3

1865

1917
Fifty two Years Successful
Business!
Des Maines. Iowa. January. 1911
Greeting to Our Customers

Our sincerest gratitude to our friends and customers can only be extended on this printed page. It seems but poor
return for the many kind words of commendation and the generous patronage so freely given. We are very pround of
the evidences of your friendship and it is a source of great satisfaction to note increasing confidence in our house and
our CHOICE IOWA SEEDS. We want your patronage and will labor unceasingly to serve you in a satisfactory manner.
It is a real pleasure to keep our friends and it is very gratifying to know that we please you with service and stocks
supplied. We intend by careful and conservative of our business to maintain our leadership and our place in
the trad as
"SEEDSMEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE"

[left column]
OUR GUARANTEE
In trading by mail you have to buy
seeds without seeing them. We protect
you in this, however, because if
any seeds from us are not satisafctory
upon arival and inspection, return
them to us and we will refuad the
money you paid for them. With this
agreement you can purchase your
seeds of us in every confidence and
just as well as though you traded over
our counters. You are sole judge: all
we require is that they shalt be sent
back to us within fifteen days from
date of recipt by you. This applies to
garden, farm and flower seeds. We
cannot guarantee a crop, but we can
and do guarantee to take seeds back
that you yourself are not pleased with.
The fifteen days will give you ample
time to test them in any way you
want. It will give you time to send
samples for inspection, analysis or
test to the State Seed Inspector or to
the Agricultural Experiment Station.
Our stocks will stand the closest scrutiny
and we are ready to be judged
accordingly. You will readily see that
we could not make this offer unless
our stocks were first class and would
give satisfaction to the purchaser.

[image] Retail Store and Office Building

TO OUR NEW FRIENDS
Each year this catalogue goes to a
great number of prospective buyers
who have never traded with us and
are not acquainted with our stocks or
methods. To such we desire to say
just a few words of sollcitation. This
book is compiled with great care that
it may be a help to you in your gardening
and farming operations. Both
text and illustarations are truthful in
detail, and it will be found a real
guide to better farms and better gardens.
Read the catalogue carefully,
weigh all the statements and send us a
trial order. We will gladly leave in
your hands the question of future and
continued patronage. Each year our
friends increase in number, and this
increase comes because those who give
us trial orders become firm friends and
continuous patrons. We sell the best
possible stocks at the lowest prices
consistent with profitable merchandizing.
Price, however must be second
to quality. You do not want poor
seeds at any price. We affirm without
qualifacation that our prices are as
low as quality supplied will justify.
We want your trade on a strictly business
basis and will give value recived
in quality seeds for money sent us.

SUGGESTIONS TO CUSTOMERS
Our constant aim is to make the highest quality the first consideration, and next to put our prices as low as good seed can be sold.

[bottom left column]
Order Early: The best time to order is just as soon as you receive
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 convenient
for us in filling orders. You will note there are two order sheets enclosed;
one for seeds, tools and miscellaneous goods, and the other for
plants, bulbs and nursery stock. If you will use them as iutended. it
will greatly facilitate the execution of your orders. Terms are invariably
cash with order, as we keep no book accounts in our mail order departnient,
and the expense of sending goods C. O. D. is quite large. Postage
stamps received the same as cash.
Shipping: There are five express companies and fifteen railroaed lines
at Des Moines, so that quick shipments can be made to any
town in the United States.
Charges Prepaid: All Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Bulbs and Plants,
express by the quickest and most direct routes, unless ordered otherwise
, and we guarautee the safe arrival. Seeds sold by the peek or
bushel. Field Seeds. Potatoes. Implements and other heavy goods are
sent by freight or express, customers paying charges. Remember seeds
go at special rates by express.
Seeds by Mail: Seeds plants and bulbs may be sent by Parcel Post.
The table of rates, page 2, gives amount of postage
required on quantities over I pound. Miscellaneous merchandise may
go by Parcel Post, and mailling wight is given on items of this kind.
Delivery: The point of delivery of all goods is on cars at Des Moines.
When we quote a delivery price is means simply that we
prepay the freight, express charges or pstage.
Many of our farmer customers live at railroad stations where there are
no agents. In such cases we must request them to send sufficient money
to prepay freights 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 transportation will nearly or quite equal the value of the goods.
Discounts: we have this year made the prices in this catalogue as low
as our high grade seeds can be sold, and we can give no
discounts. In ordering seeds in bulk you may deduct ten cents per pound
on vegetable seeds, such as are listed prepaid, if you are willing to have
them sent by express or freight at your expense.
Premiums: Each year we put up thousands of packets of new or particularly
desirable varieties of seeds for free distibution
to our customers. We will send these out with the seeds ordered by you
and will treat you liberally in this respect. We shall also try to please
our plant customers by adding something to their order when shipping it.

[bottom right column]
Our Responsibility: As this book will probably go into the hands
of some who are unacquainted with us, this
question will naturally arise, and in answer to same we refer you, by
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,
post office or express money order or bank draft, made payable to our
order. That your order will be filled promptly and well. That goods
ordered will reach you safely. Keep a copy of your order. Sometimes
persons think they have ordered articles which they have omitted, and
blame us for not sending them.
About Warranting: We thoroughly test all our seeds and nothing
is sent out which we do not beileve to 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 besheer folly for anyone to warrant
seeds to produce a perfect crop, and we want it plainly understood that
while we exercise great care to have all seeds pure and reliable, and
also true to name, we do not give any warranty express or implied as to
description quality productiveness or any other matter of any seeds,
bulbs or plants we send out and we will not be in any way responsible
for the crop. If the purchaser does 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 employe of this
company is authorized to make any warranty whatsoever. However
we have so much confidence in our seeds that we herby 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
seed firm in the world which guarantees seeds any further than this.
Compare with other seed catalogues and you will see 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 their list of seeds wanted to us and let us make special quotations.
Plant Orders: Orders for plants will be filled as early in the spring
as we consider it safe to send them. If ordered for immediate
shipment in severe weather they will be sent at purchaser's risk.
Small Orders: We take pains to fill orders promptly and correctly
no matter if only for but one packet of seeds, but we
request that plant orders amount to at least 25 cents, and nursery stock
to at least 50 cents, as otherwise they are filled at a loss to us.

IF YOU ONCE PURCHASE VEGTABLE SEEDS OF US YOU WILL CONTINUE A PATRON THE QUALITY INVITES CONFIDENCE.