider range of soil and climate than any corn ever offered. From Minnesota to Florida, from Massachusetts to California, it will yield a paying crop where other varieties are grown at a loss. It is in every way a distinct type of corn, and possesses many of the characteristics which have made the Iowa Gold Mine so popular, while the ear is larger.
We stake our reputation upon this corn giving excellent and entire satisfaction and that it is an entirely new origination and not an old sort under a new name. It is hardy, a great drouth resister and summing it all up the best corn ever introduced. The acme of perfection, unsurpassed and unsurpassable. The largest ear 100-day corn in existence. We challenge competitions. Don't fail to try it. See testimonials on next page.

Its Prize Record. The Iowa Silver Mine corn was exhibited at one fair (Illinois) where in 1893 it took first prize as a white corn, and in 1894 ten of the largest ears took first prize, ten of the smaller ears took second prize. Afterwards the same ten large ears took sweepstakes over all other varieties both white and yellow making a total of $95.00 in prizes taken at one fair by twenty ears of the Iowa Silver Mine Corn. It captured the big prize offered by us in 1896 for the largest crop against all other kinds of any color yielding 215 bushels. It took first premium of $200.00, offered by the state of Illinois last year, for largest yield per acre (166 bushels) over all other varieties of any color, with keenest kind of competition. At Illinois State Fair in 1897, took first premium for best bushel of corn, any color or sort; first for best white corn in state, and grand sweepstakes for the best corn of any color, competition open to the world. It took our prize last year with a crop of 197 bushels per acre in ear, or 212 bushels shelled corn.

Now for 1898.
To every one who orders Iowa Silver Mine seed corn from us we will send free--full information as to how 215 bushels of corn were grown on one acre and instructions so that you can do as well. There is money in farming if you only know how. Don't be a snail; be progressive; adopt new methods and use good seed. Figure out what your profit would be if your crop was that large. It will pay you to plant your entire field with this variety. You could pay off your mortgage in one year. Get your neighbors to order with you.

Warning. If you want pure Iowa Silver Mine corn it must be purchased direct from us as we have not furnished a bushel to any other seed firm in the United States this year. Last year one seedsman sent out ordinary white corn under this name, and another seedsman purchased a crop which was grown for us, but which we had condemned as unfit for our trade. Cost of our pure seed is almost nothing (only about 25c per acre). One bushel per acre added to your crop will pay for it, and you can't afford to use doubtful seed.

Order Early--Sure To Be A Great Demand.
Price, Postpaid or by Express Prepaid.--Per 2-oz. pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, 7 lbs. (will plant an acre) $1.00. Specimen ears, 25c each.
Price, by Freight or Express, Purchaser Paying Charges.--1/2 pk. 50c, pk. 75c, bushel $2.00, 2 bushels or more @ $1.75, 10 bushels $15.00.

[Image: Drawing/Scratchboard illustration of a single ear of corn with a small area that has three rows of kernels shelled away.]