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Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa. 29.

Farm Seed Novelties.

[Left Column.]
Idaho Coffee Pea. (Cicer Arietinum.)
A grand novelty never before offered by any seed firm and is sure to be popular. The seed is very peculiar, unlike anything you ever saw, not at all resembling the Coffee Berry listed on page 27. It is a native of Idaho and has been grown in many of the western states. In Colorado last year it was grown largely as a substitute for coffee producing an immense crop at a cost of about 50 cents per 100 lbs. It is easily cultivated and one plant produces sometimes as high as 1,000 pods. When roasted and ground it makes an excellent substitute for coffee, having a good flavor, and it will make a profitable crop as soon as the seed becomes cheap enough so that it can be planted largely. The U. S. imports about $95,000,000 worth of coffee every year an amount well worth saving to our people. It is specially adapted to arid regions, apparently gathering sufficient moisture from the atmosphere. A small amount of seed is sufficient as it does best planted in rows three feet apart, dropping one pea every fifteen inches. It will grow almost anywhere, frost and wind seem to have little effect on it and it is said that insects do not bother it. Can be cooked like ordinary garden peas and tastes equally good. Also makes a very delicious soup. If cut green it makes an excellent fodder plant which is nourishing and fattening and it yields an immense fodder crop. Don't fail to try it this year even if you purchase only a small quantity. Per pkt. 10c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 40c, lb. $1.25 postpaid.

I raised a large crop of the Idaho Coffee Peas this year and have been experimenting in feeding them to stock, beginning when plants are small and continuing until crop is ripe. Everything eats them and my hogs which were fed on them are very fat. I intend to devote several acres to them.
H. T. Miller, Colorado.

F. Barteldes, of Kansas, says "The Idaho Coffee Pea yields 25 to 50 bushels per acre and when browned and ground we find it a most excellent substitute for coffee."

Dwarf Emerald Broom Corn.
(Novelty of 1897.) This splendid new variety which we introduced is the result of a cross between the Dwarf Evergreen and California Golden. It is the greatest advance which has been made for years past. The stalk is short, its one object seems to be to produce the long, perfect shaped brush in the shortest possible space or time so that it loses no time making tall stalks. The brush is long and straight, almost every pound being suitable for hurl, and of a handsome green color which never gets red. It is very productive, a large quantity can be grown to the acre and it will bring a high price. Per lb. 35c, 3 lbs. 75c, postpaid. By frgt. 10 lbs. $1.50, 25 lbs. $2.75, 100 lbs. $8.00.

[image] Dwarf Emerald

Spotted Drouth Resister Corn.
A novelty received from one of our customers last year which has proved to be a great yielder of good sized curiously colored ears. Desirable for dry sections. In packets only per pkt. 10c.

Negro Equality Corn.
A great curiosity in corn, sure to attract attention during the growing season from every passer-by. A white corn, but the cob, husk, stalk and leaves are dark red nearly black. Per pkt. 10c, lb. 50c.

[Center Column, top half of page]
[Image: Drawing of Coffee Pea plant, Caption-Idaho Coffee Peas.
[Text inside small box with decorative border]
What Our Postmaster Says.
Des Moines, Ia., Dec. 18, '97.
To whom it may concern:
I have known the proprietors of the Iowa Seed Co. for many years and can recommend them as trustworthy, energetic business men. They are shipping thousands of packages to all parts of the U. S., and we hear no complaint from their customers.
Respectfully,
Edw. H. Hunter, P. M.

[Right Column.]
New Era Cow Peas.
Another great novelty which has never before been offered and it will prove a boon to northern farmers. We made a trip last year through twelve of the southern states and found that everywhere they were planting cow peas and considered them one of their most profitable crops, as they yield immensely and are largely used as a green summer feed and also for planting in corn and other crops and plowing under as a fertilizer. All their varieties, however, are too late for the north, but after considerable inquiry we found a small lot of a new variety that had never been disseminated, producing about three crops per year in Georgia and maturing in 60 days from time of planting. It was tested in this latitude and in Minnesota and gave excellent results, producing well, and proved to be all right as to season of maturing. It has a speckled, bluish gray, rather small seed but the pods are long and well filled. Is of upright branching growth, and peculiar foliage. On the Georgia Experiment farm they produced over 12-1/2 tons of green fodder per acre and 41 bushels of hulled peas. They are a great soil invigorator, as like clover they take most of their substance from the air. Farmers should give them a trial and we are sure they will be pleased. Per pkt. 5c, 1/4 lb. 15c, lb. 50c, postpaid. By freight, pk. $1.00, bu. $4.00.

Every Farmer
In the United States from New England to California and from the Canadian line to the Gulf of Mexico should plant Iowa Silver Mine Corn this year. Notice testimonials. It succeeds everywhere. See pages 22 and 23. It is the best quality and largest yielding sort in the world.

[Image: Drawing of spilz plant head, Caption-Spiltz]
Spiltz.
A most wonderful new grain which we offered last year for the first time, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be the first to introduce a grain which, we believe, will prove of so much value. For centuries past it has been grown in a limited way in Eastern Russia near the Caspian Sea, its value not being known to the agriculturists of the civilized world. Seven years ago an emigrant from there brought some to this country and has been growing it since. A prosperous American farmer who lives near him secured sufficient seed from him to sow five acres three years ago and was surprised at the large crop. Last year again it produced a large crop yielding more than barley or oats. He says that under the same circumstances it will produce double as much as barley. He has been feeding the grain quite extensively, having no thought of offering it for seed, so that we could obtain only a small quantity. Our illustration which represents one head shows somewhat the shape of the grain which is intermediate between wheat and barley, the spikelets being separated from each other in such a manner that the crop is not readily injured by the weather. The chaff adheres to the grain when thrashed. We believe it will prove of much value for milling as well as for feeding. Will grow well and produce immense crops on poor soil, and the dry weather appears to have no effect on it. Botanically it is known as Triticum Spelta and is supposed to be the grain grown in Egypt in the time of Moses. We can only offer it in small quantities but it will pay farmers to test it this year. Per large pkt. 10c, lb. 40c, 3 lbs. $1.00, by mail, postpaid. By freight per pk. $1.00, bushel $3.00.