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IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 59.

Novelties and Specialties for 1903.
"WHAT have you that is especially new and desirable this year?" is the first question asked us by many of our patrons, and last season we spent months searching through Europe and America for varieties which were not only new, but of decidedly superior merit, and the following pages on colored paper contain much which is of great value. Some of them are novelties and others are sorts of rather recent introduction, but of such superior qualities that we call special attention to them by giving them a place here. Each is faithfully described from careful observation. All are worthy and recommended by us. Aside from these, many desirable novelties will be found listed in various parts of the catalogue, as well as the standard sorts which every one wants for stand-bys. Notice the collection of novelties offered on cover and on the colored plates.

IOWA SEED CO'S MARKET GARDENER'S BEET.
This is undoubtedly one of the best novelties ever introduced, and it receives much praise from our customers each year. Its shape is well illustrated by the accompanying engraving. As will be noticed, 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 Egyptain [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, 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. Pkt. 10c; oz. 3[?]c; 1/4 lb. 85c.

COOPER'S MARKET KING BEET.
When in England last year we found this new variety growing on the place of Mr. Cooper, one of the largest growers and experimentors [experimenters] in that country and we were so much impressed with its value that we contracted at once for the seed. It is a half long variety and will therefore yield more bushels per acre than any round sort. The roots are very symetrical [symmetrical] and of fine dark red color and very solid. Flesh is also dark red, fine grained and of excellent quality. It is a quick grower and also one of the best keeping sorts. It may not be generally known, but a large part of the beet seed used in America is grown in England as their moist asmosphere [atmosphere] is well adapted to growing a fine quality of seed. We are sure this new variety will please every one and we most highly recommend it. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; 1/4 lb. 30c; lb. $1.00.

[image] MARKET GARDENERS' BEET

[image] GOLDEN NUGGET TOMATO.

GOLDEN NUGGET TOMATO.
When at the Royal Agricultural Show in England last year, our attention was especially attracted by this grand new variety; plants being on exhibition which were loaded with seventy to eighty fruits on each plant. The fruits are of the most beautiful golden yellow color, as round as a ball and about as large as a walnut. Flavor is exceptionally fine, and we have no doubt that they will prove a most desirable variety for eating from the hand or as a dessert fruit. They are a new sort, however, in England, and we were able to obtain only a small quantity of seed. We grew them the past summer both on our farm and at our trial grounds and were more than pleased with the result. Instead of yielding 70 to 80 fruits, they were loaded down with 150 to 200 of the most beautiful rich golden yellow fruits that you ean [can] imagine and the flavor is delicious. Dod't [Don't] fail to try them this season tf [if] you want something extra fine. Pkt. 10c; oz. 35c.

PHARAOH'S DREAM CORN.
"And Pharoah slept and dreamed and behold seven ears of corn came up, upon one stalk, rank and good."--Genesis 41:5.
The most productive and one of the finest varieties of sweet corn ever sent out. This new variety was bred by one of the best seed corn specialists in the country and it does not come from an accidental sport but was gradually worked up from a cross made of two well known varieties and selected for a number of years, until it has attained its present high value. Its peculiar manner of growth and earing are well shown by the accompanying illustration, and owing to the fact that it so frequently produces seven ears to the stalk, it has been aptly named "Pharaoh's Dream." Stalks which we have on exhibition in our store have attracted a great deal of attention and favorable comment. The corn begins earing almost from the bottom and produces quite long ear stalks from each leaf joint. The ears are of large size and still not overgrown, just right for table use and would be taken for Stowell's Evergreen in almest [almost] any market. It is of superior quality, well bred and will please the most particular. The corn is pure white, tender and of rich, delicate flavor, remaining a long time in edible condition. Instead of ears maturing all at once they form in succession and therefore make a constant supply throughout the season. The ear stalks are so long that it might well be called a branching variety, and it looks tree-like when growing. We have such a limited quantity of this corn that we at first thought that we would defer its introduction until another year so as to be able to offer it in quantity, but on further consideration we decided that our customers would prefer to test this grand novelty this season, ahd [and] we are therefore offering it in packets of ten seeds for ten cents. It is the greatest novelty in sweet corn that has ever been sent out and you should not fail to plant it this year. Produces better when only one or two grains are planted to each hill. Pkt. 10c.

OSAGE GEM MUSK MELON.
Outside like netted Gem, inside like Osage, it pleases the eye on sight and confirms that impression by its color and exquisite flavor when cut. This new hybrid of Osage and Netted Gem much resembles Paul Rose in size and inside salmon flesh, but in outside skin and netting it is exactly like the Oval Netted Gem with the best style of netting. It has two great advantages for the gardener. First it will sell for highest prices in any market where "Gems'' are popular, on the appearance as a first-class type of that variety. Second, it will please all customers who prefer salmon flesh. Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; 1/4 lb. 65c; lb. $2.00.

1903 Vegetable Novelty Collection.
Consists of one packet each of Golden Nugget Tomato, Market Gardeners' Beet, Scarlet Gem Radish, Market Gardeners' Parsley and Sunrise Sweet Corn; illustrated on back cover of this catalogue.
All for 25 Cents.

[image] PHARAOH'S DREAM

NOTICE THE ILLUSTRATION OF VEGETABLE NOVELTIES ON BACK COVER OF THIS BOOK.