1903

34. SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.

[image] 95 TONS Green Fodder Per Acre 75¢ lb. Will Plant One Acre

HAVE YOU TRIED PENCILARIA? This question was asked everywhere during the past year at the state fairs, agricultural shows, farmer's institutes, and in fact wherever wide-awake, intelligent farmers congregated, and there has never been a plant which awakened such wide-spread interest. Those who had not tried it went to see their neighbors' fields and resolved that they would not be behind time another season. At the fairs there was no plant which caused one-half so much interest and wonder as Pencilaria, and the exhibitors were obliged to put in most of their time answering questions about it. Reports come from sections where corn was destroyed by hot winds, but Pencilaria lived through the drouth and gave three to seven cuttings of fodder during the season. In other places the ground was so wet that other crops proved a failure, but when not absolutely under water, Pencilaria held its own. In sections where the soil was too poor to grow corn, Pencilaria went right ahead and made a prodigeous [prodigious] growth, as it seems to exist largely from the atmosphere. The newspapers have been full of letters from farmers telling of their success, and while many editors discourage farm novelties, they could not contradict the wonderful reports about this new plant. Be sure and read description on page 47 and send for circular giving testimonials from all parts of the United States. Pkt. 10c, 1/4 lb. 25c, 1/2 lb. 40c, lb. 75c, by mail postpaid. By express or freight, 5 lbs. or more @ 50c per lb.

[image] MAKES 16 TONS OF HAY 25¢ PER 1/4 lb. WILL FEED 1 COW 6 MO.

While Pencilaria will grow in any soil, still it is better if the ground is fairly rich and thoroughly loosened. If the seed is planted too thickly in the drills or the rows too close together, it will not give as good results. It should have plenty of room to grow and it will then surprise everyone. Do not make the mistake of letting it grow up without cutting as it will grow more spindling and will not stool out as well nor make as many stalks.

GIANT HALF SUGAR MANGEL. After growing this three years on our trial grounds and testing its feeding qualities we find that it is far superior to any variety of either Mangel or Sugar Beet, that we know of. It is the result of a cross made in France between the Mammoth Red Mangel and Improved Sugar Beet, growing about as large as the mangel with the rich sugary sweetness and highly nutritive qualities of the sugar beet. Shape of root is shown by our illustration and it stands so well out of ground that it can almost be "kicked out" instead of plowing or digging. Color light rose, and quality extra fine. On our place this year it grew to a larger size than any of the mangels and was earlier in maturing. No one who has even one cow can afford to be without it if they wish a large amount of highly nutritive food at a low price. Costs less than 5 cents per bushel to grow and harvest. Per pkt. 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 20c, lb. 60c, postpaid. By express, 5 lbs. (will plant one acre) $2.00. Directions for growing, storing and feeding free to our customers.

IOWA SILVER MINE CORN. Beyond question the most productive corn ever introduced and has everywhere won highest honors in competition with every well known variety now on the market. If you have not tried the Iowa Silver Mine you cannot claim to be posted on what good corn is. There is no other variety of any color which has ever gained the popularity. We are the original introducers and it will pay you to purchase direct from us. See description on pages 28 and 29. Price per pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid. By freight per pk. 65c, bu. $2.00, 2 bu. or more @ $1.85, 5 bu. or more @ $1.75.

GOLDEN WEST CORN. For years we have been searching for a variety of corn with the bright golden yellow color and deep grain of the Iowa Gold Mine and the great yielding qualities of Iowa Silver Mine and we now offer this new variety as coming nearest to our ideal. Don't fail to read the description on pages 35 and 36 and be sure to try it. Per pkt. 5c, lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 75c, postpaid. By freight, peck 90c, bu. $3.00, 2 bu. or more @ $2.75, 5 bu. or more @ $2.60.

[image] GIANT HALF SUGAR MANGEL.

SPELTZ. This is without doubt the most valuable variety of grain which has been introduced for many years and we are glad to have been the first seedsmen to offer it in the United States. It has already added thousands of dollars to the value of northern lands and especially to the value of poor land which was not rich enough to grow a crop of wheat or other grain. It not only yields 70 to 100 bushels of grain per acre under favorable conditions, but it also produces several tons of straw which is of much feeding value. The grain is claimed to be richer than corn for feeding and of superior quality for fattening cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, etc. Sow 50 to 75 lbs. per acre according to strength of land. Per trial pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid. By freight, pk. 50c, bu. (40 lbs.) $1.25, 2 bu. or more @ $1.00, 5 bu. or more @ 90c. "I am well pleased with the Speltz purchased from you and all my neighbors want seed of it."--C. A. Pownder, Peterborough county, Ont. Emil Shuman, of Sherman county, Neb., says:--"It stooled out heavily; each kernel produced 28 to 45 sprouts and every sprout had a nice head averaging three inches in length. The straw was very stiff, and I do not think it will lodge even on rich soil, and is a heavy yielder." "The Speltz purchased from you does well in our climate, and for poultry food will beat all other grains. I believe it will do well in the south as a winter grain also."--L. L. Weisbrod, Cape Girardeau county, Mo. I have bought seeds from you for several years past and expect to continue to as long as I can get such good seeds as you have always sent me.--Harry Bassindale, Hageman [Hagerman], Idaho. The sugar beets, mangels, carrots, parsnips and other seeds purchased from you grew crops this year which took the blue ribbon at our fair. Your seeds simply can't be beaten either in quality or quantity.--Wilbur Bush, Mason, Mich.

They All Like It. We have received letters from persons in all parts of the United States praising Pencilaria. These are samples: WAY UP NORTH.--I have planted Pencilaria, and think it is wonderful the way it stools out, as there are over sixty stools from one root."--E. C. Officer, La Moure county, N. D. Your Pencilaria I think is the greatest fodder plant ever grown in Nebraska. I have counted seventy-five stalks from one seed, and it is about twelve feet high. I can conscentiously [conscientiously] recommend it to the farmers.--J. H. Fox, Cuming Co., Neb. WAY OUT WEST.--Owing to the unfavorable season Pencilaria grew only about six feet high; seed heads are nine to ten inches long and it produced twenty-five stalks to the seed.--M. A. Moon, Monterey county, California. DOWN EAST.--Your Pencilaria has excited the admiration and wonder of all who have seen it. It was planted with many doubts, worked indifferently, and raised under protest by my tenant, who believes in corn and don't like new fangled notions, and it is proper to state that in every respect it is equal to your representations and will prove a boon to our locality. My ancestors have farmed this place since 1675. The land is worn out for corn but grows Pencilaria luxuriantly. It would be impossible to over estimate the value of this new plant.--Joseph M. Worthington, Anne Arundel county, Maryland. WAY DOWN SOUTH.--The Pencilaria is all that you describe it to be, producing well, and was relished by the cows amazingly.--Mrs. P. DeMere, Union Co., Fla. T. M. Dodd, De Witt county, Texas, says:--"I have grown Pencilaria two years and am convinced that it will produce more food to the acre than anything I have ever seen or tried. The cattle will quit cane at any time to eat Pencilaria and it produces three or four crops per year and 40 to 50 stalks from each seed." I have noticed some statements that your Pencilaria is like the old Pearl Millet, but the latter is positively a failure here, while Pencilaria stands green and thrifty as though regularly watered. Prof. Budd, one of the best posted horticulturalists in the United States induced us to plant it.--Chas. N. Knight, Bexar county, Texas. Aug. 25.--I planted about one-half acre of your Pencilaria this year and in spite of the fact that we have had the most extreme drouth in south west Texas that has been known for years, and practically no rain since May, Pencilaria attained a height of 10 to 12 feet and remained green and grew when cane withered and died, and now at the end of four months of the hottert [hottest], driest weather any one ever saw, it still continues to grow, and it is so green that it is almost black. I usually plant 200 to 300 acres of cane, but I honestly believe I can get better food and more food from fifty acres of Pencilaria than I could from 500 acres of cane. I think in five years it will be the main feed raised here.--W. E. Miller, Bee county, Texas. Sept. 11--Your Pencilaria is a first class forage plant and superior to Teosinte, besides being valuable for its seed.--Jno. J. Delchamps, Mobile county, Alabama. I believe Pencilaria is the thing to plant for forage in southern Illinois. I planted seven different kinds of forage plants last spring, and Pencilaria is the only one I shall plant the coming season.--J. M. Dashiell, Macon county, Illinois. I am well pleased with the Pencilaria received from you last spring and my horses, cows and pigs were also.--Willis Jackman, Montgomery County, Indiana. I planted Pencilaria on clayey soil and it made a grand crop twelve feet high. I cut it twice during the season. It will "fill the bill," especially for cows.--Geo. T. Tosh, Westmoreland county, Pa. Your Pencilaria is truly wonderful in spite of the extreme heat. I think that it would more than double the yield of any fodder plant I know of.--J. M. Lyons, Story county, Iowa. Your Pencilaria is a fine fodder plant for cows, horses and hogs. In spite of the cold, wet season here it produced 32 to 38 stalks to each plant.--French Nichols, Whitman county, Wash. The Pencilaria received from you has proved to be a good fodder plant in this section of the country. I expect to put in a large quantity of it another season.--A. U. Craven, Van Buren county, Mich.

SEE COLORED PLATE ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS SHEET FOR ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ABOVE NOVELTIES.

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 35.

GOLDEN WEST. THE past ten years have brought out many varieties of corn and we have tested hundreds of varieties on our farm but none answered every requirement. The one which nearest approached perfection was the Golden West, which is a new variety originated in eastern Iowa by one of the most practical seed corn specialists in the United States. We have watched it during the two very trying years just past, not only on our own place but also thoroughly examined the crop grown by the originator and on the only other farm on which it has ever been grown, so that we are now satisfied that it is The Best Yellow Corn Ever Offered.

For six or seven years past we have been searching for a variety of corn which had the characteristics of the Iowa Gold Mine as to depth of grain and color, but which produced a larger ear and would yield a better crop. We have also been at work trying to produce such a variety on our own place, but it is difficult to breed it up in such a way that it will hold these valuable characteristics. The New Golden West comes the nearest to our ideal and we have decided that it is far superior to any yellow corn now on the market. The stalk and manner of earing greatly resemble the Iowa Silver Mine, the ears averaging fully as large or larger and the grain is much more solid on the cob. It is a variety that no one can fail to be pleased with. DESCRIPTION. Golden West is one of the most vigorous growing varieties that we know of. The stalk is of medium height, not as tall as Legal Tender, but very much thicker at the ground, short jointed and has broad leaves which help to mature the large crop of corn which it produces. It is the deepest rooted corn that we know of and therefore not easily injured by hard wind storms nor are the roots so near the surface as to be broken off and the vitality of the plant sapped and weakened in cultivating the crop. The ears have usually eighteen to twenty rows a little larger size than Legal Tender in an ordinary season. It is the most attractive appearing golden yellow corn that we know of, just as the Silver Mine is the most attractive and best white corn. There are many ears which measure eleven inches in length and weigh one and one-half pounds containing 1200 to 1500 grains to the ear. The kernels are of such shape that they wedge in tightly and make a solid ear, not only at the cap but also down near the point or germ end (see cut of ear section). This is a characteristic which is overlooked by many corn breeders, thus causing ears of ordinary varieties, which appear solid, to be of light weight. The germ contains more nutriment than any other part of the kernel and it should be plump and well filled out to insure [ensure] good feeding value as well as vigorous plant growth.

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The ear is solid, nearly uniform in size throughout its entire length, but gradually tapering off to a blunt oval tip. The ear shank is of medium length, strong but not large; cob comparatively small and of such nature that it dries out rapidly thus insuring [ensuring] a well matured crop, even during unfavorable seasons. It matures in about 100 days, thus making it a safe corn to plant and we claim that it will yield a larger crop than any other yellow corn in existence. The breeder of this corn has been working on essential principles for many years, and instead of simply crossing two good varieties, he has made his cross from several varieties and selected so as to combine the best characteristics of each with an ideal in his mind which he was working towards. Instead of having simply surface roots like other northern varieties, he has bred to obtain a deep rooted sort which would obtain its nutriment from the sub-soil as well as having plenty of surface roots. In this way he has secured a better leaf structure for the plant which enables it to stand long seasons of drouth, hot weather and strong winds. By working with his first cross to obtain plants with unusual heavy leafage and roots, he has been enabled to build this new variety on a foundation of perfect health and vigor. It is sure to become the leading corn for this latitude and will rapidly win the confidence of all corn growers. Thousands of farmers made money buying our Iowa Gold Mine and Iowa Silver Mine corn when they were first introduced and selling the seed to their neighbors the following season. It will pay you to follow this plan and send in your order early, as the supply is limited. Remember that a bushel plants seven or eight acres, therefore it will cost you only about 35 cents per acre for the seed. PRICE. Per pkt. 5c, lb. 30c, 3 lbs. 75c, 7 lbs. (will plant one acre) for $1.25, charges prepaid to any part of the United States. By freight, per peck, 90c; bushel, $3.00; 2 bushels or more @ $2.75; 5 bushels or more @ $2.60. Your Golden West is by far the best corn ever grown in this locality, and fully equal in yield to the Iowa Silver Mine. Part of my land was flooded this year and badly washed by the river, but owing to the Golden West being so deeply rooted it stood up very much better than either of the other varieties which I grew or any other sorts in this locality. It yielded a grand crop of good, sound corn in spite of the unfavorable season.--G. W. Pfeifer.

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36. SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.

[image] S. S. BARR, ORIGINATOR GOLDEN WEST.

WHAT THE ORIGINATOR SAYS: The Golden West Corn originated on the farm of Mr. S. S. Barr in Eastern Iowa, who has made a life study of the corn plant from a scientific standpoint, as well as working out his theories in a practical manner on his own farm. In response to a letter in which we asked him to give, in his own language, full particulars regarding this new variety, he replies: IOWA SEED CO., DES MOINES, IOWA. GENTLEMEN:--I hand you a photo of the new yellow corn, the result of many years of careful intelligent breeding, conducted on the only true method for the permanent improvement of types of corn. The stalk, leaf and manner of earing much resemble the Silver Mine, but the ears are larger. The stalk is thick at the ground, short-jointed, has very broad leaves and deep yellow ear, uniform in character. Grain is wide and thick, cobs red and velvety. The ears represented by the photograph are twenty-rowed, eleven inches long and 8 1/2 inches in circumference. The last two seasons have been extremes; 1901 excessively hot and dry, 1902, on the contrary, cold and wet. In other words, it gave us great extremes of climatic conditions, and any new variety that passed these two seasons more favorably than the old sorts has much to its credit. This, the Golden West did. It is characteristic of it to retain the leaf green after the ear is ripe and husk yellow. You ask for full particulars concerning this corn which I would gladly give, but to do so would require a very long communication. It would involve the whole theoretic, scientific, as well as the practical phase of plant improvement relating to corn, which, so far, has never been intelligently written or practiced, but only approached by wrongly assumed premises. Along such lines as indicated above I have worked in later years, after learning my methods by the failure of many former years, and by such methods I have produced this new variety. Perfection is not claimed, only that it is well and correctly founded, well established, and I believe, capable of adding millions to the wealth of the western farmers, over what, for the most part, they now plant. Vast treasures of soil, rain and sunlight are being annually wasted by trifling with varieties of corn not capable of utilizing them. To fill this want Golden West was planned. The Iowa Seed Co. and a few other men working alone and almost unappreciated, have done great good, but the work of improvement for lasting effect has just begun." Yours truly, S. S. BARR.

"And the maize field grew and ripened Till it stood in all the splendor Of its garments green and yellow, Of its tassels and its plumage, And the maize ears full and shining Gleamed from bursting sheaves of verdure." --Longfellow's Hiawatha.

IT PAYS TO Think JUST CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE. The corn crop of Iowa averages 300,000,000 bushels, worth $105,000,000. If our improved varieties were grown exclusively the crop would have been fully 20 per cent more and worth 10 per cent higher value, a difference of $33,600,000.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE whether in Maine or California, Canada or Mexico, it will pay you to plant Iowa Seed Co.'s Choice Seed Corn THIS YEAR.

[image] Notice Wide Leaves and Sturdy Growth.

CORN JUDGING. Most farmers think they know what good corn is but are unable to give the reasons why one ear of corn is positively superior to another. For the benefit of our customers we have prepared a short treatise on corn judging, including a score card and directions for its use. Fully illustrated. While a course in the Corn Judging School is the most desirable, still, few think they can afford the time or expense, and a little practice with our system will enable you to become fairly expert, and may be worth thousands of dollars to you. Ask for our Corn Judging Manual. Price 10 cents per copy, or we will send one free to anyone ordering seed corn from us this year, if they request it.

Meeker Smoothing Harrow. We value this more highly than any other implement of the kind. Ask for descriptive circular. It is specially desirable for small crops. Price $25.00.

WONDERS OF THE CORN CROP. Very few appreciate the possibilities of the corn crop and the difference between a big crop and the average. This difference is largely made from planting ordinary or pure bred seed corn. Let us start with just one kernel of corn and base our figures on the average crop of the prize winners in the great corn contest, 176 bushels per acre: 1st. year Plant 1 kernel Iowa Silver mine, produce 1 1/4 lbs. shelled corn. 2nd. [year Plant] 1-5 acre [Iowa Silver mine, produce] 35 bushels [shelled corn.] 3rd. [year Plant] 280 acres [Iowa Silver mine, produce] 49,280 [bushels shelled corn.] 4th. [year Plant] 394,240 [acres Iowa Silver mine, produce] 69,386,240 [bushels shelled corn.] or sufficient to fill the largest elevator in the world about 14 times, as a product in four years, from only one kernal [kernel] of Iowa Silver Mine.

As a comparison, take the average crop of the U. S., 29 bushels per acre: 1st. year. Plant 1 kernal [kernel] ordinary corn, produce 1/2 lb. shelled corn. 2nd. [year. Plant] 1-14 acre [ordinary corn, produce] 2 bushels [shelled corn.] 3rd. [year. Plant] 16 acres [ordinary corn, produce] 464 [bushels shelled corn.] 4th. [year. Plant] 3,712 [acres ordinary corn, produce] 107,648 [bushels shelled corn.] Thus at the end of only 4 years the Iowa Silver Mine has produced 644 times as much as ordinary corn. Do you wonder that some farmers get rich while others in the same locality barely make a living.

[image] Largest Elevator in the World. Capacity 5,000,000 bushels.

"OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IOWA AFFORDS THE BEST." OUR SEED CORN IS NO EXCEPTION.

IOWA SEED COMPANY, DES MOINES, IOWA. 37.

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IMPROVED WORLD'S FAIR CORN. We claim to be seed corn specialists and we annually supply more farmers with seed corn than any dealer in the world. Prominent farmers and agricultural writers have assured us that with the new varieties which we have introduced we are rapidly nearing perfection in the corn plant. We cannot wholly agree with them and we do not intend to stop our efforts in this direction, but farmers will find the Improved World's Fair which we are offering this season to be a long step in advance toward the aim we are striving at. It is a strong growing variety, maturing a large handsome ear in about 110 days, or ten days earlier than the Legal Tender. While there may be two or three other kinds that have outyielded it in experiments, yet it is a heavy cropper and for uniformity of grain, shape of ear, filling out of butts and tips, and solidity, there is perhaps no other that equals it. No variety of yellow corn, has been used so much for exhibition purposes, nor won more prizes. Any farmer who wishes to compete for premiums will find this a winner. It was the prize winner of both diploma and medal at the great World's Fair Exposition in Chicago, but since then has been greatly improved. Our stock seed came from the originator two years ago and our present crop is grown from seed selected from the crop of that stock. It is of excellent quality, being solid, heavy and of very strong vitality. The grain is so tight on the cob that in the process of drying sometimes rows will be forced out. This cut of the World's Fair Corn represents about the standard ear, which is as follows:--shape of ear nearly cylindrical; length 10 inches; circumference 7 1/4 inches. The kernel is firm, upright, and medium yellow in color, long wedge shape and slightly rough, 18 to 22 rows which are in pairs. Butt deeply rounded and compressed regular rows clear to the tip, shank small, cob red and of medium size, 88 per cent of corn to cob. Every wide-awake intelligent farmer will want to test this grand new sort and can well afford to do so, as it costs only about thirty cents per acre for seed. Any one will be well paid for growing this variety of corn. The beauty and uniformity of the ears in shape, color and completeness, is sure to please all corn growers. It is well adapted to this latitude and has ripened in 112 days at the Iowa Experiment Station. Pkt. 5c; lb. 25c; 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid. By freight or express, pk. 75c; bu. $2.50; 2 bu. at $2.35; 5 bu. at $2.25.

"CORN MURPHY." Almost every one has heard of the Hon. Chas. J. Murphy, who has done more to advance the growing of corn and its exportation to foreign countries, than any man who ever lived, and we are pleased to insert a copy of his photograph so as to introduce him to our readers. So popular is he in France, Belgium and Germany that thousands of bakeries there have been induced through his efforts to manufacture bread made largely of white corn meal and they call it "Murphy Bread." Through Mr. Murphy's efforts the exports of corn from the U. S. have risen to the astonishing total of 209,348,000 bushels. When Mr. Murphy was at our store he expressed himself as greatly pleased with our stock and manner of handling seed corn, and we have furnished him the seed of a great many varieties for testing in Europe. His present home is in Brussells [Brussels], Belgium, where the manager of this company visited him about a year ago. He considers our work of introducing varieties of corn which have added so greatly to the crop produced per acre, fully equal to his work of increasing the consumption of the corn crop.

Thirty Years Ago, When we began in the seed business, farmers would not buy seed corn. Every man saved his own seed, and it was considered the height of extravagance and folly to buy seed corn. In 1881 we introduced a new variety and those venturesome enough to try it were greatly pleased, but still the sale was very limited. In 1892 we originated and introduced the Iowa Gold Mine which sprang at once into prominence, as it was, and is yet the deepest grained as well as the smallest cobbed and purest yellow variety ever brought out. Since that time we have introduced Iowa Silver Mine, Early Longfellow Dent, Improved Early Mastodon, Lenocher's Homestead, Star Leaming, New Century Wonder, Profit, Farmers' Reliance and Improved World's Fair, which have all become very popular and are everywhere the best in their class. This year we introduce the new Golden West Corn.

IT PAYS TO PLANT GOOD SEED.

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FARMERS should bear in mind the great Louisiana Purchase Exposition which is to take place at St. Louis and grow some of our high bred varieties of corn for exhibition purposes there. The greatest contest for honors on corn ever known will be at this exposition. Who will carry off the honors?

The seed corn I bought of you last spring was the best investment I ever made. It produced fully double as much as that of my neighbors and it is of the finest quality.--W. C. McHenry, Crawford county, Iowa.

Use the Ramsey Corn Husker. See page 126 for Description.

38. SEED CATALOGUE AND GARDEN GUIDE.

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IOWA GOLD MINE. The deepest grained, purest yellow corn in existence.

IOWA GOLD MINE CORN. BEST VARIETY OF YELLOW CORN IN THE WORLD. Everyone who has tried it is enthusiastic in the praise of this splendid new variety which we introduced in 1892. Iowa is not called a gold mining state, but in this grand new variety farmers of this country will find a veritable mine of wealth. It has received the most cordial endorsement as the best and most profitable variety ever grown. It is early ripening, only a few days later than Pride of the North. Ears are not large, but of good size and symmetrical; color a bright golden yellow, as handsome as a twenty dollar gold coin just from the mint; grain is very deep, cob small, and therefore dries out very quickly as soon as ripe. Seventy pounds of ear corn makes 62 to 63 pounds of shelled corn, and in hauling to market it weighs out five bushels more to the wagon than common varieties in the same size wagon. We have shelled selected ears of this variety which produced 64 pounds of shelled corn and only 6 pounds of cobs to the bushel. This is an unparalleled record. It cannot be equaled by any other corn in the world. Thousands of our customers say that they consider it the ne plus ultra in corn; that it would be impossible to attain any nearer perfection. It matures perfectly, even in southern Minnesota. We can most confidently recommend it as the acme of perfection, and stake our reputation on its pleasing everyone who tries it. One carload lot of 400 bushels of Iowa Gold Mine corn was carefully weighed, and after shelling it was reweighed and there was just 456 bushels. Just think of it--a gain of 14 bushels to the 100. Remember, if you want pure Iowa Gold Mine Corn you must purchase it direct from us. If you purchase from your local dealer, insist on seeing that our label is in every bag, plainly marked IOWA SEED COMPANY. It will pay you to change your seed, and don't fail to at least see a sample of Iowa Gold Mine before buying elsewhere. Pkt. 5c, lb. 25c, 3 lbs. 60c, postpaid; by freight pk. 60c, bu. $2.00, 2 bu. or more @ $1.75 per bu., 10 bu. or more @ $1.50.

[image] GRAINS OF GOLD. We want to urge every farmer to send for A SAMPLE OF OUR IOWA GOLD MINE CORN Just as soon as he receives this catalogue. Don't be satisfied with old, worn-out, mixed varieties. Compare these grains of gold with the corn you are growing, and if you find this better, order a supply early.

WHAT PRACTICAL FARMERS SAY. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn yielded three times as much as any other variety. Think it is the best corn I have ever seen.--C. H. Shearer, McHenry county, Ill. Have just harvested the Iowa Gold Mine and it is a grand corn. Our farmer is enthusiastic over it. The type and color are perfect.--J. H. Beagley, Ford county, Ill. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn is the best I ever saw and it is well adapted to this climate.--S. F. Reynolds, Dane county, Wis. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn comes the nearest being all corn and no cob of any variety I ever grew.--H. F. Jacobs, Calhoun county, Iowa. I bought some Iowa Gold Mine Corn of you and it is the best corn I ever used in my life.--Ernest Bolko, Monroe Co., N. Y. I bought of you several bushels of Iowa Gold Mine Corn that has proven very satisfactory.--Harry D. Burress, Green [Greene] Co., Ill. I grew 480 bushels of your Iowa Gold Mine Corn on four acres last year. An average of 120 bushels to the acre.--W. W. Preston, Warren county, Iowa. Your Iowa Gold Mine was early, stood the drouth remarkably well and produced 500 bushels of good, sound corn. My neighbors, with as good, or better conditions, either failed entirely or had only soft corn. I never made a more profitable investment in my life.--F. H. Furneaux, Arapohoe [Arapahoe] county, Colo. The Iowa Gold Mine has done splendidly here in northwestern Iowa, and is now (Sept. 1) out of danger of frost. It is a yellow dent variety with large well formed ears, much larger and finer than our native corn in this part of the state.--P. R. Bailey, O'Brien county, Iowa. The ten bushels of Iowa Gold Mine corn purchased from you made a good stand and vigorous growth and has matured two weeks ahead of any other. We are now husking it and it far exceeds our expectation, the yield being decidedly larger than any other corn, and it is the brightest yellow color I ever saw.--O. E. Shonneman, Montgomery county, Iowa. I am glad I planted all my field with your seed corn this year. The Iowa Gold Mine surprises everyone here by its deep grain and small cob, and it shells out about six pounds to the bushel more than other sorts.--John W. Ernst, Floyd county, Iowa. It pays to buy seed corn from you as I have an excellent crop of both Iowa Silver Mine and Iowa Gold Mine.--Anton Karkosh, Tama Co., Iowa. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn I purchased of you last spring is the best yielder I ever planted.--O. E. Hughes, Butler Co., Iowa.

I received your sample package of Iowa Gold Mine Corn. I just had twenty-four stalks and there were sixty-four ears on them.--Oscar A. Adams, Fannin Co., Texas. I sent to you last year for four bushels of Iowa Gold Mine corn. It was first-class. My corn made a big crop and was all sound.--A. D. Mann, Kankakee Co., Ill. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn I got of you has done fine. Has been in ear two weeks ahead of other field corn.--H. G. Blackhall, Rice Co., Kan.

ORDER EARLY. LAST YEAR WE had an immense supply of Iowa Gold Mine, but it was exhausted long before the season was over and we were compelled to refuse many orders for it.

The Iowa Gold Mine Corn proved very satisfactory. It eared better than any other variety I have ever seen. The ears are better filled with deep grains of golden yellow corn, and I can say that it is more than it is claimed to be.--D. A. Rose, Washington, Co., Iowa. The Iowa Gold Mine Corn is a grand variety, and we were well pleased with it.--W. D. Ballantyne, Hamilton Co., Iowa. I think Iowa Gold Mine Corn the best of all, and am satisfied with it.--B. W. Fisher, Pike county, Mo.

IT COSTS ONLY 20 TO 30 CENTS PER ACRE TO PLANT OUR SEED CORN.