1909

1865 1909 Forty -Four Years Successful Business! Des Moines.lowa. January. 1909 To Our Customers: Again we present you our annual messenger, and offer our best wishes for your welfare. We should like very much to meet all our customers face to face. Of course that is impossible, but we ask you to give our catalogue consideration as we have endeavored to talk to you through it in exactly the same manner as if you were just across the counter. We owe our customers our sincerest thanks tor their patronage and increasin confidence, which is so clearly shown by the constantly growing numbers ' who purchase our Choice Iowa Seeds. We have through the patronage so generously given, been able to continually enlarge our business and have been compelled to increase the size of our catalogue. in order to properly present to our friends the immense stock which we carry. We now offer you one of the most complete lines to be found in a similar establishment anywhere in the world, but the title which we covet and for which we shall constantly strive, is the one so often given us;

"SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE." By this we mean not only native born Americans, but all residents of this conntry,

We do not expect that all our customers will be interested in all the departments of our business, but we feel su re that everyone of the 300.000 to whom this catalogue shall come can find many things between its covers suitable to their needs. To the stranger we wish to say; We want your trade; aud are willing to devote time and effort to please so that we may retain your patronage, as the particular pride of the house is the long list of continuous patron~ some of . whom have been with us for over thirty years. To our old customers it will only be necessary to say that we shall continue to give the same detailed care to every transaction that has made us so successful in the past. We have the same people, the same carefully raised stocks, and one more year of experience to guide us, and all are at your service.

IOWA SEED COMPANY

WHO WE ARE.

WHY WE THANK OUR CUSTOMERS.

Our customers may desire to know with whom they are dealing and we present below a list of the headB of departments. CHAS N. PAGE. General Manager. M. KURTZWEIL, Supt. Mall Order Dept. J N. ALBRIGH'r, Cashier GEO. C BAKER. Mgr. AdvertiSing Dept. G EO. L. KURTZWElL. Supt. Corn House. C. W . DAVISON, Supt. Greenhouse. M. MITCHELL, Chief Field Seeds Dept. ' EDW. GOFFIN, Wholesale Dept, E. T. PIERCE. Chief Correspondence. J. G. ELDER, Supt City Sales Dept, S. M. EARLY. Supt. Bird Dept. J. D. BOTTENFIELD, Supt Printing Dept. M. A. PARK. Supt. Shipping Dept. F L. RILEY, Cut Flower Dept. and about 150 others.

ONE MORNINC MAIL IN FEBRUARY, 1908. 7162 LETTERS AND POSTAL CARDS ALONE.

SUGGESTIONS TO CUSTOMERS. ORDER EARLY.-The best time to order is just as soon as you recieve 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 cOI>venleI\t for us In fiJl1ng orders. You will note there are two order sheets encIOl~ed: one for seeds, tools, and miscellaneous goods, and the other for plants. bulbs and nursery stock. If you w1ll use them as Intended. It will greatly facilitate the execution of your · orders., Terms are invariably cash with order, as we keep no .book accounts in our mall order department, and the expense of sending goods C. 0 D.ls quite large. Postage stamps received as cash. SHIPPING.-There are five express companies and fifteen railroad lines at Des Moines, so that quick shipmentB can be nfade to any ~own in the United States CHARGES PREPAID. - All Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Bulbs and Plants. except those noted. are sent prepa ,d by mail or express ,by the quickest and mo itdirect routes unless ordered otherwise. and we guarantee the safe arrival. Seeds sold by tbe peck or bushel. field seeds, potatoes, Implements and other heavy goods are sent by freight OP express. customers paying charges. Remember seeds go at special rates by express. DELIVERY.-The pOint of delivery of. all goods Is on cars at Des Mol,nes. When we quote a delivery prIce it means simply that we prepay the freight, express charges or postage. Many of our farmer customers live at Ral1road Stattons where there are no agents, In such cases we must request theul to send . sufficient mpney to prepay freight charges on heavy shipments; also In cases where perishable or other goods are ordered to be sent by freight or express to such great distances that cost of transportatlon will nearly or quite equal the value of goods. . DISCOUNTS.-We have this year made the prices in this catalogue as low as our high grade seed can be sold, and we can give no premIums or discounts except that we will sell $1.2" worth of vegetable or flower seeds In packets only for $1.00. This refers only to seeds In packets, not In I bulk. Thi. discount do ~s not apply to Collections of any kind nor other sp~­ claloffers. In bnlk you m'lY deduct 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. PLANT ORDERS.-0rders for plants wi1J be filled as early in the spring "" we consider It safe to send them. If ordered for Immediate shipment in ~evere weather they wHI be sent, at purchaser'S risk. Our constant aim I~ to ma'1:e the hl<rhest quality the first conSideration, and next to pn: our prices as low as good seed can be Bold

OUR RE~PONSIBILITY.-As this book will probably go Into the hands of some who are unacquainted with us, this question will naturally aris~. and in answer to same we refer you, by permission, to the Century Savlngs Bank, of this city, to the postmaster, or to any express company. WHAT WE GUARANTEE.-That all money sent to us for seed shall reach us if sent uS by registered letter, P. O. or express money order. or bank draft, made payable to our order. Thatyqur orders wiJI be filled promplty and well. That goods ordered will reach you safely. Ke.p a copy of your order. Sometimes persons think they have ordered articles which they have omitted, and blame us for not sending them. ABOUT W ARRANTING.-We thoroughly test all our seeds and nothing Is sent out which wedo not believe tv be good in every respect. When It Is considered how many are the contingencies On which the success of any crop depends, such as sowing too deep or too shallow, too wet or dry, soil, unfavorable weather, insects, etc., our customers will readily see that it would be sheer folly for anyone to warrant them to p'roduce a per· feet crop. and we want it p!alnly understood that while we exercise great care to have all seeds pnre and reliable, and also true to name, we do not give any warrmty express or Implied. If the purchaser dops not accept the seeds on these terms and conditions, they are to be returned at once. and the 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 80 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 sepd firm In the world which guarantees Beeds any further than this. Compare with other seed catalogues and you wl11 find that we are right. MARKET GARDENERS and others who buy vegetable seeds in bulk to the amount of $5.00 or more, are requested to send forour Market Gardeners' Price List. Th\sllst for market gardeners Is Intended only for large buyers, and Is exclusively for those who order vegetable seeds ",lone by weight or measure amounting to $5.00 or over. Club orders which callfor this amoun t of bulk seeds altogether are entitled to these prices. PREM UMS.-Each year we put np thousands of packets of seeds for free distribution to our customers, and we will treat you liberally in this respect. We shall also try to please our plant customers by adding some thln<r to their order when shlpplug It. SMALL " RDERS .. -We take pains to fill orders promptly and correctly no matter If only for one pack"t of seeds but we request that plant orders amount to at lea.st 2f) cents !loud nursery stock to at least 50 cents. as otherwise they are filled at a loss to us.

ABOUT OURSELVES. The first question which comes to the mind of the prospective buyer of any seed h ouse is "are they reliable. " Almost everyone in Iowa who uses seeds knows the Iowa Seed Company and our Choice Iowa Seeds are sown in every neighborhood in the state. but as this catalogue goes to many in all parts of the world who have not dealt with us, a few words about our business may help us to become better acquainted. This business was established about forty years ago, and it has grown until now it occupies a permanent place in the seed trade of the country. The business has been under the same management many years past. the present manager having been connected with the company over thirty years. During all this time we have been constantly in close touch with the farmers and gardeners, and know what. will prove satis- factory in the various localities. With the manager are associated a force of men who have been with the house many years, ranging in terms of service from five to twenty years. With such a n organization the business is systematically divided so that in every department you get the benefit of expert personal supervision.

OUR ESTABLISHMENTS. This business has now reached such proportions and is so diversified that it is impossible to conduct it all under one roof, and the accompany- ang illustrations will help you appreciate our efforts in building up one of the most substantial business enterprises in the world today. THE IOWA SEED STORE is so'well known in Des Moines that it would be difflcult to find even a child in this city of 100,000 inhabitants who does not know its location. It occupies the large building at 613SEED CORN HOUSE.-The seed corn branch of our business hils con615 Locust street within three or four blocks of the postolllce. express offices and principal r ailroad passenger stations. The l arge store room tinued to grow every year and in order to handle it in the best manner is full of interest to everyone who has a farm or garoen. or who loves incr eased facilitIes were necessary. To meet this urgent need a nd provide flowers. H ere are located the offices and correspondence department. for future growth which was sure to come. we erected this building two During the bu sy season we receive 2.000 to 7.000 letters every d ay, and years ago on our seed farm at Altoona. We now have capacity for 25,000 it requires seventeen typewriters to answer' the correspondence. We busbels of "Seed corn. evel'y ear of which can be given the personal in speca re III ways glad to have our customers call and examine our stock and tlOn of an expert with the least possible cost of time and labor. It is truly a marvel of labor-saving convenience. manner of doing business. SEED FARMS.-It requires the seed crop from about 8.600 acres to 32 GREENHOUSES erected during th e past six years are devoted supply our trade and the farms are widely isolated so as to avoid any mix exclusively to growing plants for the mall order trade. and they contain a Some seeds cannot be grown to advantage here, and we contract greater variety of plants than any other greenhouse establishment in the tures. with practical seed growers elsewhere to grow for us. west. Hundreds of plant orders are filled daily during the busy season; small plant orders can be m ailed direct from the branch postolllce nearby. They are located convenient to the electric car line and fronting on -Cingman Bouleva rd. one of the finest driving streets in the city. Here In th, main bull<jlng at 613.{l15 Locust Street are located the retail seed we devote fully 12 acres to flowers. making the finest display to be found store (see view No. 1) where we have a local city trade amounting to In the west. thousands of dollars each year. Hore also is the cut !lower dept (see view No.5) where we have not only a THE WAREHOUSE on South Fifth street we have occupied for many years for storage purposes only. Large lots of seed which come la rge local trade in !lowers. designs and general flo ral work. but from in after h arvest are thorou ghly cleaned and then put away in this build- which we ship Immense quantities of these goods to customers a ll over the United States. and supply florists throughout the west with requiSites ing and h eld in r eadiness for the spring trade. MAIL ORDER BUILDING.--Our trade has Increased so constantly in their line. In rooms at the rear are located the Bird Department where h undreo s that we purchased the ground at 2OS-210-212 S. Eighth St. about six blocks from the store, and erected thereon a lar ge building specially of songsters and parrots. together with many odd and beautiful specimens arranged for our trade. The railway traclts beside the building give u s of feathered pets. are sold and shipped to every part of the country. Aquarium supplies and tanks containing hundreds of beautiful goldflsh excellent faclli ties for handlingcarloartlots. ano we are centrally located between the various freight depots; so tha t small shipments can be made !tre !tlso given space in this building. a nd this branch is constantly growpromptly. Our machinery Is operated by four electrio motors, and we rug to extent. The office system Is also here and comprise the followin g departments: claim that our mills for clea ning seed cannot be surpassed. We can readily fill 2.000 to 4.000 orders per day in this building, and they are General Manager. Cashier. Advertising Manager. Department of F arm handled in such a careful way that errors seldom occur. Most of our S eeds. Wholesale Department. Department of correspondence, Mailin g employes have been with us many years and appreciate the importance Department. Filing Department and Mail opening r oom: a ll of which are of each order no matter whether small or large. and no "green hands" under supervision of experienced chiefs with a complement of efficient assistants. (See view No. 3.) h andle seeds in bulk. At the mall order building is the Vegatable Seed Department. under the personal direction of the president of the company. We present a view of one section of the cases in this department (see view NO.4) showing why we can fill orders promptly. These cases are kept filled by a corps of persons continuously employed in weighing out and putting up seeds in proper amounts. In this building two !loors a re devoted to the farm seed departmen t. the superintendent' of which has occupied the same POsition for oyer 20 years. Here hundreds of car-loads are shippe(

OUR ORCANIZATION.

each season. and errors seldom occur. H ere also is the printing office where three presses are constantly turning out the necessary printed matter used in our extensi ve business. We give a picture of the p ackin g room at the greenhouses ( see view 2) though we can not include therein the whole int erior of this building. This department is under direction of a m ember of the firm. and we believe that for efficiency it excels any similar plant in the west. At our corn house another member of the firm prepares thousands of bushels of seed corn yearly for our customers.

\

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA 3

VEGETABLE SEEDS. Our stock of vegetable seeds we are sure cannot be excelled either in quality or selection by any firm in the country, as we watch our growing crops with great care, taking pains to isolate and keep pure and true to name. Every variety listed is desirable and has our recommendation. Our packets are, we believe, as well filled as any reliable seed dealer's in the United States, and, in fact"a comparison has shown that they contain more seed, on the average, than those of any other firm whose packets we have secured. We pay the postage at these prices, except on Beans, Peas and Corn at the peck or .bushel rates. We make it a rule to carefully test all seeds as soon as received from the grower, or as soon as they are brought in from our seed farms. We also carryon extensive trials on our grounds by which we are enSEED TESTING AND TRIALS ab!ed to offer only those strains of seeds which come Up to the standard of purity and excellence, and are of the highest vitality, and the result is that we rarely have complaints as our Choice Iowa Seeds are sure to please.

IOWA

S TAN DAR D VEe ETA B L E S.

VERY YEAR there are hundreds of customers large number of our customers, we have selected w . ho request us to Iselect for them varieti es \-~ '"' "<OW" " " . , . " ' " " " " . W, o.n.vo wm which wlll prove most satisfactory for genprove the most generally satisfactory for the fameral use, as they are unable to choose from t h e . h ily garden, and most of the kinds are also very descriptions in the catalogue, because all the va"1\ ' desirable for market gardeners. Every variety has rletits seem to be well recommended. It Is true our personal recommendation and some of them that we do not handle a single variety of v ege are kinds which we have been growing for years table which we cannot commend and each variety . past but have never, until last year, offered them has thousands of friends who think that it is the __ in our catalogue. We give each of the varieties best, but after much care in experimenting on our the name "Iowa Standard" and you cannot make own place as well as examining crops grown by a a mistake in ordering them.

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ARTICHOKE. This vegetable Is a great delicacy, highly valued in all parts of Europe, and a'so one of their most prominent table vegetables in California and other parts of this country. It Is a perennial producing the large flower heads, which are the part eate'n, the second season and every year thereafter. The young stalks are also sometimes tied and blanched like celery, but they are not equal to the fiower heads. Cook like asparagus and serve w it h cream or butter sauce. Sow seed early in hotbeds or box In the house, and when weather becomes settled transplant In rows four feet apart and two feet in the row. When started early sometimes blooms the first year. LARGE GREEN GLOBE.~The best variety for gene ral use; buds large; scales green; very thick, . fleshy. Pkt. 10c, oz. 30c, 'A, lb. $1-

ASPARAGUS. (One ounce will sow forty feet of drill.) LARGE GREEN GLOBB ARTICHOKE. For asparagus roots, see page 31. Asparagus Is so easily grown and such a large quantity Is produced On a small amount of ground that every garden should contain a bed. A b ed t en feet square requiring 50 plants will give an abundant supply for any ordinary family. Soak the seed 4 hours in tepid water; sow early in spring in rows a foot apart; kee p clean by frequent weeding and hoeing. Ask for circular giving instructions for making an asparagus bed. COLU~IBIAN ~IA~nl0TH WHITE.-A new and entirely distinct variety, that produces shoots which are white and stay white as long as fit for use. Is more robust and vigorous in habit, an!l. throws up larger shoots a.nd fully as many as Conover's Colossal, and requires nO earthing up In or(l.er to furnish the white shoots so much sought after. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 'A, lb. 25c, lb. 75c. PAL~IETTO.-Stalks frequently measure 2 inches in diameter, and even when 12 Inches long are perfectly tender when cooked. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, %lb. 15c, lb. 50c. CONOVER'S COLOSSA L.-The standard variety. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 'A, lb. -15c, lb. 50c. I

COLuMBIAN MAMM9TR ASPARA.GUS.

BRUSSELLS SPROUTS.

(One ounce will produce about 3,000 plants.) Of the cabbage family, producing numerou s heads on the stem, of most delicious quality, as w ell as cabbage-like head at the top. Use and cultivate the as winter cabbage. A IUERICAN ~lAM~10TH.-A n e w and greatly superior variety of American growth which forms heads r eady for picking about three w ee ks earlier than other varieti es. It makes stronger plants and more heads. A profitable crop for market gardeners. Pkt. 10c, oz. 30c, 'A, lb. $1.00. · ENGLISH.-Pkt. 5c, oz.15c, 'A, lb. 45c.

BORECOLE, or KALE. (One ounce will produce about 3,000 plants.) A hardi e r veg~ table than cabbage: ' excellent for greens " during winter and spring; splendid winter food for poulEXTRA CURLED MOSSBACK KALE. try. Cultivate lik e cabbage. EXTRA CURLED ~IOSBACK.~ most attractive variety ; fine crimped leaves, light green, admirable for garnishing. Best cooking. Pkt. 5c, oz. 15c, 'A, lb . 40c, lb. $1.25. DWARF GER~IAN GREEN, or Slberlun.-Popular. Pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, %lb. 20c, lb. 60c. THOUSAND HEADED.-Grown mainly for forage. See description in farm seed d epartme nt. BltUSSELS SPRO(JTS. Pkt. 5c, 'A, lb. 15c, lb. 50c.

fL~A~E VSE ~HE YELLOW ORDER SHEET FOR SEE])IlI: THE <;lREE~ 9N~ FOR ~LANTS? BULBS! ETC.