Historic, Archive Document
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MITCHELL, SOUTH: DAKOTA
Dakota Jmprourd Seed Cn.
Breeders and Growers of
PEDIGREED FARM AND GARDEN SEEDS
for the Northwest
Mitchell, South Dakota
JANUARY 1, 1908
GREETING
To our friends:—wWe take pleasure in placing in your hands this copy of our
first catalog. It doesn’t look much like other seed catalogs, does it? But we take
pride in it just the same. There are no flashy pictures or over- -colored covers—
just plaim photographs of a few of the good things we have to offer.
We are not only a new firm, but we are starting out with new ideals in the seed
business. We do not wish to talk about our honesty, for you know they say a man
who does that is the man to look out for. All we can do is to tell you about ourselves,
our seeds and our methods and leave it to you to find out whether you can depend
on us.
Our Mr. Wheeler, who has given up his work at the South Daxota Agricultural
College and Experiment Station to take charge of our business, is known to many of
you. You may have met him personally on seed trains or at farmers’ institutes, or
you may have read some of his bulletins giving the results of his work in plant-
breeding while in charge of the Highmore Experiment Station. You know him to be
an enthusiast on plant-breeding and seed-growing. This has been his life work and
he has had many years of experience in Minnesota and South Dakota in the breeding
of farm and garden crops. We believe him to be the right man in the right place
in the management of this company.
The first year our list of seeds is somewhat limited and our stocks are small.
We wish we had ten times as much seed of some things as we have, but what we
have is good and we put our guarantee back of it. When our supply is exhausted
we may be able to secure additional supplies from other reliable growers, but if not
we will simply have to write and tell you so and try to have a larger stock next year,
for we will not go into the highways and byways to get any old kind of seed to fill
our orders.
It has been fully demonstrated that the profitable yield of farm crops may be
greatly increased by using improved seeds. The time has arrived when the progress-
ive up-to-date farmer will use the same care and expense in obtaining the seed he
plants that he has been exercising in breeding live stock.
We have organized this company to meet this demand of the farmers of the
Dakotas and Minnesota and feel assured that it will be to the financial interest of
every person who plants corn, sows grain or grows vegetables to get in touch with
our methods.
We shall be pleased to receive your patronage, but wish you to write us any-
way, and if your order goes to some other seedsman, write to us and tell us why
you placed your order elsewhere and we will send you a packet or two of garden
seeds just to keep the other seeds company.
We are very grateful to our many friends for their encouragemcat and assistance
in organizing this company, and we hope that our work in breeding, growing and dis-
tributing the right seeds for the Northwest will repay you.
Very truly yours,
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY.
Directors
IsAAc LINCOLN L. R. ERSKINE, President A. A. TRUAX
A. E. HItcHcock J. T. Morrow, Vice President I, W. SEAMAN
l S. E. Morris, Treasurer
W. A. WHEELER, Secretary and Manager
_ (Late Botanist of the South Dakota
Agricultural College and Experimeut Station)
m
ORDER SHEET FOR
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY
: Plant Breeders and Seed Growers.
MITCHELL, ci! eae SOUTH DAKOTA
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Is Your Order Complete? Before mailing please note whether you have given
your name and address in full and also whether you have included all items you wish
in your order. To avoid misunderstandings please keep a copy of your order.
Postage Prepaid. In considering our prices please bear in mind that we prepay
the postage on seeds listed by the packet, ounce, fraction of an ounce, pint, third-
pint, pound, fourth-pound or quart, unless otherwise stated. At the prices quoted we
include all sacks, boxes, crates or baskets used for shipments, unless otherwise
specified.
Premium. On any order for seeds priced per packet, ounce, fraction of an ounce
or third-pint, to the amount of $1.00 or more, $1.25 worth of seeds may be selected
for each dollar sent with order.
How to Order. Cash must accompany order and should be in the form of a
money order, bank draft or as currency in a registered letter.
Our Standing. You run no risk in sending cash with order, for our financial
responsibility can be learned from any bank or similar institution in your community.
Pedigreed Varieties. As far as it is possible to do so we handle pedigreed vari-
eties of seeds. In the selling of pedigreed varieties of seéds the conditions are
somewhat similar to the selling of pedigreed breeds of live stock. One cannot go into
the open market and buy pedigreed varieties of seeds more than he can buy pedi-
greed breeds of live stock. The supply of both is always limited. When the stocks
of pedigreed varieties or breeds run out the sale is cut off. Some pedigreed varieties
have been distributed to a greater or less extent throughout portions of our territory.
Other varieties we are offering for the first time and have the only stock that is
obtainable anywhere and the earlier an order is placed the more likely it is to be
filled.
Regional Varieties. With some crops pedigreed varieties are still unknown on
the market. Such are clover, alfalfa and many others. Small amounts of pedigreed
varieties of such crops may be in the hands of experimenters or breeders, but none
are as yet offered for sale. With them the best that can be done under the present
conditions is to offer’ the best regional varieties. By “regional variety’? we mean one
that has been produced in a particular locality or one that has been grown in the
past in a locality for a sufficient length of time to acquire characteristics due to its
having been grown in such locality. With many of these, as with most pedigreed
varieties, the supply is limited and orders can be filled only so long as stock can be
secured. With a few exceptions all of our farm and field seeds are either pedigreed
or regional varieties and are grown within our territory. We offer them for sale
on a performance record made during a period of years in the region for which they
are adapted.
Samples. We will at any time furnish free samples of seed of any of the vari-
eties of grains, grasses or clovers that we offer for sale. In the handling of com-
mercial seeds this is very important to the buyer. With pedigreed and regional
varieties, however, the buyer must depend upon the integrity of the dealer as to
the truth of his statement regarding the pedigree, of the variety. Samples of seed
do not show pedigree or regional adaptation. Neither do they show germination.
As to the latter, however, we make a definite guaranteed statement of the per cent
of germination as shown by test. In the sampling of seed corn we will send samples
from all of our shelled stocks of corn free and can furnish sample ears of any variety
at 20 cents each, postpaid, this amount to be deducted from any order for seed corn
on the ear for one or more bushels.
Prices. The prices of our farm seeds this year have been maae as low as is
consistent with the present market values and the extra care and attention that it
is necessary to give to produce improved seed of high quality free from noxious
seeds and of high germination. On small quantities the price quoted will be followed
throughout the season, unless decided fluctuations in market values take place. On
larger quantities than quoted here we can occasionally give a reduction in price
where our supply is sufficient. We invite inquiries as to description, quality or price
of any of the seeds that we offer and shall give inquiries our best attention. Unless
otherwise stated, prices are f. o. b. Mitchell, and sacks or boxes or crates are included
at list price.
6 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
CORN
THE COST OF A BUSHEL OF POOR SEED CORN
There is no one factor in successful corn’growing that is more important than
the choice of seed. Many will admit that a bushel of poor seed corn is an expensive
investment, but very few realize how expensive it is and make a mathematical
calculation to demonstrate. For the benefit of those who have not done so we present
here a few points for the grower to consider.
Anyone travelling over South Dakota or southern Minnesota the’ past season
and looking over the corn fields could not help noticing the generally poor stand of
corn. We think it no exaggeration to say that 75% of the corn fields in this district
did not have muth, if any, over 50% of a stand, while many fields went much below
this, even having as low as 20% to 30%. Let us stop for a moment and consider
the actual cost of a bushel of seed corn which gives a 50% stand. We will say that
the original cost of the seed was $1.00 per bushel, which is about as low as any seed
could be purchased or taken from the crib. This bushel of seed will plant from six to
eight acres of ground. In order to be on the right side in our calculations we will
say that a bushel plants six acres. In the 50% stand there would be just half of the
number of stalks that there should be to cover the area of ground. Therefore, the
farmer is planting and cultivating the six acres while he should be planting and eculti-
vating only three acres, or rather, three acres of ground is not giving any returns for
each bushel of corn planted. The cost of planting this three acres from which he gets
no returns would be about 60 cents. The cost of cultivation would be about 40 cents
per acre for each cultivation. For the three acres and four cultivations it would be
$4.80. The rent of three acres of good corn land at $2.50 an acre would be $7.50.
The total cost of this bushel of poor seed corn in time and money spent on three
acres giving no returns would be $12.90. If the farmer plants 60 acres of corn, the 10
bushels required to plant the 60 acres would cost him $129.00 This estimate does
not take into consideration the possible profits that might be obtained from growing
the corn, but simply represents the actual outlay in time, seed and money. We are
not considering here any of the possible yields that might be obtained from a bushel
of good seed, but simply the actual loss incurred from poor germination alone.
Neither are we making any estimates on any of the other factors which might go
to lessen the yield from poor seed.
Other points might be’cited which would tend to increase the cost of a bushel
of poor seed corn, such as lateness in ripening, high percentage of barren stalks or
stalks producing only nubbins, low percentage of shelled corn to the ear, but among
them all one of the most important is the germination. By planting early maturing
corn that has good strong germination the battle is half won.
THE VALUE OF A BUSHEL OF GOOD SEED CORN
In the same manner as we have estimated the cost of a bushel of poor seed
corn, by the use of figures we can estimate the value of a bushel of good seed corn.
As a bushel of corn will plant six acres or more, we will make our estimates on this
basis. A bushel of seed which will increase the yield 5 bushels per acre, or 30
bushels for the 6 acres, estimating the corn in the field at 25 cents per bushel,
would be worth $7.50. A bushel that would increase your yield 10 bushels per acre
or 60 bushels for the bushel of seed planted, would be worth $15.00. A five bushel
increase per acre is a very small increase to be obtained from good seed over ordinary
seed. Unless you have the very best of seed on hand, or know where you can get
rece you would better pay $7.50 per bushel for seed rather than plant ordinary
seed.
“Seed corn at $1.00 per bushel costs 17 cents per acre; if it costs $3.00 per
bushel the cost per acre would be 50 cents; $6.00 per bushel would increase the cost
to $1.00 per acre. At 25 cents per bushel, taken as the value of the corn in the field,
seed corn which costs $3.00 must produce 1 1-3 bushels more per acre than $1.00
seed corn to pay for itself, and corn that costs $6.00 must produce 3 1-3 bushels
more per acre than the one dollar corn to pay for the extra cost of seed.
Considering 50 bushels per acre as a good average yield of corn, this increase
in value of good seed over the ordinary seed can be provided for in several ways.
A 10% increase in stand would increase the yield 5 bushels per acre; a 10% increase
in number of fertile stalks, or a 10% increase in percentage of shelled corn per ear
would each accomplish the same result. There are other ways that might be cited
by which a bushel of good seed corn can be made to increase the yield 5 bushels
per acre, and as we have before mentioned, an increase of 5 bushels per acre or
30 bushels for the 6 acres it plants, makes a bushel of good seed corn worth $7.50
more than ordinary seed.
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
EGGERS’ YELLOW DENT CORN
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conditions. It; is** trie that
such varieties may in time
become adapted to northern
conditions and become. ear-
lier in maturity, but in order
to do this they must go through
the same changes that have
taken place in the older stocks
since their first introduction.
Several of the native stocks
which we are offering for the
first time this year, such as
Eggers’ Yellow Dent, Minneha-
ha White Dent and Chambers’
White Dent are very good va-
rieties for the regions in which
they are being grown.
This is one of the so-called native varieties
of corn. It has been grown by Mr. W. F. Eggers
of Avon, South Dakota, for about ten years and is
very well adapted to the region for which it has
been developed. In one characteristic it stands
second to none, and that is in the uniformly good
type of kernel. The illustration of an ear broken
open showing the two views of the broken ear
will give an idea of this feature. Notice the good
depth of the kernel. Also notice the extreme
breadth of the tip of the kernel and very well
developed germ. A large number of varieties of
corn show a good filling out of the cap of the kernel,
but have a pointed tip and with this a poorly
developed small germ. Eggers’ Yellow Dent Corn
has a large germ, a well formed kernel and gives
a high percentage of shelled corn to ear. It will
germinate well under adverse conditions when oth-
er weaker varieties fail. The ears run from 8 to
10 inches in length and 8 to 11 ounces in weight.
We do not recommend it north of the latitude
of Mitchell in South Dakota, or north of the south-
ern tier of counties in Minnesota. South of this
latitude, however, to the southern boundary of
South Dakota and through the northern portion
of Iowa we do not hesitate to recommend it. Dur-
ing the ten years it has been grown by Mr. Eggers
it has yielded from 55 to 70 bushels per acre.
The percentage of barren stalks is very low. Our
stock of this variety is very good, having been
very well matured aud handled in the very best
manner possible. This corn will be sold on the ear
only and will be shipped direct from Avon, S..D.,
where it was grown and is being dried for our
use. Per bushel, $3.00; 5 bushels or more at
$2.50 per bushel.
Native Varieties. Many of the varieties of
corn now grown in the Northwest have been grown
here from 10 to 25 years and are now the so-called
native varieties or native stocks. Most of these
have lost their original characteristics and it is
difficult to determine from what varieties or sources
they originated. The growers who have stayed
right by their original stocks and have attempted
to improve them by selection, have made the
greatest progress. Many growers in the north are
still making the mistake of bringing to the
north such varieties as Reid’s Yellow Dent, Leam-
ing, Silver Mine, Boone County White and others,
with the expectation of adapting them to northern
EGGERS’ YELLOW DENT-—CROSS SECTION
8 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S&S. D. ~
MINNESOTA NO. 13 CORN
This variety of corn has made a record in the northern states unequalled by any
other variety. It is one of the earliest good yellow dent corns that is grown. The
seed from which this variety has been developed was first obtained by the Minnesota
Experiment Station in 1892. Nothing is known of the stock before this time. In
comparison with other varieties at that time this showed good possibilities, and
after years of selection the yield, early maturing qualities and quality of grain
placed this variety ahead of all others being tested on the Minnesota Experiment
Farm. The first seed was put out from the Experiment Station in 1896. Since that
date it has been distributed across the United States and into some portions of Canada
and has found a home in a number of localities beyond the boundaries of Minnesota.
In Minnesota and South Dakota it is one of the most universally grown varieties
of yellow dent corn. It is a variety of wide adaptation as will be seen by the fact
that the belt in which it is grown is about 300 miles wide from the northern to the
southern limit. In much of the southern portion of the belt, however, there are quite
a number ot varieties which produce larger ears and which give higher yields in
favorable seasons, but the Minnesota No. 13 usually holds its own because of its
earliness and its sureness of maturity.
We do not, however, recommend Minnesota No. 13 corn as a general crop south
of the latitude of the southern boundary of Minnesota or Mitchell, South Dakota.
As an extremely early corn for late planting or for early feed it may be well to
plant this variety south of this limit, but there are other varieties which are per-
fectly safe as to maturity and which give better yields in the southern part of South
Minnesota Experiment Station Strain, No, 13 Corn
Dakota. Even north of this there are farmers who would rather try larger and later
corn in the hope of getting better yields. In extremely favorable and long. seasons
they may accomplish their aim, but in unfavorable years their crop is likely to be
a failure.
There are several strains of the Minnesota No. 13 which may be obtained at
the present time, but it is difficult to draw any limitations on these strains as. to
description or season. They vary somewhat in weight of ear and height of stalk,
their average weight of ear being from 6 to 9 ounces and the average height of
stalk from 6 to 8 feet. In season the difference between the earliest and the latest
strains is about 10 days. The earliest on trial on our trial grounds at Mitchell is the
Minnesota Experiment Station strain. We obtained the stock of this direct from the
Experiment Station and find it to be extremely early and of very good quality consider-
ing the earliness of the season. The strain upon which we lay the greatest stress at
Mitchell is the one we call ‘‘Corn Palace’ strain. This is about a week or ten days
later than the Experiment Station strain and seems to be particularly adapted to the
region extending from Huron, Brookings and Mankato on the north to Mitchell,
Sioux Falls and the southern boundary of Minnesota on the south. Of all the varieties
or strains of corn that we handle we consider this one best adapted to our own
conditions in the vicinity of Mitchell and we shall continue to breed this strain for
this locality. The type of kernel of this strain is very much better than any other
with which we are familiar. There are other strains of Minnesota No. 13 which
may be secured, but these two represent the two extremes as to season and maturity.
Corn Palace No. 13 on the ear, $3.00 per bushel; shelled and graded, per bushel,
$3.50.
Minnesota No. 138, on the ear, $2.50 per bushel; 5 bushels at $2.25; 10 bushels
or more at $2.00 per bushel. Shelled and graded, 25 cents per bushel additional.
The prices for this stock are f. o. b., Alexandria, S. D. ‘
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DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 9
EARLY MURDOCK CORN
This variety of yellow dent corn has been offered by commercial seedsmen for
several years as an early yeilow dent corn. Our stock of seed was.grown at Burbank,
South Dakota, by Mr. C. F. Maynard. This variety appears to be earlier that is
necessary for the vicinity of Burbank, as it was matured and dry Jong before frost
came this season. Many other varieties which have been grown near there for several
years and which had a larger ear did not mature satisfactorily to make good seed
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corn. Mr. Maynard’s field of about 125 acres will this year average about 55 bushels
per acre of the finest pure yellow dent corn grown in that vicinity. It attracted
attention wherever seen because of the rich golden yellow color and the uniform type
of ear. It had comparatively few nubbins and almost every stalk had an ear and a
good ear. The ears are not large, running from 8 to 10 ounces in weight and 8 to 10
inches in length. Illustration shows a pile of ears selected from Mr. Maynard’s field
in 1907.
The Early Murdock has been grown in the vicinity of Alexandria for several
years and has matured perfectly. At this point it has given good satisfaction. We do
not recommend the planting of this variety of corn north of the latitude of Michell,
as we consider it better adapted to the southern portion of the state. The quality
of our seed stock this year is unusually good. All tests made to date show a germina-
tion of over 96%. The ears are so well matured that the kernels germinate quickly
and the sprouts are very vigorous from the start.
Our first selection is very carefully made and represents about one-eighth of
the product of the field. The second selection represents about one-fourth of the
product of the field and is not selected quite so close as the first selection. The
germination of this is equal to the first and we know that it is better than what is
usually offered as ear selected seed corn. First selection on the ear, in sacks, $3.00
per bushel; first selection butted, tipped, shelled
and graded, $3.50 per bushel; second selection,
shelled and graded, $2.50 per bushel; 5 bushels
or more at $2.00 per bushel.
Miscellaneous Varieties. We have on hand
small stocks of a number of varieties of corn that
are in very fine condition for seed purposes and are
especially adapted to our region. We have not
a sufficient amount of any one of these to list it
separately under its own head, but offer them for
the conditions to which they are adapted. If after
looking over the varieties described here you find
that none of them particularly suits your condi-
tions, please write us and: we,,will take up the
matter and see what we,can,do.;to supply you
with first class seed corn: of: high,jgermination.
10 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
MINNEHAHA WHITE DENT
A white dent variety that
has been grown in Minnehaha
county, South Dakota, in the vi-
cinity of Sioux Falls for about
ten years. In this time it has
yielded from 50 to 80 bushels
per acre. It stands out as a
high yielding white dent corn
rather than a variety of pure
breeding and uniformity of
type. We think this is one of
the strongest strains of white
dent with which we are ac-
quainted for the southern part
of the state from Mitchell and
Sioux Falls to the southern
boundary, and east into north-
western Iowa and southwestern
Minnesota. We would not con-
sider it safe for planting north
of Mitchell. The ears run from
8 inches to 10 inches in length
and weigh, when dry, from 8
to 12 ounces.
Having taken this corn solely upon its past records for yield in a definite
locality and having tried it one year in the vicinity of Mitchell, we do not hesitate
to recommend it to corn growers. It is possible to select extremely fine show ears
from this stock, as is shown by the fact that this corn took first premium on white
dent corn for the central district at the South Dakota Corn Growers’ Association
in 1906, and also took fifth premium on white dent corn for South Dakota at the
National Corn Exposition in Chicago, October, 1907. Our illustration shows the ten
ears that took first premium at the South Dakota Corn Growers’ Association in 1906.
There are varieties of corn which appear more uniform in type of ear from which
one could not select nearly the number of extremely good ears that you would find in
the Minnehaha White Dent. Per bushel on. the ear, $2.50; 5 bushels or more at $2.00
per bushel; shelled and graded, 25 cents per bushel additional.
CLAY COUNTY WHITE DENT
This variety of white dent corn has been grown in Clay county for the past 21
years and has matured satisfactorily every year it has been grown in that county.
It resembles very much the Minnehaha White Dent, but is somewhat larger eared
and is about a week later in maturity. This variety is recommended by all who
have grown it in the vicinity of Vermillion. We know of no other variety of corn
that has shown itself better adapted to the southern portion of South Dakota than
this variety in the years it has been grown and we recommend it solely upon its
past record in this region. Our stock has been especially selected for us from the
field of Mr. George Chambers, who took third premium on this corn in the South
Dakota White Dent class at the National Corn Exposition in Chicago in 1907. This
variety took first premium for the southern district at the South Dakota Corn Growers’
Association in 1906, and has nearly always car-
ried off first premiums wherever exhibited in
the southern district. Prices the same as for
Minnehaha White Dent.
First premium Minnehaha White Dent. S. D. Corn Growers’
Association, 1906
Kar Testing. We will ear test either the
Minnehaha White Dent or Clay County White
Dent, that is, test each individual ear
for germination and cull out all that fail to germ-
inate or are weak in growth, and offer stock so
tested on the ear at $5.00 per bushel; 5 bushels
or more at $4.50 per bushel, providing orders
for this corn are received before April first.
Hither of these varieties of corn ear tested will
make about the choicest article of seed that
could be obtained in any way for the regions
to which they are adapted, and we wish to call
particular attention to this offer. A Good Tip Minnehaha White Dent
w DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S$. D. ati
MILLET
DAKOTA SELECTED KURSK
The Kursk Millet was imported by the United States Department of Agriculture
from the Government of Kursk, Siberia, in 1898. It has been grown at both the
South Dakota stations every year since its first introduction and has given excellent
results. In dry years the weight and quality of hay have been far ahead of the com-
mon German and Hungarian millets. In favorable seasons the difference has not been
so marked, but has always been in favor of the Kursk millet. In 1904 at the High-
more Experiment Station over 200 individual plants were selected. In 1905 and 1906
they were grown and carefully tested for quality and yield. Ten or a dozen plants
gave returns ahead of all others. From these the four best were selected and were
increased for seed. Our entire crop of Kursk this year traces back to these four best
plants selected from the 200 best selections of 1904. Having been grown at High-
more since the first introduction of the Kursk millet they are now particularly
adapted to the prairie region of North and South Dakota. In trials with the original
stock and commercial stocks at the Highmore Station we find that the seed that has
been grown there for several years gives the better returns. It has been customary
among seedsmen to recommend southern grown German millet for growing in the
north for hay as preferable to northern grown millet or any other that has been
offered. We have seen tests of this made and have seen southern grown German
millet that would yield in weight more hay per acre than some of the northern
grown stocks, but all of these have been so coarse and of such poor quality that
the actual value per acre was very much less than that of the northern stocks. To
our knowledge this Dakota Selected Kursk is the only stock of millet with a definite
regional record in the Northwest back of it that is being offered by seedsmen today.
Our stock of this is very fine. Per bushel of 50 lbs., $1.75; per sack of 2% bushels,
$3.50; 4 sacks or more at $3.25 per sack. For larger amounts write tor prices.
Common Millet. We are able to secure some good stocks of the common Ger-
man and Hungarian millets grown in South Dakota, which are of good quality and
high germination. Write for samples and prices.
Broom-corn Millet. At the present time we do not happen to have any seed of
Broom-corn millet for sale. Write us and if we can secure seed we will quote prices.
SORGHUM
SOUTH DAKOTA NO. 341
Sorghum will undoubtedly be grown to a Jarger extent throughout the prairie
region for forage purposes than it has been in the past. The first reason for this is
that it is more drouth resistant than corn. Second, that it produces a greater weight
of more palatable fodder to the acre. Up to the present time most of the varieties
that have been offered have been rather late for the Northwest. The one which we offer
for the first time this year is South Dakota No. 341 from the Highmore Experiment
Station. This variety will mature in any region where Minnesota No. 13 corn will
mature. It is a week or ten days ahead of the Minnesota Early Amber Cane, which
up to the present time, has been the earliest variety grown. South Dakota No. 341
will produce as great an amount of fodder of very fine quality as will the Minnesota
Early Amber. We recommend this for forage purposes anywhere within our territory.
In the extreme northern part of North Dakota and Minnesota it will probably not
mature, but will develop sufficiently to produce a good yield of a high quality of
forage even though it may not mature seed. We hope to see this variety of sorghum
given a trial by everyone who grows corn for fodder. As this is the first year that
the seed has ever been offered for sale our supply is rather limited, so we will not
be able to offer it in large quantities, but would like to have it given a trial in com-
parison with corn throughout this entire region and we know that it will not disap-
point the grower. Our stock has been grown on our own farm especially for seed
purposes, and is the finest quality seed that we have ever seen. Sow in drills for
cultivation at the rate of 6 or 8 pounds per acre, or broadcast at the rate of from
30 to 50 pounds per acre. Per pound by mail postpaid, 30 cents. By express or freight
Sao. oa 20 cents; 5 pounds 50 cents; 10 pounds, 80 cents; per sack of 100 pounds,
; Minnesota Early Amber Cane. The earliest sorghum grown before the introduc-
tion of South Dakota No. 341. For southern South Dakota and Minnesota this variety
is very good. Per lb., by mail, postpaid, 25 cts.; by express or freight, per lb., 15 ets.;
5 lbs., 40 cts; 10 lbs., 70 cts.; sack of 100 lbs., $4.00. ‘ :
12 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, §S. D.
WHEAT
SOUTH DAKOTA BEARDED RED FIFE
No wheat that has ever been introduced into the Northwest has made a better
record for yield and quality than this strain of Bearded Fife in South Dakota. We
cannot trace it back to a single plant as we can Minnesota Nos. 163, 169 and 188,
but in every way it appears to be pure. This variety has been giving remarkable
results nearly everywhere it has been grown. So far as we are abie to trace the
history of it, it came from some point in Iowa eight years ago. From there it was
introduced into several points in South Dakota. At Miller and Mount Vernon it
has been raised consecutively for four years and no other wheat grown at either place
has a record as to yield and quality equal to this wheat. The Experiment Stations
at Brookings and Highmore secured stock of it in the spring of 1905 and it has
been grown at both of these points for three years and at both places has out-yielded
ali other bread wheats of high quality.
A grower from Iowa says, “It is the only wheat that tests well here.” At
Centerville it yielded as high as 25 to 30 bushels in 1906. At the Highmore Experi-
ment Station in 1905 it headed the list with 25.5 bushels. In 1906 at the same place
in comparison with other varieties of bread wheats it again headed the list with 20.3
bushels. At Mount Vernon and Mitchell since it has been grown it has out-yielded
all other varieties and the wheat nearly always goes better than No. 1. This year
most of this variety tested from 60 to 638 pounds per bushel, while the blue stem
and other wheats tested from 55 to 58 pounds per bushel. At Groton, where
Minnesota No. 169 is very popular, the South Dakota Bearded Red Fife appears to
be a better yielder than No. 169.
We do not hesitate to recommend this wheat for any part of South Dakota
east of the Missouri river, for the southern and western portions of Minnesota
and for southern North Dakota and northwestern Iowa. There are probably many
other points to which it is well adapted, but we have no record of results obtained at
other points. It is very probable that this wheat will do better in the country west
of the Missouri river than will any other bread wheat that can be had today. Our
stock of this variety is very good. We guarantee it for purity and germination.
We exercise the greatest care to keep our stocks free from smut and treat for smut
all seeds that we put out under contract, but there are so many possibilities of infec-
tion, even though the stocks do not show smut, that we cannot guarantee the crop to
be free from this disease, but recommend everyone to treat all seed with formalda-
hyde before sowing. This is the only way to be sure of not having smut in your crop.
Per bushel, $2.00; per sack of 2% bushels, $4.50; 4 sacks or more at $4.25
per sack. Write for prices on large quantities. ae
MINNESOTA VARIETIES
Minnesota No. 169. <A blue stem wheat selected from the Haynes Blue Stem
and distributed by the Minnesota Experiment Station. This wheat has won a national
as well as a state reputation for quality and yield. It is probably the most widely
grown pure bred wheat in the country today. Throughout Minnesota it has made
a wonderful record, yielding on an average from.three to five bushels per acre
more than the common varieties grown in‘the state. In the northeastern and south-
eastern portions of South Dakota it has yielded well and has become very popular.
At the Brookings and Highmore Stations it has not yielded equal to some other vari-
eties, but at these places no blue stem wheat has an extra good record for yield.
For anyone who has grown any of the blue stem varieties and has. been successful
with them we can recommend this, as we know of no better variety of blue stem for
the Northwest. We guarantee our stock as to pedigree, germination and purity.
Minnesota No. 188. A bearded wueat very recently distributed by the Minne-
sota Experiment Station. The demand for this wheat since its first introduction by
the Station in 1906 has been very great. On an average for twelve years at the
Minnesota Experiment Station the Minnesota No. 188 Bearded Wheat leads No. 169
by one bushel and No. 163 by one and a half bushels. This variety seems to occupy
the place in Minnesota wheat growing that the South Dakota Bearded Red Fife does
in South Dakota. Our stock of Minnesota No. 188 was grown near Mitchell this
year. As it was a very unfavorable year for wheat it was not given a fair test and
our results were not what they should have been. For Minnesota conditions we
know of no wheat to recommend higher than 188. We guarantee our stock as to
pedigree, germination and purity. ;
While the stock lasts we can offer Minnesota Nos. 169 and 188 in small lots. as
follows: Per bushel, $2.00; per sack of 2% bushels, $4.50.
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 13
a7 : a ay
DURUM OR MACARONI WHEATS
The durum or macaroni wheats are in a class by themselves. They were first
extensively imported into this country by the United States Department of Agricul-
ture about 1897-8, but were grown in scattered localities in the northern part of the
United States and Canada previous to that time under the name of Wild Goose Wheat.
The durum or macaroni wheats are not a single variety, as some suppose, but repre-
sent a large number of varieties which are of greater or less value the same as the
various varieties of common or bread wheats. In a large part of North and South
Dakota the durum wheats have come to stay. They are particularly adapted to the
drier regions and therefore do much better in the western portion of these two
states than in the eastern. In fact, we do not recommend the growing of the durum
wheats on an extensive scale east of the James river in South Dakota because of
the climate not being particularly adapted to their growth. They have been grown
to some extent in Minnesota, but so far as we are able to determine they have not
given satisfactory returns. With the present condition of the market it is necessary
that these wheats yield one-fourth or one-fifth more per acre than the bread wheats
to make up for the difference in the price. In the drier sections this is more than
made up by the additional yields. In many places they have been known to give re-
turns of from 35 to 40 bushels per acre in seasons when the best bread varieties
yielded from 8 to 15.
Among the large number of varieties of durum wheat that have been tested in
North and South Dakota there are three which are particularly valuable and which
give better yields of higher quality of grain than others. These three are the Kubanka
1516, Kubanka 5639 and the Arnautka. We have stock of all three of these for sale
this season. The seed from which we grew our stock of Kubanka 1516 and 5639
was obtained from the Highmore Experiment Station where it has been grown for
several years past. Our stock was*grown for us at Highmore and Aberdeen. The
seed from which we grew our stock of Arnautka was obtained from the North
Dakota Experiment Station at Edgeley and our stock was grown at Aberdeen the past
season. We know that better stock of any of these varieties cannot be obtained than -
what we have to offer this season and we would like to see all three of these grown
throughout the region west of the James river, and would also like to see them given
a thorough trial west of the Missouri river. In yield the Kubanka 1516 and Arnautka
seem to have given the best returns, while 5639 has been recommended by Professor
Shepard of the South Dakota Experiment Station as one of the best in quality. Our
stock of Arnautka as grown by Mr. Isaac Lincoln of Aberdeen this year yielded
37 bushels per acre. The Kubanka 1516 at the same place on new breaking yielded
27 bushels per acre. As these two varieties were put out under entirely different
conditions these figures cannot be considered as offering a comparison of the two
in yield.
Kubanka 1516, Kubanka 5639 and Arnautka. Any variety per bushel, $1.90;
per sack of 2% bushels, $4.00; 4 or more sacks at $3.75.
FLAX
MINNESOTA NO. 25
This variety of flax represents a selection made at the Minnesota Experiment
Station from a stock received from the United States Department of Agriculture in
1891. It is a pure bred flax. In trials at the Minnesota Experiment Station as well
as at other points throughout Minnesota. It has given yields averaging from 2% to 4
bushels per acre more than any other varieties tried. In South Dakota it is at present
the only pedigreed flax we can recommend, and in tests it is out-yielding any other
stocks.
It has been offered by some growers as wilt proof. This is not the case, but
we can candidly say that it is very much more wilt resistant than any other flax
grown in the Northwest. We are not surprised that some growers and dealers have
offered it as wilt proof. Comparisons made under just the right conditions would
almost show it to be so.
The yields of flax in South Dakota were very light this year, so our stock of
this variety is not so large as we had hoped it would be, but what we have is of
very fine quality. The seed from which our stock was grown was obtained direct
from the Highmore Station, which seed has been grown at Brookings and Highmore
for three years since it came from the Minnesota Experiment Station. We guarantee
our stock as to pedigree, purity and germination. Per bushel, be 50; per sack of
2% bushels, $5.50; 4 sacks or more at $5.00 per sack.
\
\
14 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
OATS
LINCOLN’S SIXTY-DAY
Of all the varieties of oats introduced by the United States Department of
Agriculture and distributed by the Experiment Stations in the northwestern states,
no variety has a better record of yield than has the Sixty-day. It was imported by
the United States Department of Agriculture from Russia in March, 1901. The first
year after its introduction it was brought to the South Dakota Experiment Station at
Brookings for trial, and our seed stock traces back to this source. In 1902 Mr.
Isaac Lincoln of Aberdeen secured seed of this variety from Brookings and he has
grown it every year since then. We publish here his record of yields, for we think
it is a very remarkable record covering as long a period and over as large an acreage.
The seed stock which we
offer this year was grown
: = : b Mr. Isaac Lincoln in
Record of yield of Lincoln’s Sixty--Day 1907, anal See aeneee
Oats on the farm of Mr. Isaac shows, yielded oi buch
° per acre on a e 6)
Lincoln, Aberdeen, S. D. acres. Other varieties of
oats have been grown on
; a Mr. Lincoln’s farm at Aber-
ees Ss OE Ss Mield Peters deen under the same ‘condi-
tions and with the same
careful care that all the
1902 50 Acres 82 Bushels } :
Syne ea eeenete crops receive on his farm,
pee but none of them have given
1904 80 Acres 62 Bushels anywhere near the returns
1905 82 Acres 71% Bushels per acre that the Sixty-day
1906 57 Acres 59 Bushels has given. When one takes
x a BU eG into consideration that 1907
sede | gees was an unusually poor year
for oats and that most vari-
Average 66 Acres 65 Bushels eties yielded from 25 to 40
bushels per acre, testing
from 25 to 30 pounds per
bushel, this yield of 61 bushels per acre on a 70-acre field is unusually good.
At the Brookings Experiment Station this variety of oats has given an average
yield for the past three years of about 70 bushels per acre. At the North Dakota
Station at Fargo, the Sixty-day is reported as one of the very heaviest yielders. At
the Minnesota Experiment Station the Sixty-day has not been tried for so long
a time as the Minnesota numbers 6 and: 26, but during the time in which it has
been tried it has yielded fully as high as the other two stocks mentioned.
We recommend Lincoln’s Sixty-day oats to any grower in the Northwest who
wishes an early, high yielding oat. Earliness is the quality which should be looked
to in all crops grown in the Northwest. It has more to do in bringing the crops out
of the way of danger of drouth than any other one factor. Sixty-day oats, if sown
very early, will be ready to cut before barley. Per bushel, $1.10; per sack of 2%
bushels, $2.50; 4 sacks or more at $2.25 per sack. On large quantities write for
samples and prices.
SWEDISH SELECT
In spite of the remarkable record of yield of the Sixty-day oats wherever tried
in the Northwest, we doubt whether it or any other variety is more popular than the
Swedish Select. At the Highmore Experiment Station this variety has yielded as
high as 84 bushels per acre. It is very popular and justly so. Its general appearance
is better than the Sixty-day. Therefore, on the market it may occasionally bring a
slightly higher price because of its better appearance. The grain of the Swedish
Select is white and has an awn on the outer glume, thus giving the impression at
times that it is mixed with wild oats. This awn, however, is not objectionable and
is simply one of the characteristics of this variety. This variety of oats has been
widely distributed through South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and also in
other states, and everywhere it has been grown it has given yields equal or better
than most other varieties grown. The Experiment Stations of Wisconsin and South
Dakota have probably done more towards the introduction of this variety of oats
than has been done in any other way. In Wisconsin it is recommended above all
others without exception. In South Dakota we recommend it with the Sixty-day and
recommend the two oats throughout the state. In some sections one variety does
somewhat better than the other and in other sections the reverse is true. At the
os
—
se ee een
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 15
EE ————————EE———————————
Highmore Experiment Station where this variety has been grown for several years,
it has won a great reputation for its drouth resistance. No other variety has shown
up better in this one feature than has the Swedish Select. In the region between the
James and Missouri rivers a dry period often comes in the early part of the growing
season, during the month of May or early in June. At this time many varieties of
oats are seriously injured by drouth. The Swedish Select, however, has shown itself
capable of resisting dry weather at this season of the year better than any other
variety. In fact, it has produced some of its largest yields in seasons which were
dry during the early summer months. Where these oats have been grown west of
the Missouri river they have given excellent results. Prices same as for Lincoln’s
Sixty-day. On large quantities write for samples and prices.
KHERSON
The description of the Sixty-day will answer as well for the Kherson, for the
two varieties cannot be told apart when grown together, they appear to be differ-
ent importations of the same type of oats. They may, however, yield some-
what differently under the varying conditions in our territory and so we offer
the Kherson oat as well as the Sixty-day. The Kherson was imported from Russia
in 1897, four years before the Sixty-day, and has been grown at the Experiment
Station at Lincoln, Nebraska, since that time. The seed from which our stock
has been grown comes from this source. This variety was first tested at
the Brookings and Highmore Stations in South Dakota in 1906 and out-yielded all
other varieties tested that year at both stations. The stock which we offer this year
was grown in the vicinity of Mitchell from seed obtained at Lincoln. Prices same as
for Lincoln’s Sixty-day.
BARLEY
There are comparatively few pedigreed barleys which have made records during
the past few years to warrant special introduction. Among those which have given
good returns in the Northwest are the three listed here: The Minnesota numbers 6
and 105 are both six-rowed barleys which have the highest record for yields in Min-
nesota and South Dakota. In Minnesota the No. 105 seems to have the preference,
while in South Dakota the No. 6 has given the best returns of any high quality six-
rowed barley. The Hanna No. 24, a two-rowed barley, which we offer here, has given
the highest record for yields of any barley in the central part of South Dakota. At
the Highmore and Brookings Experiment Stations this has a particularly good record.
For feeding purposes it ranks ahead of any of the six-rowed varieties. Several Hanna
barleys have been offered for sale by seedsmen during the past few years, but most
of them are of unknown record. We offer this No. 24 upon the record it has made
at the Highmore and Brookings Experiment Stations. The South Dakota Experiment
Station recommends Hanna No. 24 for growing where barley of high yield and good
feeding value is desired in the central and western part of the state, and Minnesota
No. 6 as the best six-rowed variety for market. The Minnesota Experiment Station °
recommends Minnesota No. 105 as the best barley for market purpose. The average
yield of No. 105 for eight years on the Minnesota Experiment Farm is 52.9 bushels.
MINNESOTA NO. 105
. The seed from which we have grown our stock to offer for sale this year was
obtained from the Minnesota Experiment Station in the spring of 1907 ,and our stock
was grown in the vicinity of Mitchell, South Dakota.
MINNESOTA NO. 6
The seed from which our stock of this variety was grown in 1907 came from
the Highmore Experiment Station, where it has been grown for four years previous.
It had been grown at Brookings after it was received from the Minnesota Experiment
Station and before being taken to Highmore.
HANNA NO. 24
This variety was received by the United States Government from Austria in
1901. The record of where our stock was grown is as follows: 1901 and 1902, grown
at Mellette at the Co-operative Experiment Station; 1903 to 1906, grown at the State
Experiment Station at Highmore. Our stock of this variety was grown in 1907 by
Mr. Isaac Lincoln of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was grown from the seed crop of
1906 at the Highmore Experiment Station. We wish to especially recommend this
variety and our stock to South Dakota growers, and we know you will not be disap-
pointed in it as a high yielding feeding barley.
Any variety listed, per bushel, $1.75; per sack of 2% bushels, $3.50; 4 sacks
or more at $3.25 per sack.
16 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
CALIFORNIA’ RUSSET
POTATOES
CALIFORNIA RUSSET
A new variety of great merit. In quality this potato cannot be excelled. The
tubers are of medium size, long, oval in shape and have a beautiful russet skin
which is much admired by everyone who sees it. Cooks easily, and when cooked is
white and mealy. The eyes are perfectly level with the surface of the tuber and
there is none of the unsightly knobs which are so common on some of our varieties.
The firm, beautiful skin and starchy texture make it highly attractive and delicious
when baked. Besides being excellent in quality it is a good yielder and remarkably
scab resistant. Professor Samuel B. Green, Professor of Horticulture of the University
of Minnesota, says of this potato: ‘“‘This variety is one of the most satisfactory we
have grown and is a good mid-season and late potato of fine quality. The vines are
more immune from disease than any of the standard varieties and when well known
this variety will be a popular sort for planting.’’ We do not hesitate in the least to
recommend this potato to the most critical as a main crop variety. It is without a
peer in quality, and at the same time is a good yielder. The photograph shows a
sample of the tubers grown on our farm the past season. When on exhibit at the
State Fair and Corn Palace in 1907 it was admired by everyone for its fine form
and beautiful russet skin. By mail, postpaid, per lb. 25 cts.; by express or freight, %
pk. 40cts.;\pk., 75 cts.;. % bu:z, $1.255 Dua. $2 002.4 DUS sora u:
VERMONT GOLD COIN
A new main crop variety of high productiveness and good quality. The tubers
are light colored, long, oval in shape, uniformly large sized and lie closely together
in the hill. The flesh is very white, fine-grained, cooks up mealy and very dry. As
a vigorous plant it is without a superior. Its spreading, healthy foliage entirely covers
the ground during the season. We recommend this as one of the best new main crop
varieties either for home use or for market. Our stock this year is very limited.
We have only a few bushels of this to offer for sale. Until sold, per lb., 25 ets.
by mail prepaid. By express or freight % pk., 40 cts.; pk., 75 cts.; 44° bu, Sie25;
bu., $2.00.
FARLY OHIO
The standard early potato. It does better under unfavorable conditions than
almost any other variety and is as popular now as ever. It can be depended upon
in anv locality and under all conditions. Our stock has been especially selected for
uniformity of shape and smoothness. If your stock of this variety is poor, try some
of our selected seed tubers for planting the coming season. Pk., 40 cts.; % bu., 70
Cts.; bu., $110; 4 bui-or more at $i.00, percbu. .
a ee ee
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S$. D. LT
IMPROVED ROSE NO. 4
IMPROVED ROSE NO. 4
This is one of the varieties that is grown so largely in the extreme South for
very early northern shipment. It appears in our northern markets during April and
May. In our trial grounds it proved to be the most valuable second early variety
tested. It is a remarkably heavy yielder; tubers large, numerous and uniform in
shape and size. It yielded the heaviest of any variety grown by us the past season.
The plant is a vigorous grower, producing large vines with an abundance of strong,
healthy foliage. Considered by other growers and has proved to be with us, very
secab-resistant. The tubers are large, oval in outline and flattened; skin smooth and
pink in color; eyes few and shallow. When cooked this potato is very mealy and of
fine flavor. We recommend this as a medium season, high yielding potato of good
quality for either home use or for market. Our stock is very fine and free from dis-
ease. We have put the price within the reach of everyone. Pk., 50 cts.; % bu., 80
ets. pu, 31°25; 4 bu. $4.50.
‘
FIFLD ROOT CROPS
SUGAR BEETS
Many feeders prefer sugar beets to mangels or other root crops for stock feeding.
The two following varieties are standard, and our stock of seed is the best.
Klein Wanzleben. This variety is perhaps more extensively grown than any
other. It is well adapted for growing in the Northwest.
Vilmorin’s Improved. This variety has been developed through continued se-
lection made by the famous seedsmen of France, and represents the best that can be
obtained in sugar beet varieties at the present time.
Hither variety by mail postpaid: Oz., 5 cts.; lb., 40 cts; by express or freighr,
Peo ve2hets So 1lbs..at25ets:
MANGEL-WURZEL
Grown very extensively for stock feeding. Produce as great weight of roots
per acre as any crop grown for this purpose.
Golden Tankard. Yellow in color; flesh is solid and firm. Extremely productive
and valued highly by all dairymen and other feeders as a field root crop.
Mammoth Long Red. Roots are very large; deep red in color; very productive
aud very popular.
Giant Yellow Intermediate. A variety intermediate between the long and the
globe shaped varieties. Flesh white, firm and solid.
Any variety by mail postpaid: Oz. 5 cts.; lb., 40 cts. By express or freight: Lb.,
32 cts.; 5 lbs. at 25 cts.
are varieties of carrots and rutabagas for stock feeding are listed under Garden
eeds.
18 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
MISCELLANEOUS FARM & FIELD SEEDS
The foregoing list of farm crops represents those varieties to which we have
given special attention. It is by no means a complete list of the farm and field seeds
that are grown in the Northwest. On varieties other than those listed here we
are able to secure good home grown seed of high quality and germination, but not of
special pedigree. On all such seeds we will make our tests for purity and germination
just as carefully as we do those that are specially bred and grown for ug. Some of
these deserve much more mention than we are in a position to give them this year.
In time we hope to have special varieties or strains of these which are bred and
grown especially for the Northwest.
Grasses. We have on hand at the present time some very good stocks of Bromus
inermis, Timothy and English Blue Grass, which are all very good and of high germ-
ination. We can also secure good seed of Kentucky Blue Grass, Red-top and other
grasses. We will be pleased to send samples and quote prices on these at any time.
Wherever requests for samples and prices are in our hands early in the season we
will be in a better position to fill orders than later.
Alfalfa. We fully appreciate the position that alfalfa should occupy as a farm
crop. We know, however, that there is very little seed that can be obtained today
that is sufficiently hardy for northern Minnesota and North Dakota. Great losses are
incurred every year by the killing out of alfalfa fields grown from seed brought from
the South. Up to the present time Montana seed is giving the best results of the com-
mercial stocks. These cannot always be depended upon, however, because many of
the Montana fields are sown with seed that is brought from the extreme South. We are
giving special attention to the breeding of alfalfa and have on hand at the present time
one stock of alfalfa seed which consists of only 31 pounds, which we would not trade
for any other 1,000 pounds of seed that we know of in the country today. This stock
is the product of the descendants of one plant, and that the best plant in thousands
selected at the Highmore Experiment Station in 1905, and has a record for fifty
years in Minnesota and the Dakotas. This is probably the largest stock of seed
tracing its ancestry back to a single plant that there is in the country today. We
also have smaller amounts of seed which trace back to single selected plants. On
none of these, however, have we a sufficient quantity to offer for sale. We will simply
increase them and offer them when our stock of seed becomes large enough to war-
rant it. For the present we shall offer only Montana and home grown seed. Write
for samples and prices.
Clovers. South Dakota grown red clover seed is the best that there is in the
market today. In our particular region there is a considerable amount of clover
seed raised and it is of very fine quality. We offer both Alsike and Medium Red
Clover seed based upon its germination and purity and guarantee it to be free
from noxious weeds. Samples and prices upon application.
. Dwarf Essex Rape. This crop is coming to occupy an important place as an
aniunal pasture in Minnesota:and the Dakotas. Our seed is obtained from English
growers and is the best that we are able to obtain. Per pound, postpaid, 20 cts.; by
express or freight, 10 pounds, $1.00; 25 pounds, $2.25; 100 pounds, $8.00. Write
for prices on larger quantities.
Field Peas. This crop is not grown extensively in the Northwest, but is often
sown with oats as a soiling crop or for hay. Per bu., $2.00 ;10 bu. or more at $1.70
per bu.
SWEET PEAS
We are not offering this year a general line of flower seeds. We have, however,
a very fine stock of Sweet Peas of the very best varieties which have been grown
especially for us by one of the very best growers in the country. We offer these
only as a mixture which has been especially selected and made up by ourselves
from varieties grown and kept separate in the field. The seeds of all these varieties
have been thoroughly tested before the mixture is made up so we know exactly
whats we are offering and that no better mixture of Sweet Peas can be made up than
this one. Though we offer here these varieties only in mixture, we have separate
stocks of about twenty or more of the standard and new sorts which we can offer
to any one who wishes the varieties separate. Please state what color or colors you
wish and we will select varieties coming nearest to your desires. Prices on separate
varieties with a few exceptions are the same as for the mixture. Mixed: Per ounce,
10 cts.; % pound, 25 cts.; pound, 60 cts., postpaid. Assortment, 15 ounce each of
- Six varieties, our selection, in separate packets, 25 cts. oh
VEGETABL
We exercise the same care and attention’ to the securing and handling of our
garden seeds that we give to our field seeds. We make a statement on packets and
labels of the percentage of germination, the locality where the seed was grown,
the amount of seed contained in the packet and the stock number of the seed. We
guarantee that whatever statements are made will be correct. The following is
copied from a packet of our this year’s stock of Malakoff Sweet Corn and will show
the way this information is given on the packet.
‘
ONE-THIRD PINT STOCK NO. S. C. 1
Grown in Davison County, South Dakota, in 1907
Germination test, January, 1908, 98%
GUARANTER
We guarantee the above statements to be correct. Our seeds
are grown by the very best growers and we do everything in
our power to see that they are pure and true to name. All the
germination tests are very carefully made and wherever we find
it necessary to put out seeds testing below 80% we make up for
this. deficiency by -increasing the quantity of seed. If f:r any
reason these seeds are found to be unsatisfactory please write us,
using the above stock number.
x
i DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY
/ Breeders and Growers of
Pedigreed Farm and Garden Seeds for the Northwest
MITCHELL, - SOUTH DAKOTA
The prices quoted on garden seeds, unless otherwise specified, include postage.
On seeds to be sent by express or freight at the purchaser’s expense, eight cents per
pound or fifteen cents per quart may be deducted from the prepaid prices. We do
not give here a market gardener’s list of quotations.. We will. be pleased to quote
special prices on garden seeds to any market gardener or anyone who wishes a large
quantity of seeds. Please send list of seeds and quantities desired when writing.
' Free. On all orders for seeds in packets, ounces, fractions of an ounce and one-
third pints, the purchaser may select to the value of $1.25. for each $1.00 sent. Please
note that this does not include seeds as pints, quarts, one-fourth pounds and pounds
or larger quantities. We also include, where requested to do so, on all orders to the
value of $1.00 or more, free packets of other varieties for trial.
20 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D..
BEANS
A large number of varieties of beans are adapted to being grown in the United
States. Our list includes those we consider best for northwestern conditions. Of
the green-podded bush beans we recommend particularly Burpee’s Stringless Green
Pod, though the Red Valentine is a very good, hardy, early variety. Of the wax
varieties, Burpee’s White Wax is one of the finest beans, though the other three
offered are better known and seem to be very well adapted to our conditions. Currie’s
Rustproof is a particularly hardy sort.
Burpee’s Stringless Green Pod. An extremely early, green-podded bean of fine
quality. Pods are about five inches in length, round, straight, and perfectly stringless.
The best green-podded bunch bean for the home garden. Valuable for a succession
of plantings throughout the season. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid.
By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.; pk., $2.00.
Extra Early Red Valentine. <A popular, standard, early, green-podded bunch
bean. Bushes about fifteen inches high, productive, of round, fleshy pods of good
flavor. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt, 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By’ express or freight, qt.,
SiG Cus. 3s pk apes
Burpee’s New Stringless White Wax. A white-seeded bean of great productive-
ness and fine quality. The large, flat, yellow pods are very brittle and perfectly free
from strings. A general purpose variety. It may be used as a green snap or shell
bean, and on account of its color is also good as a dry shell bean. 1-3 pt., 15 cts.;
pt:, 35 cts/;“qt.; 55° cts... postpaid. “By Express, qt. dacust
Currie’s Rustproof Wax. A very early, hardy, black-seeded variety, productive
of large, flat pods. More resistant to pod-rust than most other varieties. -1-3 pt., 10
cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.; pk., $2.00.
Keeney’s Rustless Golden Wax. Plant strong, supporting the pods well above
the soil. Pods flat, light yellow and of good quality. Comparatively free from rust.
1-3 pt.,.10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.;
pk., $2.00.
Wardwell’s Kidney Wax. A standard variety of strong, upright growth, early
and very productive. Pods straight, flat and of a rich, golden yellow color. This vari-
ety is so well and favorably known that it recommends itself to more general use. 1-3
pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt.; 30 cts;7pk,
$2.00.
Henderson’s Bush Lima. This is the bush selection of the small Sieva Lima.
The bushes are very productive and the beans when young are of excellent flavor.
Recommended for culture as a green shell bean in the southern half of Minnesota
and South Dakota. 1-3 pt., 15 cts.; pt., 35 cts.; qt., 55 cts., postpaid. By express or
freight, qt., 40 cts.
White Navy or Pea Bean. The standard variety for field culture for dry shell
beans. Our strain is a particularly good yielder. The beans are small, thin-skinned
and of the finest quality. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts., postpaid. By express or freight,
at., 3 O0xcts.- "pk..' Ste 5105. busi Sos00%
BEET
There is a vast difference in garden beets as well as in sugar beets and mangels
in the quality and flavor. This is sometimes a difference in the variety and is some-
times due to differences of soil, so that it is a very difficult matter to say whether one
variety is much better than another in this respect. In the following list we have
taken those that we know have done well in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Our stock
of seed is obtained from the best French growers.
Crimson Globe. <A very good main crop variety, of globular shape, deep crimson
color, fine quality and handsome appearance.
Crosby’s Egyptian. Extra early, dark red in color. An improved strain of the
original Egyptian.
Kclipse. A popular early beet. Roots round, blood-red, foliage dark. Very pro-
ductive.
Edmand’s Blood Turnip. <A valuable sort much grown by market gardeners
because of its regular shape, early maturity, fine flavor and good keeping ‘qualities.
Any variety listed above, postpaid, 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.; % lb., 20 cts.;
lb., 60 cts. See ‘‘Field Root Crops” for Mangels and Sugar Beets.
Poy Er Pp -
Rd pth re
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 21
CABBAGE
For extremely early, the smaller varieties like the First Early, Early Jersey
Wakefield and Early Winnigstadt are preferable, but for the middle and late crop
the large, flattened heads are usually grown. Under the drier and more severe con-
ditions of the central and western part of the Dakotas we wish to ecall special atten-
to the hardiness and heading qualities of the Early Winnigstadt. This makes
not only a good early variety, but also a very good general crop variety under adverse
conditions. Though the heads are small they are extremely hard and of good quality.
Eureka or First Early. Bulletin 91 of the South Dakota Agricultural College in
giving the results of a trial of one hun-
dred and twenty-seven varieties of cab-
bage reports as follows about this sort:
‘“‘Hureka or First Early, from J.-M.
Lupton, was especially desirable as the
earliest variety, maturing fully a week
before the Early Jersey Wakefield.’ In
the table accompanying this report the
Eureka is’ recorded as one out of only
five that headed one hundred per cent.
Our stock of seed is from J. M. Lupton,
who furnished that for the above tests.
Early Jersey Wakefield. The popu-
lar, first early cabbage. Heads cone-
shaped, solid, with few outside leaves.
Very desirable for home or market.
Charleston Wakefield. About ten
days later than the Early Jersey Wake-
field and considerably larger. Otherwise
the two are similar.
Early Winnigstadt. A very valuable early and general crop cabbage for the
Northwest. It is very hardy and a sure header under very severe conditions. The
heads are about the size and shape of the Jersey Wakefield and are very solid. This
variety has an especially good record for heading in central South Dakota. We
strongly recommend this for the west.
Early Spring. The earliest, flat cabbage, being nearly as early as the Early
Jersey Wakefield. Heads solid, six to eight inches in diameter and of fine flavor.
Early Summer. A desirable second early, flat sort, producing solid heads of
excellent quality.
All Seasons. A popular, medium sized cabbage, ready for use nearly us early
as the Early Summer, but of much larger size.
' Danish Ball Head. In the Northwest this variety is probably grown to a larger
extent as a main crop than any other two varieties. It is hardy, heads well, and is
also a good keeper and shipper.
Bridgeport Drumhead. A large late cabbage of firm texture and good shipping
qualities. A valuable sort for general use.
Premium Flat Dutch. An improved strain of the old standard Late Flat
Dutch introduced into this country by the early settlers. Not yet improved upon
as a large late sort.
may Variety: 1-6 oz.,.5 cts.; 0z., 20 cts.; 41b., 70 cts.; Ib., $2.00; postpaid.
CARROT
Danvers Half Long. <A great favorite for all purposes. One of the best for
stock feeding. Very productive on all soils. Roots large and of good quality.
Chantenay. A medium early carrot, about six inches long, stump-rooted, deep
red or dark orange in color, fine grained and sweet. One of the finest in quality for
the table.
' Karly Scarlet Horn. The popular early variety. Roots orange-red, smooth and
fine-grained.
- Oxheart or Guerande. A short, thick carrot, very blunt at the apex. Of very
good quality for the table and a good yielder.
Long Orange or Victoria. One of the best for stock feeding. Roots thick at
the shoulder, tapering to 12 or 14 inches in length; reddish orange in color. Very
productive and a good keeper.
Any variety: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.;.% Ilb., 30 cts.; 1b., 90 cts., postpaid:
By express or freight, lb., 80 cts.; 5 lbs., $3.50.
22 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
SS EARLY SNOWBALL CAULIFLOWER
CAULIFLOWER
The cauliflower is not grown to so large an extent as its value would warrant
among our vegetables. There are certain
difficulties which present themselves, first of
which is that seed is rather expensive, and
second, it requires good care and attention
to produce good heads. The two varieties
which we list here are both very early and
with good care will produce good heads in
almost any season.
Earliest Dwarf Erfurt. One of the best
and earliest varieties. Plants dwarf and com-
pact with short stems and small leaves.
Early Snowball. In earliness, reliabili-
ty in heading, general appearance and size of
head this is unequalled. A very popular
variety.
Hither variety: Pkt., 15 cts.; % oz.,
SOO; O23, a. Co.
CELERY
Celery is one of the choicest garden crops,
but it is comparatively little grown in the
home garden because of the extra attention
required to produce stalks of good quality.
Golden Self-Blanching. A very popular
early variety, of dwarf, compact habit. One
of the best in quality and comes nearest to
being a truly self-blanching variety of any
grown. We recommend this for general cul-
tures UPEE CLs ctsr0Z7., Cop. Ct8.3. 224 lbes
$1.75; 1b., $5.00, postpaid. GOLDEN SELF-BLANCHING CELERY
White Plume. This is the earliest and one of the most easily blanched varieties
grown. Extensively grown for market. Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 25 cts.;
$1.75, postpaid.
% lb., 60 cts.; l1b.,
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, §. D. 23
SWEET CORN
The past season has been unusually bad for the growing of sweet corn seed.
Yet we have a very nice lot of seed of some of the best varieties to offer. The
Malakoff and Golden Bantam are the two earliest
varieties grown by us on our home farm at Mitch-
ell. The other varieties were grown by a grower
who makes a specialty of sweet corn, and the
stock is particularly good. For a succession of
crops we recommend the following varieties which
are named in the order of maturity: Malakoff,
Golden Bantam, Crosby’s Early, Early Evergreen
White Evergreen and Stowell’s Evergreen. In the
northern part of our territory the Malakoff and
Golden Bantam are all that are needed to produce
corn of the finest quality throughout the corn
season.
Malakoff. The earliest “sweet corn’’ known.
Similar to the well-Known Peep O’ Day, but of
better quality. There are other varieties of corn
as early, but none of them has the sweet and de-
licious flavor of the Malakoff. At the Universal
Exposition at St. Louis in 1904, in the exhibit
of the United States Department of Agriculture
in the Government Building a wax model of the
Malakoff Sweet Corn was shown as the “earliest
sweet corn.” The
seed stock from
which our seed
was grown was ob-
tained from _ the
Experiment Sta-
tion at Brookings
and represents the
best selection
made at that place.
1-3 pt.,; 15: Cis; Be:
35 cts.; qt., 60 cts,
postpaid. By ex-
press or freight,
qt., 45, ets.; “DE,
$2.75.
Golden Bantam.
ks -. MALAKOFF SWEET CORN An early variety
only a few days or a week later than the Malakoff.
The stalks are 3% to 4 feet high and average two
ears to each stalk. When ready for use the grains
are deep yellow and present a very attractive ap-
pearance served on the ear. It is without a rival in
sweetness and richness of flavor. Very desirable for
the home garden. On the market the yellow color
is an objection until it becomes well-known and then
it serves to distinguish it from the more common
white varieties. 1-3 pt., 15 cts.; pt., 30 cts.; qt., 50
cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt., 35 cts.;
pk., $2.25.
Red-Cob Cory. The standard early corn. Com-
pared with the Malakoff it is nearly, if not quite as
early, has larger and more regular ears, but is not
as sweet. The best early corn for market. 1-3 pt.,
10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 40 cts., postpaid. By ex-
press or freight, qt., 25 cts.; pk., $1.50.
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Crosby’s Early. A favorite second early variety
much used for canning purposes. Ears 10 to 12-
rowed and about 7 inches long. Quality good. 1-3
mrs 20 Cts.; pt.,25 cts.; qt., 40 cts., postpaid: By —
express or freight, qt., 25 cts.; pk., $1.50. GOLDEN BANTAM SWEET CORN
24 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D
Early Minnesota. The old standard early or second early variety. Somewhat
earlier than Crosby’s early and about a week later than Malakoff. Quality good,
ears eight-rowed, of good size and very regular in form. Desirable for either home
use or market. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 40 cts., postpaid. By express or
ftreveht, at., 25 ctséepk, 91200:
Black Mexican. Medium early, very sweet and good. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25
cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.
Early Evergreen. Season a week or ten days earlier than Stowell’s Evergreen,
or just about with Black Mexican. This variety, because of its good quality and
medium season, is one of the best general crop varieties for the northwest. 1-3 pt.,
10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid: By express or freight; gt.) ou scree
wD.
White Evergreen. Similar to Stowell’s Evergreen except in color, which is pure
white. Season somewhat earlier than Stowell’s. These qualities combined with its
fine flavor, make it a very desirable sort for general crop. 1-3 pt, 10) cts.;, pte eects.
qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.; pk., $1.75.
Stowell’s Evergreen. The standard general crop or late sweet corn. No other
variety has been able to displace it either in the home or market garden. For size
and appearance of ear, productiveness and sweetness there is none better. Good seed
is very scarce this year. 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express
or freight sat., S0Rcis;; ple Si. Tb:
Country Gentleman. One of the sweetest late varieties in cultivation. Ears of
large size; kernels long, pointed and arranged irregularly on the cob. 1-3 pt., 10 ets.;
pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 cts., postpaid. By express or freight; gt., 30: cts.; pk. Siaroe
POP-CORN
There is no good reason why every farmer should not have a good supply of
pop corn for his family. As easily raised as field corn, and if you..have more than
you need for your own use it can'‘always be sold on the market at a good price. Our
stock of all varieties is very good.
White Rice. The standard sort for field culture.
Red Rice. Similar to White Rice except in color of kernel, which is a deep red.
Queen’s Golden. One of the very best varieties for popping. Very productive.
There is none better. ;
Any variety: 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 20 cts..,.by mail postpaid. By express or*freight,
Oth Zarets copies, 00s ADile woo. 010%
_ CUCUMBER
Aksarben White Spine. One of the very finest strains of White Spine. A vigor-
ous grower and prolific cropper. Fruits are remarkably uniform in size, growing
from eight to ten inches long, dark green in color and very handsome in appearance.
One of the very best varieties for slicing and forcing.
Arlington White Spine. One of the most popular of the White Spine sorts. Vines
hardy and vigorous, producing fine, uniform fruits about eight inchés long, the cu- |
cumbers retaining their dark green color until well advanced towards the ripening
stage. The flesh is white, very crisp and of excellent flavor.
_ Extra Long White Spine. A beautiful large cucumber, very regular in size and
form and of excellent quality.
Chicago Pickling. A medium-sized variety with prominent spines: A vigorous
grower and a very prolific producer. Highly esteemed as a pickle variety.
Cumberland. This variety of the white spine type is quite a favorite for pick-
ling. Fruits at pickling stage are thickly set with spines, grow very straight, and uni-
form and are very dark green in color. Fruits attain a fair size and are good for both
pickling and slicing.
Everbearing. An extremely early sort. Vines are vigorous and prolific. Medium-
sized fruits, four to five inches in length and about an inch and a half in diameter.
Improved White Spine. Very early and extremely productive. Fruits medium-
sized, well proportioned and dark green in color. Flesh firm and tender. Owing to
its earliness this is a valuable variety for early market use.
Improved Long Green. An old and popular variety, producing large fruits, ten
to twelve in¢hes in length, slim, but uniform in size, dark green in color. Flesh is
solid, crisp, and of excellent flavor. Very highly esteemed for garden use.
Any variety: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10° cts.; 4% 1b.) 30 cts Ib.; $1200. poston.
By express or freight: Lb., 92 cts.; 5 lbs., $4.00.
aig
To ee POR ae
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 25
LETTUCE
The varieties which are listed here are those which are especially adapted for
cold frames or outdoor culture. All of them can be recommended for this purpose,
but we wish particularly to call attention to the Grand Rapids, Hansen, Iceberg
and Maximum. The old popular Prizehead is also considered by many as very de-
sirable, though the color and texture of the leaves are somewhat against it.
Black-Seeded Simpson. A crisp, light-green, bunch lettuce. Leaves broad, very
much crumpled, twisted and frilled. Ranks as one of the four most largely planted
varieties in the United States.
Grand Rapids. Character of growth similar to the Black-Seeded Simpson, from
which it was developed by more than fifteen years’ selection. To a large extent this
variety has replaced the older Black-Seeded Simpson.
Hanson. A very large, late, cabbage-heading variety; very crisp and firm in
texture; quality sweet and good. This is the standard summer head luttuce and
succeeds everywhere. Its popularity is attested by the fact that it has been listed
by over two hundred seedsmen in this country and ranks as one of the three most
largely grown varieties in the United States.
Iceberg. Similar to the Hanson, except that it is smaller and is tinged with
brown. The quality is good and very sweet. A newer variety than Hanson, but rapidly
gaining in favor.
Maximum. A cabbage-heading butter lettuce, very large, late and slow to shoot
to seed. Quality good and rather sweet, very buttery in flavor. A good variety for
spring, summer or autumn.
May King. One of the very best varieties for spring planting, forming large,
round, solid heads very quickly in cool weather. The leaves are tender and of fine
flavor.
Morse. Similar to Black-Seeded Simpson except in color of seed, which is
white. A comparatively new variety, but rapidly gaining in favor.
Prizehead. Probably grown to a larger extent than any other variety in the
United States, especially in the west. A large, early, bunch lettuce, brown in color,
erisp, tender and of good flavor. Recommended for spring and early summer planting.
Any variety: 402., 5 cts.; oz., 15 cts.; % lb., 40 cts.; lb., $1.00, postpaid.
MUSKMELON
Although muskmelons cannot be very satisfactorily grown for market in the
extreme northern states, the early varieties should occupy a place in every home
garden. The Rocky Ford and Emerald Gem we especially recommend.
Emerald Gem. An extra.early melon of small size, smooth, emerald green
skin and thick salmon-colored flesh. This is the richest flavored melon in cultiva-
tion. Valuable for the home garden on account of its earliness and fine quality.
Early Green Nutmeg. Very early; flesh green; very sweet, of good flavor.
Extra Early Hackensack. The standard, very early variety and very popular for
both home use and market. The melons are of fair size, nearly round in shape,
flattened at stem and blossom ends; heavily ribbed and netted. Flesh green and of
good flavor.
Paul Rose. A small to medium-sized melon, slightly oval in shape, well ribbed
and netted. Skin turns a light green when ripe; flesh salmon-colored and of delicious
quality and flavor. This melon is handsome in appearance and a fair shipper.
Rocky Ford. First introduced as Netted Gem, but now more commonly called
Rocky Ford after the place in Colorado made famous by its melons. Fruits small,
oblong or oval in shape, well ribbed and very heavily netted, the netting turning
to a silver color when ripe. The skin is hard and firm, making it an excellent shipper.
Flesh is green in color and of the best quality.
any variety: 1-3 0z., 5 cts:; 0oz., 10 ets.; 4% Ib:, 35 cts; 1b.7 $1.20; postpaid.
ONION
There is no vegetable with which one should take more care in the selection of
seed than the onion. Probably more poor onion seed is sold every year than of any
other one crop. Our seed is grown by one of the best growers, who makes careful
tests of all stocks from which he grows seed and tests all the seed for germination
before we receive them. To make matters doubly sure we test all stocks for germina-
tion and growth after receiving them, so you are sure to get seed that will grow and
‘
}
,
26 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
produce good onions. Because of the unfavorable season for the production of onion
seed in the regions where most of the onion seed is grown, the price is very high this
year.
Australian Brown. An early, medium-sized, globular onion. The flesh is white
and the skin is bright, reddish brown in color. This variety is considerably earlier
than the Red Wethersfield and is a good keeper.
Large Red Wethersfield. This variety is the popular red onion usually found
in all markets. It is medium early and is a very good keeper. It is probably the
largest and hardiest of the American varieties of onions. It will yield a good crop
when many others will fail because of the unfavorable conditions.
Mammoth Silver King. A large,. white, Italian sort, with tender, white flesh.
It grows quickly and matures rather early. It is one of the most striking onions in
appearance and is valuable for marketing in autumn and early winter.
Prizetaker. This onion is. of immense size, globular in shape, hard and firm.
The skin is straw yellow in color and the flesh is fine-grained and of excellent flavor.
A fairly good keeper, but not equal to the Red Wethersfield, Red Globe or Yellow
Globe Danvers in this respect.
Southport Red Globe. By many this is considered the finest red sort. It vies
with the Red Wethersfield in trying to occupy first place in popularity. It is perfectly
SOUTHPORT;RED GLOBE ONION
globular in shape and of large size. Skin is dark blood red in color. It is
a splendid keeper and the quality is excellent. In western markets this brings a
higher price than the Red Wethersfield. For general crop either in the home garden
or for market this variety should occupy the most prominent. place.
Southport White Globe. <A very beautiful, large, white onion. Though not as
good a keeper as some of the red and yellow sorts, it is a very popular onion for
early market. Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 40 cts.;. % '1b., $1.00; Ib.; $3.256;) postpaid:
Southport Yellow Globe. This is the finest, largest, yellow onion grown, similar
in size and form to the Red Globe. It is later in ripening than the Yellow Globe
Danvers and larger in size. It is a good keeper and a heavy cropper.
Yellow Globe Danvers. This is the standard yellow globe onion seen in mast
of our markets. No other varieties seem to be able to displace it and its companion,
the large Red Wethersfield. Both are hardy, good croppers and excellent keepers
and seldom fail to give good returns.
Any variety, except the Southport White Globe: Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 30 cts.; ™%4 Ib., 80
cts.; lb.,. $2.50, postpaid.
Onion Sets. The bottom sets are very desirable for planting to secure very early
onions for the table. Red or yellow sets, per qt., 30 cts.; white sets per qt., 35 ets.,
postpaid. Write for prices on larger quantities.
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 27
PARSNIP
More commonly grown in the home garden than for the market, and recommended
as a desirable vegetable. If the roots are allowed to remain in the ground over
winter they fill in a very convenient place on the table in the spring when other
vegetables are becoming scarce. The plants are somewhat slow in starting from
seed, but when once started they are comparatively easy to care for and well repay
the labor expended in growing them.
Guernsey. A very heavy cropper; flesh fine-grained and of good quality. Roots
are not so long as the Hollow Crown, but thicker and more easily gathered.
Hollow Crown. This is the standard market gardener’s strain. It is the best
for general cultivation. It is very sweet and of good flavor.
Hither variety: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.; %4 Ilb., 20 cts.; lb., 60 cts., postpaid.
PEAS
Earliest of All. This is one of the best very early peas grown. It is very pro-
ductive and matures the entire crop almost at one time so that it can be gathered in
two pickings. It is of good quality for a very early pea.
American Wonder. An early, wrinkled pea of finest quality. There is no pea
grown that excels the American Wonder in quality. The vines are extremely dwarf
in growth, varying from 10 inches to 2 feet in height, depending upon the soil in
which they are grown. It is one of the earliest dwarf, wrinkled peas and follows
closely upon the Earliest of All.
Everbearing. A standard, general crop sort. Very prolific and of excellent
quality; pods of medium length and well filled with large peas. Shell out as large
a percentage of peas to pod as any variety grown. Vines are of medium height, at-
taining 21% to 3 feet.. In dry regions they can usually be grown without extra sup-
port. This variety will stand hot summer weather better than most others and
thus will bear late sowing for a succession of crops.
Nott’s Excelsior. Of the dwarf, early, wrinkled peas there is none better for
general culture in the northwest than Nott’s Excelsior. Pods average three inches in
length and are well filled with very large peas of unusually good quality. Wherever
this variety has been grown in South Dakota it has given the best of satisfaction,
either for the home garden or for market.
Surprise. One of the earliest of all wrinkled peas. Pods are not so large as
the American Wonder, but more numerous. This is not so well known as the older
American Wonder, but is deserving of a trial in every garden.
Gradus. This is one of the finest large-podded, extra early peas introduced.
Pods are about four inches long, well filled with large wrinkled, deep green peas of
finest quality. Peas remain in edible condition for some time after large enough to
use. 1-3 pt., 15 cts.; pt., 35 cts.; qt., 60 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, qt.,
45 cts.
Any variety except Gradus: 1-3 pt., 10 cts.; pt., 25 cts.; qt., 45 ects., postpaid.
By express or freight, qt., 30 cts.
PEPPER
A tropical plant which is not particularly adapted to being grown in the northern
states. The varieties which we offer, however, can be successfully grown with little
care by sowing the seed in a hot bed in March and transplanting the plants to the
open field in June.
Bull Nose. A prolific, rather early variety, bearing large, scarlet fruits. Earlier
than the Ruby King.
Chili. Very productive; fruits very small, very red and very hot.
Golden Dawn. A handsome and distinct golden pepper. Fruits small, mild and
sweet in flavor.
Ruby King. The most popular, large, red pepper. Plants grow two feet high
and produce a crop of handsome, large, scarlet fruits. Flesh sweet, tender and
mild. Should be started very early to mature good fruits in this climate.
Any variety: Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 30 cts., postpaid.
28 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
PUMPKIN
Among the varieties of pumpkin that are grown, the Connecticut Field is probably
the most desirable one for field planting in our latitude. As pie pumpkins we especial-
ly recommend the Japanese and the Small Sugar as the two that have especially dem-
oustrated their value as to productiveness, early maturity and quality.
Connecticut Field. This is the earliest field pumpkin. Immensely productive
and commonly grown in corn fields for stock feeding. Also good for pies. Oz., 10 cts.;
1% lb., 20 cts.; lb., 50 cts., postpaid. By express or freight, lb, 40 cts.; 10 lbs., $2.50.
Japanese Pie. This variety is both curious and useful. The skin is deep green
with dark stripes which turn to golden yellow. Seeds are peculiarly marked. The seed
cavity is small and the neck is solid flesh. Matures early and is of the finest quality.
‘ We know of no better pie pumpkin. 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 15 cts.; % lb., 40 cts.; Ib.,
1.00, postpaid.
King of the Mammoths. A pumpkin of im-
mense size; matures rather late for the north.
Flesh is thick, bright yellow, fine-grained and
excellent for pies. %4 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 20 cts.; %
1b., 60 cts.; Ib., $1.50, postpaid.
Quaker Pie. A very prolific pie pumpkin.
Flesh fine-grained and rich in flavor. Excellent
keeper if stored in warm place. 1-3 oz., 5 cts.;
oz., 15 ets.; % lb., 40 cts.; lb., $1.00, postpaid.
Small®°Sugar. The standard pie pumpkin,
resembling the field variety in color and shape,
but of very much smaller size, averaging from
8 to 12 inches in diameter. Is as fine-grained as
average squash and of excellent flavor. 1-3 oz.,
HCl 1202.4, | VOicGts.; seo | Divow Cls.s. Ebi Owets:,
postpaid.
Tennessee Sweet Potato. -Bell shaped; flesh
thick white, fine for pies. 1-3 oz., 5-cts.; oz.,
15 cts.; % Ib., 40 cts.; 1b., $1.00. SE oe ee ee
RADISH
For extremely early growing the small globe or olive shaped varieties are pre-
ferable. For later spring and early summer some of the long rooted varieties give
better results for the ground occupied. The Icicle and Scarlet Button are the most
popular, very early sorts for both forcing and early planting in the open ground.
Scarlet Gem. A very popular, extremely early, globe-shaped radish, maturing
in about 25 days. Color scarlet with a white tip. None better for early sowing in
open ground or for forcing. :
Early Scarlet Turnip. A French favorite. The standard, small, round, red sort.
eee Gem. <A handsome, globe-shaped variety of rosy scarlet shading to white
at the tip.
French Breakfast. One of the standard early radishes. Roots of oblong shape,
red above, changing to clear white in the lower portions.
Icicle. This is becoming one of the most popular radishes grown. Its earliness,
attractive appearance and excellent quality make it one of the most valuable of the
round radishes. It remains in fine condition longer than any other first early.
Chartier. The largest and handsomest summer sort. The roots are long, crim-
son, tipped with white. The hardiest sort for summer culture.
Any variety: 1-3 0z.,.5 cts.; oz.,-10 cts.; 4% Ilb., 25 ets.; lb., 75 cts., postpaid,
SQUASH
Hubbard. The popular standard variety for winter use. Shell dark green,
flesh bright orange yellow, fine-grained, very dry and of rich flavor.
Warted Hubbard. Similar to the common Hubbard squash, but in general more
warty. Very striking in appearance; grows larger than the common Hubbard.
Golden Hubbard. This variety is similar to the Hubbard, but has a skin of
bright red color. It is somewhat smaller and earlier than the common Hubbard, but
is equally as productive and fine in quality.
.
DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. 29
Ca a TEETER
Mammoth Chili. This is the large yellow squash which takes the prizes at the
County Fairs for size. Flesh fine-grained and sweet. 1-3 02z., 10 \ets.= 02, 20 cts.
% 1b., 50 cts.; lb., $1.25, postpaid.
Mammoth White Bush. A large strain of the Early White Bush summer squash.
Nearly as early as the smaller strains and about twice the size.
Golden Custard. This is the mammoth strain of Golden Bush summer squash,
similar to the Mammoth White Bush except in color. A valuable summer variety.
Yellow Summer Crookneck. A true bush in habit of growth; very early and
productive.
White Summer Crookneck. Similar to Yellow Summer Crookneck, except in
color.
Any variety except Mammoth Chili: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.; % 1b., 30 cts.;
lan TOMATO
For our territory the late varieties have very little place. We would especially
recommend the Earliana, Early Jewel, Dwarf Champion and Matchless. The last
three are very desirable for a general crop.
Acme. The popular standard, bright pink tomato; of medium size, smooth and
good. Pkt., 5 cts.; 1%4 0z., 20 cts.; oz., 30 cts.; % Ib., 75 cts.; lb., $2.25, postpaid.
Earliana. The earliest, smooth, bright red tomato, averaging three inches in
diameter; somewhat flattened. Plant is a vigorous grower and a good cropper. We
recommend this sort as the first early for every home and market garden. Pkt., 5 cts.;
% oz., 25 cts.; oz., 40 cts.; % lb., $1.10; 1lb., $3.50, postpaid.
Chalk’s Early Jewel. This variety immediately follows the Earliana in season.
For the north it is a very valuable early and general purpose bright red tomato.
Fruits are larger and are produced more abundantly than the Harliana. We recom-
mend this as the best second early. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz., 20 cts.;-oz., 35 cts.; %4 Ib.,
90 cts.; lb., $8.00, postpaid.
Matchless. An extra large, smooth and handsome, bright red tornato. Consid-
ered as eae of the best large-fruited. general crop red sorts. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz.,
20 cts.; , eo) ets:; 44 1b., 80 ets:; Ib. $2250; postpaid.
Pee As early as the Acme and more solid in flesh; has fewer ‘seeds than
most kinds. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz., 20 cts.; oz., 30 ets.; ™% Ilb., 75 cts.; 1b., $2.25, post-
paid.
Dwarf Champion. A very distinct, rather early tomato. Plants are dwarf, hav-
ing stiff, bushy stems and thick, deep green leaves. Very different from the common
varieties. Fruits are deep purplish in color; of medium size and round. This is one
of the best and most popular varieties grown in the northwest. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz.,
20 €LS.; O2., 05 cts.; % Ib., 90 cts.; lb., $3.00, postpaid.
Ponderosa. Largest fruited variety in cultivation. Fruits are deep purple in
color and have small seed cavities containing very few seeds. We have grown fruits
to weigh over two pounds each. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz., 25 ects.; oz., 40 cts.; % lb., $1.10;
lb., $3.75, postpaid.
Golden Queen. A very good, large, smooth, yellow tomato; flavor is mild. Pkt.,
5-cts.; % oz., 20 cts.; oz., 35 cts.; % l1b., 80 ets.; lb., $2.50, postpaid.
Yellow Pear. Fruits small, yellow, pear-shaped. Very productive. Valuable
for pickling and preserving. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz., 20 ets., postpaid.
Red Cherry. Fruits are small and handsome. Much used for pickles and pre-
serves. Pkt., 5 cts.; %0z., 20 cts., postpaid.
Ground Cherry. A husk tomato. An old standard garden fruit, greatly value‘
for preserves. When ripe it is one-half an inch in diameter and very sweet. Excellent
to eat out of hand. Pkt., 5 cts.; % oz., 25 cts., postpaid.
TURNIP
Both the English and the Swede Turnip or Rutabaga are desirable garden
crops and the latter are also desirable for stock feeding. As a field crop, however,
they do not yield in quantity equal to some of the mangels and carrots. One feature
about turnips is that they can be sown very late in the season and can follow some
of the earlier crops in gardens where space is a consideration.
Extra Early Purple Top Milan. The earliest English turnip in cultivation. Roots
ee” with purple top. 44 oz., 10 cts.; oz., 15 cts.; % lb., 30 cts.; lb., 80 ets.,
postpaid.
Golden Ball. Very handsome; keeps well; not of large size, but firm and of
good flavor.
30 DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D.
Purple Top Strap Leaf. The pouular fall flat sort. More largely grown than
any other variety.
White Globe. Roots white, perfectly globe-shaped, early. Good either for table
use or as stock feed.
Monarch Rutabaga. Roots of oblong form, large-size and yellow flesh. Yields
well.
Purple Top Rutabaga. A hardy and productive variety. A good strain
Any variety except Early Purple Top Milan: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; 0oz., 10 cts.; % Ib.,
‘20 cts.; lb., 60 cts., postpaid. '
WATERMELON
A good warm soil and a secluded place are the two points necessary for success
in raising and securing good watermelons.’ There are, comparatively few varieties
that are sufficiently early to,be adapted to our section of the country. For extremely
early no melon gets ahead of Cole’s Harly.. The fruits are rather small, seldom at-
taining large size. Fordhook Early is an excellent variety, not much later than
Cole’s Early. We especially recommend it for general crop north. The other varieties
listed are for the southern part of our territory and will mature there under favorable
conditions.
Cole’s Early. The earliest watermelon in cultivation. Can be grown in all the
northern states. Too small for market, but valuable for home use where larger
varieties will not mature.
Fordhook Early. The earliest large-fruited melon. Fruits of good size, green
skin and red flesh. A good shipper. Recommended for planting in South Dakota and
southern Minnesota.
Halbert Honey. An early, large, dark green melon of excellent quality. Valu-
_ able to grow for near market, but is not a good shipper because of its thin, brittle
rind.
Sweetheart. Rather late for our vicinity. A fine large melon. For market and
shipping it is among the best and will remain in condition for use longer than most
others.
Any variety: 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.; % 1b., 20 cts.; lb., 70 cts., postpaid.
MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES
So tery Conover’s Collossal: The popular variety. 1-3 0z., 5 cts.; oz., 10
de be 20eCts.5 1b. 0 "etse
he iehaneoli. Purple Cape: The standard purple variety, forming close compact
heads. Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 35 cts.
Brussels Sprouts, Improved Dwarf: A very good sort of delicate flavor. Pkt.,
5 cts.; oz., 20 cts.
Egg Plant, Early Dwarf Purple: One of the earliest and most productive vari-
eties. Pkt., 5 cts. ; ;.02., D0 cts.
Endive, White Curled: Finest cut and curled; does not need blanching. Pkt.,
5 cts:; 0z.; 15 cts.
Kale, Curled Mosbach: Dwarf, compact, light green foliage. Pkt., 10 cts.
Dwarf German: Curly, bright green, very tender. Pkt., 5 cts.
Kohl-Rabi, Early White Vienna: The best sort for table use. Of fine appearance
and very early. Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 25 cts.
Leek, Carentan: Standard variety with stout habit and dark colored leaves.
Pkt., 5 ects.
Okra, White Velvet: Produces large, round, smooth pods, velvety white in
eolor. 1-3 oz., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.
Parsley, Moss-Curled: Densely crumpled and curled. Fern-Leaved: Beautifully
curled. Plain: The ordinary form. Any variety, pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 10 cts.
Salsify, Mammoth Sandwich Island: Roots of superior quality and double the
size of the old variety. Pkt., 5 cts.; oz., 15 cts.; %4 lb., 35 cts.; lb., $1.00.
Spinach, Long Standing: Leaves large and thick, dark green in color. Oz., 5
5.5. 34) 1B, LO Cls.5 10.,9o.0 CES,
. DAKOTA IMPROVED SEED COMPANY, MITCHELL, S. D. ae
INDEX
a, 2 ea toad ohne = tee wee ee. WV LE. SS Ne Dee 12
Asparagus... ea yb) PisSatant. oe Gk eae: a0 % Peas, *Garden: sad. eo. Ss s. 20
Barley .. BA Endive .. ean! Piel 64.46 or 3 18
means... . pete Pilar? 2 Te ee ia Teper. mee ite ele es woe < 27
bo Se a ee E20 GASSER Sud Pee wee Pee OEAUOES ten oe ere LN Ty aiae bi? d
Rome TASS: (so. a. LR TP ae es Phe oe ee 30 Pumpkin... ps
0 LE eae 3 Kohinare = Aisa pees SECON LSID. S . pier otal e ts eta! os 28
fomeme Grass ....... 2. 18 GCs Bie oc Ree ae oe 3 eA St ors: eer eke rae ert 5 18
eerussels Sprouts ...... 30 Lett wee. tee Sa CES DIC 2 Teng dees aot ene :'« 30
EE ah ee ku vs MaAnsceley ofa as hi Sorehum . . 1
maerot. . . ~ eee. REVEL GL tae wae A ek oa ot ey lee Sa aS ie... | as eee w la 28
Cauliflower . my Muskmelom, 2) oss 2: Dew © SWeeL UPreGAaS.... niece.» 18
LT ES a 2 a, OBES ee ee at Oe ci fa oueciee DCCLS 2-5 cite ater. « 1g
eR hie arn n ehnne one 1S. Ort ranean Meter alieris tse er Seem TOMY 5S mas wages 18
nT fee et eG ol (tO 2 eras a te. ae ee E OMIEUO! 5 a. a TGs whe aye d « 29
12 CN Bai een 4: § ParsSleyewe ii vied eis 3 Pula Min. Sar ar Sey as, 29
Oe. eo Dates cee PASM Late cece Sere eye ee Watermelon....... 30
THE WONDER GRAIN GRADER
One of the most valuable machines for grad-
ing seed that there is on the market. Not a
substitute for a fanning mill, but useful to fol-
low a fanning mill to separate plump, heavy
seed from the lightweight seed. It will do work
in the preparation of grain for seed that cannot
be done by a fanning mill. We recommend its
lse]by dll; sram srewers. Price. for type 7"C,’
delivered to your nearest station’ $40.00. Write
for complete descriptive catalog and price list.
IMPORTANT
Postage Prepaid. In considering our prices
please bear in mind that we prapay the postage
on seeds listed by the packet, ounce, fraction of
an ounce, pint, third-pint, pound, fourth-pound
or quart, unless otherwise stated. At the prices
quoted we include all sacks, boxes, crates or
baskets used for shipments, unless otherwise
specified.
Premium. On any order for seeds priced per packet, ounce, fraction of an ounce,
or third-pint, to the amount of $1.00 or more, $1.25 worth of seeds may be selected
for each dollar sent with order.
How to Order.
Cash must accompany order and should be in the form of a
_money order, bank draft, or as currency in a regitered letter.
Our Standing. You run no risk in sending cash with order, for our financial
responsibility can be learned from any bank or similar institution in your community.
Our Guarantee. We make a definite statement on all our seeds as to germination
and purity and guarantee this to be correct. Our special guarantee on garden seeds
is given on every seed packet, a fac-simile of which appears on page 19 of this
catalog.
Acknowledgement. The photographs in this catalogue were made for us by Mr.
H. D. Ayer, official photographer of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station,
St. Anthony Park, Minnesota; Prof. John S. Cole, Agronomist of the South Dakota
Agricultural College, Brookings, South Dakota, and Mr. M. K. Eliason, photographer,
Mitchell, South Dakota. The half-tone engravings are the work of the Buckbee Mears
Co., St. Paul, Minn. The printing was done by the Mitchell Printing Company,
Mitchell, South Dakota.
IMPROVED SEEDS”
MINNESOTA
and the
DAKOTAS
NORTH DAKOTA
DICKINSON
°
EDGELEY
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Say FOURCHE MORE
° SOUTH DAKOTA
MITCHELL
BROOKINGS
°
SE a Se
SOOO OOOO ooooosooeoeooooe wooo oo oes ooesoe oe
OAGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS
The Agricultural Experiment Stations
OF THE ABOVE STATES ARE
OW Ry, Gi ee se
The methods they approve are the ones we follow.
The varieties they recommend are the ones we offer.
Dakota Improved Seed Co.
PLANT BREEDERS AND SEED GROWERS
MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA
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