Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices
U 7 FIELD’S
VoL 6 Shenandoah , Iowa , June , 1918 No. 5
Printed and Published in the Private Printshop of the Henry Field Seed Co., Shenandoah, Iowa
John Henry and the Pigs
One of our customers saw the picture last
month of John Henry and the pigs, so he sent
the letter shown below, with a pencil sketch
showing him feeding the pigs. I reproduce the
letter here, picture and all, just as it was written.
It certainly tickled the children immensely.
WEENIE WORST.
Don't you think that "Weenieworat " is
A good name for a bad pig?
One who bites and growls and squeals,
Altho .she is not very big?
She was the smallest o:f all our pigs.
So we called her "Weenie" at first.
But she got badder than all of the rest,
And we added to "Weenie" the "worst".
She is only about as big as the oat,
And’ ought to be still as a mouse.
But from her squeal I guess she thinks
She is bigger than even the house.
If I don't feed her at just the time
She thinks that her meals should come.
She turns loose with her awful squeal,
And my, how she makes things hum.
When she gets out she thinks she's a plow,
And gee, how she throws up the dirt,
And they won't let me give her a ring,
Because they're afraid it will hurt.
Maybe when she grows older she'll se-e
That she is worse than the rest.
And be 'shamed of her name — and act so nice
That I'll have to call her "Weeniebest ".
Ruth and Georgia Ready for Work
Don’t you think Ruth and Georgia look like
real country girls now? They really are too. We
live in the country in the summer, and moved
out this year early in April. We live 4 miles
from town and I drive in my car to work at the
seedhouse, but I don’t work very regular in the
summer.
We have a regular farm there and keep
some hogs, a couple of cows, a horse and a pony,
and have lots of timber, and a creek, and a
woodpile and all the rest of it.
The children are getting along fine, and en-
joy it all immensely. They can go barefooted
and wear overalls, and do just about as they
please.
We will stay in the country till November,
and the children will go to the country school the
fall term, then we will move back to town for
the winter.
We have had a great year at the seed house.
Sales bigger than ever and taken care of in
better shape than we have ever done before.
And lots of orders coming yet.
If you need anything for late planting, send
along your orders and we will take good care of
you. H. F:
2
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Some Spikes of My Gladiola Collection
GLADIOLAS, Queen of Flowers
I believe if I were limited to just one flower
for my own growing, I would choose the gladiola
in preference to anything else. It has absolute-
ly no insect enemies and no diseases. It is
beautiful either growing or picked. It blooms
for three months steady. And best of all, it will
grow and bloom in any soil, any weather, and
for any one. I have never known anyone to fail
with it if they had good bulbs to start with.
Another thing, it is a case where you can “have
your cake and eat it, too,” for besides the beau-
tiful blooms the bulbs increase three- fold, and
your supply keeps on increasing from year to
year. Most people, when you speak of gladio-
las, think of the old-fashioned red and yellow
flower common a generation ago, and have no
idea of the immense improvement that has
taken place in them. Every color of the rain-
bow is now represented, and in form, and color
and size no lily or canna can equal them. Some
of mine are 6 inches across and the most won-
derful and beautiful coloring imaginable.
These bulbs are all of my own growing, guar-
anteed true to name first quality and sound. All
are large, blooming-size bulbs.
We also have bulblets and little “planting
stock” bulbs to sell and will be glad to quote
you special prices on them by letter. The prices
here quoted refer always to blooming size bulbs.
well under the same conditions that would make
a good crop of potatoes or cabbage. They like a
rich, mellow soil, fairly moist. They cannot
stand shade nor wet, soggy ground. They do
best planted very early in the season, the earlier
the better, and should be planted rather deep,
say 4 or 5 inches. A good rule is to place them
as deep as four times the diameter of the bulb,
and, in fact, this is a good rule with almost any
kind of bulbs. In the fall the bulbs should be
dug before hard freezing weather, and stored in
the cellar, where they will be cool and dry and
safe from freezing.
Field’s Finest Mixed
40c per doz., 40 for $1.00, postpaid
Besides the named varieties, which I keep
separate, I grow thousands of bulbs in mixture.
Many people prefer them this way; they are of
endless variety of form and color, hardly any
two being alike. They range from dark red to
yellow and pure white ; every imaginable color.
I have bought brag mixtures from everywhere
and added to mine until I have a strain that is
hard to beat. When they are in bloom I go
through and pull out all that do not suit me and
throw them away. It carries a large proportion
of light and striped, and none at all of the old-
fashioned red. The bulbs are all of the large
size.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
3
Of course you can plant peonies in the
spring if you want to. There is no law against
it. But if you really want to have success with
peonies, the time to plant them is in the fall,
especially in September and October. They are
practically certain then to live and bloom and
they will be pretty sure to bloom next spring,
too, which would not likely be the case if plant-
ed next spring.
I don’t know of any flower more satisfactory
to plant than peonies. They are sure to live and
grow they will bloom anywhere and for any one
and they live forever, getting better with age.
They have no disease and no insect enemies,
they are big, beautiful and fragrant. They bloom
in time for Memorial day. A single clump of
them on the lawn is a beautiful sight and a big
bed of them is finer yet.
Just notice the picture above showing mine
in bloom at the seed house. Did you ever see
anything finer? I have probably the finest col-
lection in the country. They are worth coming
hundreds of miles to see. I have the varieties
that bloom and bloom every year. I can give
you any color you want. If you love peonies
let me fix you out with a start of really good
varieties. You will find a long list of them in
the catalog and in the last September Seed
Sense. Study over the list. Besides I have
over 200 kinds not listed there. I can give you
any kind you want. Considering what you get
for your money there is no flower so cheap as
peonies. You can buy them from 20c up, for
good plants. Anyone can afford to plant them,
get them from some neighbor, but by all means
plant some.
I never felt that money spent for flowers
was wasted. It is money well spent, for there
is nothing that gives so much pleasure and
happiness in the world. Some one has said that
the peony is the flower for the million and for
the millionaire. The millionaire could buy noth-
ing finer and the millions can all afford to buy
them. And I guess that’s about right.
If you have been promising the wife some
flowers to fix up the front yard, now is the time
for you to make good, by spending a few dollars
for the looks of the place, to say nothing of the
pleasure it will give the wife and the girls.
I Grow My Own Peonies
I grow my own peonies right here on the
seed house grounds, where I can see them every
day. In the spring and summer, I pretty near
live with them and I know every variety and al-
most every plant by heart. I know absolutely
that they are true to name, true to color, healthy
and vigorous. You need fear no disappointment
when you get peonies out of such a garden as
mine. If you buy any peonies from me, or if
you have bought any in the past and they are
untrue to name or fail to live, I will at any time
replace them free.
I have over 200 named sorts, the very
finest, at from 25c to $1.00 each. Send along
your order.
Special Offer
Double White. Mixture of the best large
double white varieties. 20c each, 5 for $1.00.
Double Pink. A collection of pink sorts
ranging from a light shell pink almost to crim-
son. 20c each, 5 for $1.00.
Double Red. Various shades of deep red.
20c each, 5 for $1.00.
Mixed Double. All colors. Hardly any
two alike. 20c each, 3 for 50c, 6 for $1.00,
12 for $2.00.
Postpaid
These prices include delivery by parcels
post, all charges prepaid. Remember this when
comparing prices.
4
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
There is a large and increasing demand
not only in the east, but in the central west, for
seed corn especially good for ensilage and fod-
der purposes. It must be corn that will make a
creditable showing of grain. It is important
too, that it stand up well against the wind, so
that it may be easily harvested. Western seed
corn is for this reason much preferable to the
eastern or southern seed, as it is used to the
prairie winds and will stand up well in the face
of winds that would blow down any eastern
corn. This showed very plainly in my trial
grounds, both this year and last, as corn from
eastern seed went down badly, while the seed
from Iowa and other western states stood per-
fectly . I sold lots of corn last year to farmers
:in the eastern states, and this fall I wrote to a
number of them asking how it stood up and how
it succeeded in general. Almost without excep-
tion they replied that it stood far better than
any other corn, making a better yield of fodder
and grain.
Mammoth White Ensilage — A big, rank
growing white corn, somewhat similar to White
Elephant, but has been bred up with the idea of
making an enormous crop of fodder. It makes
big, coarse ears that ripen easily in this latitude.
Grows about 12 feet high on good land.
Learning Ensilage — This is a special type
of the Learning, very popular all over the east
for fodder corn. It grows about ten feet high,
very leafy, stalks stand up well and can be
planted thicker than the big white corn. Ears
yellow, solid, fairly early and of good size. Al-
ways can be depended upon for a good yield of
both fodder and grain.
Fodder Flint Corn — This is the principal
corn grown in New England and in fact, all
through the extreme northern edge of the Corn
Belt. It is hardier than the Dent corn and will
stand more cold and ripen much earlier than
any Dent corn.
Early Dent Fodder Corn — An Early Dent!
corn of medium height, ripening very early. Fine
quality.
Evergreen Sweet Fodder Corn — This is
very much the same as the regular Stowell’s j
Evergreen Sweet Corn, only not so carefully
handled as the garden grade. It is of good ger-
mination, a vigorous growthy type and good
stuff in every way. It does not grow so large
as field corn, but makes sweet fodder and can
be planted very thick. It stools out much more
than the field corn and the stalks being finer
the stock will eat it up, stalks and all.
Early Sweet Fodder Corn — This is small-
er than the Evergreen type of corn, but earlier,
and is valuable for early feed. Specially val-
uable in the north, where extreme earliness is
desired.
Fodder Cane — Many farmers use fodder
cane and Kaffir to mix with corn in silo. We
can supply either one in good pure seed.
Kaffir Corn
The great fodder crop of western Kansas
and Nebraska, valuable for both fodder and
grain. In regions so dry that corn cannot be
grown at all, kaffir corn will make a yield of 30
or 40 bushels per acre of seed, equal to corn in
feeding qualities, besides a large amount of
first-class fodder — better than the best corn
fodder and almost equal to cane. This grain is
especially valuable for fowls, as it is a conven-
ient size for feeding and seems to be just the
right quality. It can be sown broadcast at 75
lbs. per acre, or drilled in like corn, using about
5 or 10 lbs. per acre.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
5
Just Beans
Do you remember the song we used
to sing at the old soldiers’ reunions? I
wasn’t an old soldier, but I was generally
there just the same as a sort of a bqy
scout in the Sons of Veterans’ camp and,
like the rest of small boys, I was always
in the thick of everything. But what I
started to talk about was the Bean song.
As I remember, it run something like
this — sung to the tune of “There’s a land
that is fairer than day”:
“There’s a spot that the soldiers all love,
And the mess tent’s the place that I mean
And the dish that they like to see there,
Is the old fashioned white army beans.”
There were about forty verses, more
or less, and they used to sing it till you
could hear it in the next county.
I guess soldiers haven’t changed
much since fifty years ago, for I notice
that the Army Bean is still the main
standby and as popular as ever.
And it’s going to take lots of beans
this winter, for there are lots of soldiers
and mighty few beans to start on. That
means we have got to all get busy and
grow beans, both for ourselves and the
soldiers.
Fortunately they can be grown pretty
near anywhere in the country and on any
kind of soil and with no extra tools. They
can be threshed with a regular thresher, or beat
out with a flail or club.
The variety to use is the regular “Navy
Bean” (also known as Pea Bean, Field Bean and
Army Bean.) They can be planted any time up
to July 10th in this latitude, but better about
the middle of June. Use 20 lbs. of seed per
acre, in rows any convenient width for cultivat-
ing. We like corn row width here and plant with
a corn drill set extra thick. Cultivate like corn
or potatoes. Pull when most of the pods are
ripe, stack the vines to dry and then theresh any
way handy.
Likes the Prompt Service
" Dear Friend: I just received my seeds
yesterday and can say I am surely pleased with
your prompt service. My seeds are doing well
so far, but this being my first year can’t say how
they will yield, so will write you again this fall.
Wishing you success, I will close.
Yours truly,”
— Miss Othel Streeter, Bliss, Okla.
“A Field Booster”
" / received my seeds from you and I am
more than pleased with them. They are fine,
all O. K. and all here. I thank you for them.
I remain your Field Booster, I can’t say too
much for your firm. Will you please send me
a list of your out of door bulbs this fall as I
want to order, and oblige "
—Julia Grim, Chadron, Neb.
“P. S. / thank you for the photos you sent
me, I am proud of them”
A fair crop is 20 bu. per acre. I have had
40 bu. per acre in a good year. They will make
on thin soil, but fairly rich is better. Too rich
will make an excess of vine and uneven ripen-
ing, but otherwise will do no harm. Get busy
and plant all your spare ground to beans. It is
profitable and patriotic both and that is a splen-
did combination.
We have a good supply of seed, Michigan
grown, the very finest quality and the genuine
variety. See Back Page for Price.
Nasturtiums With Cucumbers
" Send around a rain maker. Here’s one for
your Seed Sense. An old aunt of mine claims
that ‘Nasturtiums planted in the hill with cucum-
bers hinders the bugs.’ It is harmless to try
anyway.”
— Dr. R. B. Tubbs, Emerson, Iowa.
Good Luck With Seeds
" Dear Sir: I have been getting my seeds
from you for two years. Sent with one of your
customers. I got $1.35 worth of seeds this year.
I have such good luck with your seeds. I don’t
buy any place else.
Yours truly,” — Dennis Dayhuff, Freedom, Ind.
Like the Seeds
" Many thanks for promptness in sending
seeds, also for extras. Am much pleased with
them. Yours for future order,”
— Jennie Hiatt, East Peru, Iowa. Rt. 2
6
HELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Sudan Grass Instead of Cane
According to the recommendations made
by the Kansas Agricultural College, Sudan
grass should be largely used this year to re-
place the area that would ordinarily be seed-
ed to cane or sorghum when it is the inten-
tion to use it for forage purposes only. This
is because sorghum seed is very high in
price, so high, indeed, that it cannot be profit-
ably sown for forage purposes. Of course,
it is practicable to sow sorghum in rows and
to cultivate it after the manner of corn be-
cause in that case ten or fifteen pounds of
seed per acre will produce a satisfactory stand.
When Sudan grass is grown for hay or
roughage it is ordinarily drilled in rows with
a grain drill at the rate of about twenty
pounds of seed per acre. Even a less amount
than this can be used with reasonable expect-
ations of obtaining satisfactory results. Some-
times Sudan grass is seeded in rows about
twenty-two inches apart, and in that case eight
pounds per acre will make a heavy tonnage of
excellent feed. Of course, the hay will be a
little courser than when it is seeded with an
ordinary grain drill, but the nature of the hay
will be such that it will all be consumed in or-
dinary practice of live stock feeding.
It goes without saying that Sudan grass
should be put on a well-prepared seed bed and
those who have in mind seeding an area should
get their plowing done just as early as possible,
thereby giving an opportunity to disk and har-
row the surface from time to time for the pur-
pose of conserving moisture and destroying
weeds. Seeding should not be done for a con-
siderable time after the soil is warm enough to
plant corn. Ordinarily seeding time will vary
all the way from the middle of May till the
middle of June. If one is in a position to keep
the weeds down there will be a real advantage
in getting the soil clean before seeding. It has
been demonstrated that if the ground is in good
condition Sudan grass will grow so rapidly that
even if seeded in rows twenty-two inches apart
there will be no need of cultivation, because
the crop will very soon shade the ground so that
it will remain practically clean.
There is still another plan of putting in this
crop and that is to stop up a number of holes in
the grain drill and put in the rows anywhere
from twenty- four to forty inches apart. It will
only require four or five pounds of seed and in
this case, of course, the crop ought to be cul-
tivated once or twice. With this method of
seeding the stems may grow rather coarse, but
as the stems are never very stiff or woody there
will be very little waste in feeding the crop.
It has been so dry thus far this spring that it
may be expected that meadows will be light and
for that reason it is quite worth while for those
who will need considerable roughage in addition
to their corn fodder to consider the possibilities
of using Sudan grass, either seeded thickly or
in rows some distance apart, as referred to
above. — Iowa Homestead.
Don’t forget that there is plenty of time yet
in almost any part of the United States to plant
Sudan grass and Feterita. Ordinarily, either
one of these will mature a crop in less time
than the very earliest varieties of field corn and,
you know, we very often plant early varieties
of field corn as late as the last part of June.
Feterita is especially valuable for a crop of
grain. It makes good fodder, but other crops
will probably do as well or better for fodder.
For grain, however, Feterita can’t be beat. It
will yield more than field corn and more than
any of the grain sorghums. Sudan grass, on
the other hand, is especially valuable for fodder.
It makes a fair yield in seed which is of good
feeding value, but has never been used as much
yet for feed, because it has been more valuable
for planting purposes, but the great thing it is
planted for is for fodder. It will make more
fodder and better fodder than any seed you can
plant. It is much finer and juicier than cane,
corn or kaffir. It cures easily and is relished by
stock cf all kinds.
Both Sudan grass and Feterita should be
put in thin. Most people are liable to make
mistakes in putting them in too thick. You
should not use more than three pounds per acre,
or at the very outside, five pounds per acre.
Three pounds would be better, to try it. Lots
of people do not plant over two pounds per acre.
Plant in rows, regular corn row width and cul-
tivate just the same as you would corn. Seed
should be planted rather shallow and anywhere
from two to four inches to the foot of row. We
can furnish plenty of seed of Sudan and Feter-
ita and you will find prices on page 16 of this
issue. Send along your order.
Sudan grass will make more and better
feed than anything you can plant. It has made
for us all the way from 7 to 10 tons per acre of
cured hay, almost equal to alfalfa, and will do
it on any kind of soil. It is cheap, sure, and
easily grown. Try it.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
7
Get Ready for Alfalfa
It is a safe guess that at least two-thirds of
the alfalfa seed that is sown in the cornbelt is
sown in the months of July, August and Septem-
ber, the most of it during the month of August.
This is a good time to sow alfalfa. The only
thing to remember is to have the ground in first
class condition. Most of the failures in growing
alfalfa are due to the poor preparation of the
soil before the seed is sown. Remember that
alfalfa does not catch well on freshly plowed
ground. It should be plowed and then worked
from two to four weeks, if possible, in order to
get the ground settled and in good condition. If
possible, you should begin getting the ground
ready now, although you can, of course, put the
alfalfa in following a crop of wheat or oats, if
you will plow the ground just as soon as the
grain is off, and work it and get it down in shape.
Remember that we have the very finest al-
falfa seed for sale and will be glad to fix you
out. Our seed is all sold subject to your own
test and approval and subject to the test and
approval of any state college or experiment sta-
tion. We do not handle imported seed nor low
grade native seed. We have the finest quality
of native American seed. I can ship you seed
from Nebraska, Kansas, Dakota, or Montana,
whichever you prefer. We will tell you exactly
where the seed came from and tell you ^the
truth about it. We will guarantee our seed free
from dangerous weeds or adulterations of any
kind. The market cn alfalfa seed is advancing.--
These prices are good until July 1st. Send along
your orders. See page 16.
Alfalfa Following Oats
I suppose three hundred different people
have written me in the last month or six weeks
asking about putting in alfalfa on oats ground
after the oats have been cut.
Now, it is just possible you can make it
wTork. I have known it to be a success and I
have known it about as many times to be a flat
failure. It depends some cn the soil and more
cn the season. The trouble is the oats pull the
moisture cut of the ground pretty fast and the
chances are that after the oats are cut the
ground will be so dry and hard that it will be a
mighty hard proposition to get it worked up in-
to nice shape for sowing alfalfa. You must re-
member that alfalfa absolutely must have the
ground in good condition.
If you really feel that you must put alfalfa
in following cat3, I would suggest that you fol-
low the binder with a disc and chop the ground
up thoroughly by running both ways. Then
plow immediately if the ground is in condition
so it can be plowed, and disc and harrow it
several times again. Then, after about a month
disc and harrow at intervals to keep ground
loose, weeds killed, and moisture from escaping.
This would throw you to the middle of
August, which is a good time to sow alfalfa. If
the weather has been good and you have done
thorough, careful work, the chances are good for
a good stand of alfalfa but I really believe it
would be better to put the alfalfa on ground
which has not grown a crop this year at all.
Picture Causes “Trouble”
" Dear Sir: Enclosed find order for a few
things. I got a lot of seeds from you late in the
summer, and still have them, as I decided it
was too late to plant them. I expect them to all
come up and do wdLl, though, because they are
the Henry Field seed. I would have sent be-
fore, but my father has been ill and I could not
get to it.
Thanking you for courtesy, I remain
Yours truly,"
— (Mrs.) Matie Cavalier, Ames, Iowa.
‘‘P. S. You caused me a lot of trouble by
putting my picture in the Field Sense last fall.
I had all kinds of letters from men looking for
a husky workwoman, and Christmas cards from
them, even. Next time (if there is one) put Mrs.
before my name to keep them off. M. C."
Free Sample of Alfalfa
I will send free to any one, a small sample
of alfalfa seed for testing. Send it to your ex-
periment station and ask them if it is good ; if it
has dodder or any other bad weed in it; if it
is good, bright, sound seed that will grow.
An eastern experiment station bought seeds
from a dozen different seed houses and tested
it; they reported that mine was the best and
only one they would care to plant for their own
use. Small sample, free. Large sample, (sev-
eral ounces) 10c.
I am willing to have my alfalfa seed put to
any test you want — examine it yourself, let your
neighbors look it over, send it to your State ex-
periment station if you want to. If the seed isn’t
right I don’t want you to keep it — send it back
at my expense. But I think I am safe when I
make this offer, for I know the seed is the best
that you or I, or anyone else, can buy.
Another Cabbage Worm Cure
I send you a remedy to kill cabbage worms,
wood ashes and fine salt, equal parts mixed.
Throw a handful in each head. It worked for
me all right last year.
— Emerson F. Blatchley, Madison, Conn.
8
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Field's Seed Sense
FOR THE MAN BEHIND THE HOE
Published Monthly by the
HENRY FIELD SEED COMPANY
Field Building, Shenandoah, Iowa
And Printed in Their Own Private Printshop
Henry Field, Editor E. F. Vincent, Mng. Editor
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE 25c per year or 5 years
for $1.00.
Time Yet to Plant Sudan
Here with us we can plant Sudan with good
success as late as July 1st, and with fairly good
luck as late as July 10th. In fact it will make as
quick as millet, will make three times as much
feed and far better feed.
The best field I had last year was planted
about June 20th on overflow land where the
corn had washed out. It would have made two
cuttings, but we let it stand and made one cut-
ting of it about Sept. 15th and it looked like
about 8 tons to the acre. It was drilled in rows
and cultivated, using 4 or 5 lbs. of seed per acre.
As a catch crop it is far more dependable
than cane, millet, or kaffir, will make as quick,
make more feed, cure easier and keep better.
It is the only one that will make two or three
cuttings. The others make only one.
The seed will cost you 35c per lb. net, much
or little, as long as it lasts. We have a fair sup-
ply that we can sell at that price. If it runs out
and we have to buy more it may cost more
money. Better order quick.
No Issue of Seed Sense for July
Perhaps you remember that last year we
skipped the July number of Seed Sense. This
year we are going to do the same thing. We are
going to skip the July number. There are sev-
eral reasons for this. For one thing, you are all
too busy and hot to do much reading and we are
busy invoicing and there are a lot of other things
like that and so I think we will just skip the
July number and come again in August. Your
time will be extended so that you will get the
twelve numbers by getting an extra month at
the end of your time, so nobody will lose any-
thing.
The Alalfa Seed Situation
There is going to be an enormous demand
for alfalfa seed this summer and fall. I never
heard so much talk about sowing alfalfa as
there is now. Everybody all over the country
is going to sow alfalfa. Of course, you know
what this is going to do to the supply of seed.
The big demand we are certain to have this
summer and fall is going to exceed the supply
of good seed.
Tobacco Dust for All Bugs
The best remedy I have
ever found for the striped
bugs on cucumber, water-
melon, muskmelon, squash
and other vines is tobacco
dust. This is simply a very
strong grade of refuse tobacco
ground up into a very fine
powder like snuff. It is finer
than flour and very strong. I don’t know wheth-
er it kills the bugs or simply drives them away,
but it surely does the business somehow. Also
a spoonful of it piled around the stem of each
plant will prevent borers, which kill the plants
later in the season. Price, 20c per lb. postpaid;
by freight or express, 10c per lb., $1.00 for 12
lbs. Special price on large lots.
Buckwheat
If an effort is made to grow buckwheat in
the corn belt for grain, we advise planting be
delayed until three months before the date of
first killing frost of the fall. In the central part
of the corn belt, this will mean planting about
the middle of July. In some seasons, buck-
wheat may be planted as late as the first of
August and yet mature a crop.
Ordinarily, about three pecks of buckwheat
per acre are drilled in, or five pecks broadcast-
ed. The land should be prepared in about the
same way as for corn. Buckwheat ordinarily
does very well, even on very poor soil, but, like
all other crops, appreciates a little manure or
fertilizer. The most popular varieties are the
Japanese and Silver Hull.
Buckwheat has a mellowing effect on the soil
and in the corn belt is more often grown to
serve as bee pasture and to plow under as a
green manure crop, than for any other reason. —
Wallace's Farmer.
Prices on Field Seeds for July
There will be no July issue of Seed Sense,
so when it comes to buying field seeds in July,
especially alfalfa, vetch and such seeds as that,
you will have to write in for special quotations.
We will print a monthly price list the first of
July and send it upon request to anyone who-
wants it. There will be no July Seed Sense to
carry the price list as in the past.
Dig Out the Barberry
Professor Melheus, of the Iowa Agricultural
College, says that all of the common barberry
of the grain belt should be dug out and burn-
ed; that it is the home of the black- stem rust
fungus, the rust which causes heavy loss in the
small grain crops each year. He estimates that
in 1916 this black stem rust caused the loss of
$110,000,000 in the wheat crop of Minnesota, the
Dakotas and Nebraska, and that even in Iowa,
the loss amounted to over $5,000,000. He thinks,
this rust would be greatly reduced if all of the
common or European barberry should be dug;
out and burned within the next thirty days.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
9
Rape
Rape furnishes splendid pasture the same
year it is seeded. That is all it is good for.
The stockman who is short on pasture is the
only one who has any use for it. The hogman
appreciates rape most. The sheepman also likes
rape, but is not quite so enthusiastic, because
rape sometimes causes bloat. Rape makes good
pasture for cattle, but the cattle injure it by
tramping and, unless care is taken, there is a
chance of rape causing bloat and also a taint in
the milk of dairy cows. For hogs, therefore,
rape is splendid, for sheep it is good and for
cattle and horses, it is fair.
Sow rape at any time of year, from early
spring until the first of August. Begin pasturing
it when it is two months old, or fourteen inches
high. In buying seed, be sure to get the Dwarf
Essex variety. There are several other sorts,
with seed just about like the Dwarf Essex,
which flower the same year they are grown and
are worth not more than half as much. Sow at
the rate of four to six pounds per acre. If you
are intending to hog or sheep down corn, by all
means, broadcast four to five pounds of rape
seed per acre at the time of the last cultivation.
If you wish to economize in seed you might put
the rape in with a single horse wheat drill.
Rape pasture is richer than almost any
other pasture, alfalfa and clover not excepted.
Some animals do not relish it at first, but gener-
ally they soon learn to like it. Rape furnishes
the cheapest and best of all the temporary hog
and sheep pastures. There should be twice as
much rape grown as at present on the stock
farms of the corn belt. However, it is only a
temporary substitute for alfalfa or clover past-
ures.— Wallace’s Farmer.
Rape With Small Grain
It is an excellent plan to seed rape with
small grain to serve as hog pasture after the
crop is taken off. The objection is the fact
that the rape oftentimes grows rank enough to
cause bother at time of harvesting. For this
reason, it is suggested that the seeding of the
rape be delayed until the small grain is two to
three inches high, when the rape may be broad-
casted and harrowed in. The proper seeding of
rape with small grain is two to three pounds
per acre. — Wallace Farmer.
The Only Onions That Grew
“Dear Sir : Enclosed you will find an order
for seeds. This is my first order. Last spring
a little girl came to our house with an assort-
ment of Field’s seeds. I bought one to help the
little girl get her premium and will say I also
received a premium when I bought the assort-
ment for every seed grew. What drew my at-
tention most was I planted six rows of onions
through my garden and on finishing up my last
row I finished with the yellow onions I got in
my assortment and to tell the truth they were
the only seeds in the six rows that grew. The
others did not come at all so this year I am
sending this order feeling sure my garden will
not be a failure.
Yours truly, — Wm. Henley, Albia, Iowa.
What About Cabbage Worms
I have tried everything from Moral Suasion
to Paris Green and from Ice Water to Red
Pepper. Sometimes it seemed to do some good
and sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes when the
worms got real bad I would begin doctoring
and in a few days they would disappear and I
would think I had hit on a sure cure and then
I would discover that on the part of the patch I
had not doctored the worms had disappeared
just the same. Tobacco dust is good. It is not
dangerous like Paris Green and seems to drive
the worms away. Dry road dust is good, so is
strong brine. One customer writes that he
makes a weak lye water, 2 teaspoonsfull to a
bucket of water. Poultry will eat the worms.
A Cure for Cabbage Worms
We have had several good remedies sug-
gested for cabbage worms. Here is one that
has been suggested in a slightly different form
by several different people:
“My way for getting rid of cabbage worms is
dry air slacked lime just dusting each head
lightly. I never have to go over them more than
the second time. It is the surest thing I have
ever tried and that is all I have used for the
last five years.”
— Mrs. E. M. Wheeler, Westgate, Iowa.
The Striped Melon Bugs
About the worst pest we have on Musk-
melons, Cucumbers and Squashes in the little
striped melon bugs. I suppose you have had a
tussle with him already. Maybe you saved
your vines and maybe he got them. It is about
an even chance. We have had hundreds of
letters lately asking for advice about it.
My advice would be to use Tobacco Dust,
lots of it. It is cheap, will not injure the vines
in any way and pretty nearly always it will drive
the bugs away. It don’t seem to kill them, but
anyway, they leave. The best way to do is to
dust it on when there is dew on the leaves, so
it will stick. If there comes a rain and washes
the tobacco dust off, put on some more.
You can buy Tobacco Dust from almost any
seed house. We can furnish it to you at from
5c to 10c per lb., according to quantity.
Price, 20c per lb. postpaid; by freight or
express, 10c per lb., $1.00 for 12 lbs. Special
price on large lots.
iu
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Seeds to Plant Now
Your seed planting should not end with the
early spring months. If it does, you are going
to miss a lot of good things. There is quite a
list of vegetables of which successive plantings
should be made every ten days or two weeks if
you want lots of them and want them at their
best.
Take beans for instance. The first planting
of green or wax podded beans should be made
in this latitude about May 1st and the last about
July 15th. If you want string beans at their best
and lots of them, you should plant about every
two weeks, commencing and ending with the
above dates. Right now is a good time to plant
the beans from which you expect to get those
you intend to can. You can then do your can-
ning in the fall when the weather is not so hot
and you will not have to carry them so long a
time before you use them. Some say, too, that
they will keep better when canned after the hot
summer weather is past.
Then, there are beets. My wife always in-
sists that I make a planting of beets for can-
ning during the latter part of June or first of
July, and “woe is me!” if I happen to forget. It
is “woe” in more ways than one, for if I do for-
get, I am forced to go without beet pickles and
I would about as soon go without canned
peaches.
You make the first planting of table beets
early in the spring as soon as you can work the
soil and the last about July 1st. Plantings
should be made about once a month during
that time, if you would always have them good
and tender. For late planting for canning pur-
poses, Eclipse, Blood Turnip or Crosby’s Egyp-
tian are as good as any.
Sweet corn is something that we deprive
ourselves of as much or more than anything
else from neglect to make successive plantings.
Take three varieties, an early, an intermediate
and a late, and plant them all May 1st. In three
weeks make another planting, using the inter-
mediate and the late varieties. Then, in two
weeks make another planting of these two. One
more planting can be made of the late one, say
in two weeks. Then you will have to drop it,
for it would net have time to mature. You can
plant a medium early as late as July 1st and
White Mexican with reasonable safety as late
as July 10th or 15th.
Sweet corn is not good after it begins to
harden. By planting something after the plan
suggested above you can have good corn every
day and the last mess will taste like the first
one did. From now on for the balance of this
season better plant early and intermediate sorts.
Lettuce can be planted as late as August
1st, especially if you have good soil and can
crowd it along. Plantings of lettuce should be
made every three or four weeks. Just now you
should plant such varieties as Hanson and Ice-
berg, as they stand the hot, dry weather better
than others.
Peas can safely be planted as late as July
1st, but owing to the hot, dry weather it is pretty
hard to get as good a yield or as fine a quality
as you can from early plantings. If you want to
plant now, select such varieties as Dwarf Cham-
pion, Premium Gem and Nott’s Excelsior. They
are more likely to be able to pull through the
hot, dry weather.
Radishes should be planted oftener than
any other vegetable I know of, if you want good
ones. Plant as often as once a week or ten days
and not longer apart than two weeks. The time
between the planting depends on the weather
and the varieties you are planting.
About July 1st or any time in July or August
sow the winter raishes, Chinese Rose Winter,
Chinese White Winter and such varieties. Put
them away in the cave in the fall just like you
do your beets and turnips. Walt Pitzer.
Beans Very Profitable
There are many farmers who are looking
for some crop which requires very little expense
in the beginning and which offers a good oppor-
tunity to give substantial net returns. At the
present time the famous Bean growing districts
of New York and Michigan are rapidly losing
ground. The acreage is annually reduced and
the yield per acre is constantly smaller, due to
the soils becoming “bean sick.” Pod spot, rust
and blight seem to have affected the soil and are
severely handicapping the industry. On the
other hand, just when the centers of heavy pro-
duction are decreasing their output, the demand
for beans is rapidly increasing, due to their most
excellent value for food for soldiers.
Bean growing should be very profitable for
the next few years, especially in sections where
the crop has not been grown on the soil often
enough to infect it with the diseases which are
driving the industry out of the famous bean
sections.
The soil for beans is prepared by plowing
and thorough harrowing. Little or no fertilizer
is used. The crop is usually planted in early
June and is harvested when the pods are dry
and the seed is still soft enough so that it can
be dented with the thumb-nail. The vines may
be pulled by hand and thrown in small heaps,
or, better yet, a bean harvester will slide a big
blade under two rows at once in such a way that
the vines of two rows will be cut off and laid
together. These can be quickly piled in small
heaps with hay forks. After drying a few days
the vines are hauled under shelter where they
may be threshed. — (Exchange).
Likes Our Prompt Service
" Accept our thanks for prompt answer and
shipment of Alfalfa seed ordered this spring
and it is up a good stand today.
The litttle girl also sends her thanks for
the nice assortment of flower seeds. She had
just asked us to buy her some and those filled
the bill as she is quite young, this being only
her second flower garden.
Also allow me to say we bought quite
heavy of grass seed one year ago because of
less price we did not buy of you and we did
not get any stand either.
We have dealt with you for the past 15
years and have always got seed ihat was as
represented and grew. Most Respectfully
— C. J. Campbell, West Fork, Ark.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
11
Sudan Grass for Milk Cows
Is College Education Necessary?
To the Editor: — “In the discovery of Sudan
grass the bureau of plant and seed introduction
of the United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, has made a ten strike. It is a
heavy yielder of good to prime hay, a drouth re-
sister and a fine pasture plant that is safe for
ruminants.
“Small acreages devoted to grazing last year
gave most promising results. Yields of forage
high in protein resulted and no cases of bloat
such as happens from alfalfa; or poisoning,
such as comes with cane and kaffir, have been
reported. As it belongs to the cane family, it
may be that under exceptional conditions, such
as the dry weather of 1913, it may prove unsafe,
but reports from the Dodge City Experiment
Station, where it was under observation and use
during 1913, do not mention any trouble in graz-
ing Sudan grass the past three years.
“Supt. W. M. Kirkpatrick, says concerning
this new forage: ‘As shown by experiments here,
it is perfectly safe to pasture Sudan grass. The
experiments conducted by Mr. Turner the last
three years have not shown any harm to stock
turned on it at different times of the year.’
“The value of the grass for pasture is shown
by the fact that six milk cows turned on the
grass September 14th and taken off September
22nd, made an average gain of 48 pounds of
milk per head during the eight days.” — W. E.
Blackburn, in Farmer & Stockman.
We Can Furnish Soy Beans
There is going to be a big demand for Soy
Beans this year, and the supply is short. There
is not going to be half enough of the right sorts
to supply the demand.
We have been looking out for this and have
been quietly buying up all the good seed stock
we could get, mainly in northern Missouri and
in Illinois. We have the varieties that are grown
and recommended there. Here is what we can
supply at present:
Jet (early black, probably same as Pek-
ing).
Black Beauty (large, medium late).
Shinto, Hollybrook, Morse, Mongol, Med-
ium Yellow, (all very similar varieities of early
or medium early yellow).
These are all the same price, and the same
quality, and all are good sorts.
PRICES: For this month I am making a
special price of 10c per lb., net, in fair sized
lots. We furnish bags, you pay express or
freight.
Fat Chickens From Feterita
“H. Field: I want to thank you for getting
me started to growing Feterita. I think it is
one of the best chicken feeds I ever saw, be-
sides making a heavy grain crop for chicken
feed, it made an abundant crop of the finest
fodder for the cows I ever saw. After feeding
Feterita I can say that we had the fattest
chickens I ever saw. Yours Respectfully,”
— C. O. DeHart, Troy, Kans.
Yes, for professional men. No, for plain
business. Brains, experience and energy are
the three necessities. All men need them to win
success. Most big business giants were not
college men. They embraced opportunity, not
dolls. Charley Schwab was one of Andy Car-
negie’s cadets. He is the greatest steel man of
the age. He says college men think too much
of their social obligations; too often they rather
two step than study, and that it is difficult for
them to concentrate on their work. Edison, the
electrical wizard, never attended college. He
forgets the clock when working. Henry Clay
Frick is another financial giant of the present
day who did not have a college education.
James J. Hill, one of the greatest railroad men,
is another example. Practical experience excels
theoretical. Our junior editor took a year’s
travel around the world in preference to a col-
lege education. There are only 350,000 students
in colleges at present. There are five hundred
millions invested in college, apparatus and li-
braries. Harvard has 1,260,000 volumes and
Yale a million. Colleges do much for science.
Brains do more for business. — Frank King, of C.
A. King & Co., Toledo, Ohio.
Alfalfa For the Women
If your men folks won’t try alfalfa, yon
girls and women should get a free sample of
alfalfa and plant it in the flower garden or vege-
table garden. It won’t be long till you’ll see the
men folks picking at it and asking questions
about it and beginning to look thoughtful. That
will mean that the fever is working and pretty
soon they’ll have the most pronounced case of
“alfalfa fever” you ever saw. Try it. I’ve seen
it worked dozens of times. There’s alfalfa in
flower gardens all over the country right now.
The Time to Sow Turnip Seed
Turnips are about the cheapest crop you can
raise. You only have to use about one pound,
or at the most two pounds, of seed per acre;
scatter it on the ground and harrow it in and
that is the end of it; no cultivating and no both-
er. They generally make an enormous yield
and are mighty good feed either for people or
live stock.
We have taken lots of pains to have the very
best turnip seed it is possible to grow. It is new
crop, high germination and pure strain.
Price* Postpaid Pkt. Oz. ^ lb.
Amber Globe — Yellow fleshed — 05c 10c 35c
Cowhorn — Stock turnip 05 10 35
Purple Top Strap Leaf — Stand-
ard late 05 20 50
Purple Top Globe — Similar,
but globeshaped 05 20 50
Rutabaga — Purple top 05 20 50
White Globe — Good late var-
iety 05 10 35
Remember, these price* include prepay-
ment of postage^ The seed will be delivered
to your door postpaid. Write for prices oul
larger lots.
12
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Says Others Copy Seed Sense
" Dear Sir: Enclosed please find order for
seeds. I am growing mostly corn this year, so
my order is small. I bought some Prizetaker
onion seed from you and raised the biggest and
best onions 1 ever grew.
Field's Daisy muskmelons are the best
melons grown.
As my order is for $2.00, please send me
Seed Sense for 1918. I see that other seedsmen
are copying your idea and putting out books
but none can hold a candle to Seed Sense.
Also as per your offer in the catalog, please
send me your free flower seeds. You can de-
pend upon me to speak a good word for you
any time.
Thanking you for past favors and hoping
you have a good year, I beg to remain,
Your customer ,” — Fred Murphy, Lebanon, O.
Pleased With the Seeds
" Dear Henry Field: I have received the
seed I sent to you for and they are all perfectly
right and everything there, nothing missing, and
nothing more than I sent for except the extras
and they are fine. They are all just such flow-
ers as I like and I am very much pleased with
them and also I am very much pleased with the
garden seed. They are all such nice large
packages. We like your seed real well. I thank
you very much for all the seed you sent me and
especially thank you for the extra flower seeds
you sent me. I have been telling others about
your seeds and will continue to tell others of
your seeds. Kind regards to you and your nice
family and I wish you all the good things that
you can enjoy and also much success. I am as
ever, Yours truly,”
— Mrs. Sade A. M. Sutter, Paulina, Iowa.
Likes Our Way of Buying
Dear Sir: I went to Newton today and got
the money for the car of corn recently sold to
you. I write to thank you for the fair treatment
you have accorded me in this transaction. In
weighing the corn and the empty wagon again,
/ tried to be fully fair to you and your accept-
ance of those weights conveys the impression
that there was no objectionable shortage I am
not doing an extensive business, but do enough
to know that there are many different grades
of honesty among different people, and when
I find one who is fair, 100 per cent, it impels
me to make known my apppreciation to your
principle.- Hoping this deal has been in every
way satisfactory to you and that the corn
may yield abundantly for the planter, I am,
Yours Truly,” — P. H. Healy.
Seeds Are Superior
" Dear Mr. Field: Your seeds which have
been received came in good condition and many
of them are making a fine showing in plants. In
comparison with others I find they are superior
so hereafter my seeds shall come from ' Fields’ .
Yours truly,” — Gudrun Rovelsad, Elgin, III.
Well Pleased With All Seeds
" Friend Field: My order No. 117219, Test
No. 8003 received Wednesday, March 27th,
express charges $1.15, also your letter with
shipment receipt and blank, order mailed
March 28th, 1918. Thank you. I am very well
pleased with the Poor but Honest Alfalfa seed
and 25c per pound Alfalfa does not look to be
any better than this “ Poor but Honest.” Please
let me refer you to my order of last year, No.
8726, test No. 7145, 100 pounds of Alfalfa.
Those were a fine lot of seed and I have a fine
stand on most of the ground sown with them.
I sowed oats with part of it and there I failed
It was not the seeds fault and the ground and
season was not the best, but if I had sown it
alone, I think I would have been all right. The
Timothy and Mammoth Clover did well and 1
have an excellent stand. The Cyclone seeder
is a dandy, also the spray pump is a good one
and we use it for many things, fighting the in-
sects, fire, trees, bringing down swarms of bees,
etc. Also received your catalog for 1918. 1
have been trying to interest a brother-in-law of
mine in Alfalfa, of Valley Springs, Ark. He
has an idea it will not grow there. It is rather
dark lime stone soil with a heavy red clay sub-
soil too loose for Orchard Grass to stay, but
Red Clover and Timothy grow fine most sea-
sons. I said to him, " Send to Henry Field and
get Grimm Alfalfa plants and set them out, but
he seemed stuck on corn, wheat, oats and sor-
ghum, and that makes me think of the two
pounds of Grimm I received from you last year.
1 sowed 5 rows 20 feet long and it looks well.
Those Everbearing strawberries I received from
you one year look fine. Wishing you good suc-
cess, I am your friend,”
— Carter Smith, Bergman, Ark.
Can’t Beat Norseman Cabbage
Dear Mr. Field: I am sending you a
small order. I will tell you of some of the
results of last year. I don't think your Norse-
man cabbage can be beat. I had lots of
heads that weighed 10Yi and 11 pounds. I
did not have very much cabbage but I sold
$35.00 worth besides what a family of eight
would use. I sold 20 heads at one time and
none weighed less than 10 pounds. This
sounds pretty big but I can prove it by my
neighbors. I will send for more seeds later.
If it will be of any interest to your customers,
I will tell them how I raise cabbage which is
the best way I have ever found.”
— Mrs. Fred Woodruff, Shambaugh, la.
Beans Like Mother Had
“I have just received my bulbs and seed.
They are just fine. Will put them out just as
soon as I can. The beans, I think, are like
Mother had, if so they are just fine. Many
thanks for the flower seed, I will do my best
with all to make a success, and will speak a good
word in favor of your seeds. I have found them
j all right so far as I have tried.”
— Mrs. Jane Tharp, Cora, Mo.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
13
Likes Seed Sense
" Dear Sir : My May copy of System ar-
rived today and almost the first thing I saw
therein was the familiar face of Henry Field
looking at me from one of the pages. You may
he sure I read what your interesting interview
had to say.
Our last order of seeds came today, that
and the picture in System made me feel that I
ought to write you a letter. We receive much
benefit from the little Seed Sense, so much in
fact that we have taken to making them in
books for reference. We punch holes through
the backs and bind them together, thus keeping
them in a bunch for easy reference. We have
never gone to this collection without finding
whole gobs of information, useful beyond words.
We also use this collection as a sort of circulat-
ing library for all our neighbors and friends.
We have such confidence in your seeds and your
talks on seeds, and other things, that we want
to pass them on.
Here’s hoping that this year will be the
most successful of your deservedly successful
career.” — A. E. Wimmer, Woodstock, III.
Like Seed Sense
“My Dear Sir: I am certainly glad to
get Seed Sense. I couldn’t get along without it.
My wife and two boys ordered seed from you
as well as myself. The boys felt like they
wanted to do their bit with a war garden so
had the seed come to them. Now listen, I am
not kicking on Seed Sense but the other day
we received four Seed Senses all in one fam-
ily. _/ realize that it costs you extra to send
all of them to us hence this. Now you send
Seed Sense to me but cancel Sarah Divel-
biss, Ivan Divelbiss and Geo. K. Divelbiss for
they all come to the same family and send the
other three to some poor devil who is making
a war garden or any other work. Seed Sense
can’t be beat. There is more condensed boil-
ed down sense in it than anything for its size
I ever saw. Now don’t scratch my name off
for I have got to have it. Thanking you for
all past favors, I am, Yours truly,”
— Sam Divelbiss, Hemple, Mo.
Everbearers Almost Grown
“Friend Field: I thought probably you
would like to know how I am doing with the
seed and plants which I ordered from you some
time ago. You will find me booked under order
No. 44713, which you booked Feb. 15, 1918. In
this you will find I ordered from you 50 Pro-
gressive Everbearing strawberry plants. These
plants were not received by me until three
weeks ago. They were set out immediately and
when they had only been in the ground two
weeks, they were blooming and now at three
weeks, they have nearly grown berries on
them. I notice in the catalog you say they
will bear in six weeks from planting and I
think mine will do this too. Will let you
know the day the first berries are gathered.
Hoping you have continued success in the
seed business, I am Your friend,”
— Guy H. DeShazo, Maplesville, Ala.
Got a Square Deal
“Dear Sir: I am writing to tell you I re-
ceived your catalog O. K. and think it is O. K.
I have already ordered 4 Dahlias and 1 packet
of Shasta Daisy seed. I was staying with my
sister-in-law, Mary Rigor, and ordered them in
her name. I sent you my name and my sister’s,
Mrs. Sharon White, for I want to get a book
earlier next year. I borrowed Mrs. Claude
Keith’s book when I ordered. I will sure speak
a good word for you every time I can, as long
as you treat me as you have. I never dealt with
a company that was as prompt in sending things
as you are. I must say your goods are exactly
as you represent them. If there is anything
wrong you are ready to make them all right.
The dahlias were fine and sure to grow. You
certainly gave me a square deal. I don’t care
to order anything more this year. I will remem-
ber you next year if I should order anything.
Yours truly,” — Eunice Rigor, Brownfield, III.
“Strong for Henry”
“Dear Sir: We have been enjoying your
seeds all these years and have never so much
as said thank you. This thing shall not go on in
such a thoughtless, selfish manner, for I am go-
ing to put a stop to it. I wish every one could
enjoy your seeds. Today I planted more garden
and while I was so doing I got to thinking, like
people will do when alone and at work. I put
the seeds in the ground covering the small ones
lightly and that was all. Henry Field has done
the rest for me. You are a handy man to have
around the place.
Wishing you a prosperous crop and the best
of health, I am, Yours truly,”
. — Zella Johnson, Elm Springs, Ark ,
Field’s Seeds
“From your seeds last year I had over an
acre of garden truck. More than enough to last
us and some of it spoiling in the cellar now. I
planted one-fourth pound of onion seed of
yours and put away about 5 bushels from it.
Every thing else did as well. I saved most of
my seed, so don’t think anything if I don’t send
in a big seed order this year. _/ canned 72
quarts of green beans, pickled 4 gallons and
had enough dry shelled beans to more than
last me. I tried hard for a photo of my garden
to send you but failed to get it. Your old
customer,”'— Mrs. C. C. Jenkin, Blairsburg, la.
Seeds All Grew
“Dear Sir: We received your Seed Sense
and are very glad to get them. We sent for
some Redhead tomato seed and Mrs. Mull put
50 seeds in some boxes here in the house and
they all came up every one and are doing fine
and we also got some of your Danish Summer
Ballhead cabbage and she planted about 200
seeds and they all came up fine and are now
about 3 inches high. Very truly yours,”
— Hester Benjamin Mull, Benton, Iowa.
14
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
Fine Gardens -With Fields Seeds
" Kind Friend: I have been thinking for
some time I would write and tell you we had
fine gardens ever since we have used your
seed. As there isn’t but us two old folks we
can’t use a big lot of seed but just as long as
we are able to make garden you may look for
our little order. I am ashamed to send such a
small order but will just keep on sending as
we think we can’t make garden without your
seed. They are fine. Just wish you could of
seen our Prizetaker onions that we grew from
one packet of seed which we bought of you
and our fine cabbage, beets and melons, well
everything was just fine. My seed has just
arrived. They are all O. K. and more than I
was looking for, so many nice flower seeds. I
appreciate your kindness very much. I will
close wishing you great success.
Yours very truly,”
— Mrs. Mary Robertson, Fragrant, Ky.
Don’t Have to Wait
" Gentlemen : Received my order all O. K.
and thank you very much for promptness and
also for free gift of flower seeds.
One good thing about your house is a fel-
low don’t have to wait a month to get his order.
Your style suits me as you are honest in your
statements and I regret that I am not a big
customer, but every little bit helps. NO HUM-
BUG is my motto and I guess it is yours too.
Well I have blowed my horn enough now
so I will just say that while looking at Seed
Sense I saw your dope on chicken feed so I
thought I would order about 2 pounds, and try
it. If it is as good as you say, it is all right.
Enclosed you will find my little order.
Yours truly,” — F. P. DeVitt, Pueblo, Colo.
Appreciates Fair Dealings
“Dear Sir: Yours of the 4th inst. contain-
ing check to amount of $122.24 in payment of
cane and feterita shipped to you, just receiv-
ed. Please accept my thanks for same. I
am sending you by parcel post today the three
bags belonging to you. My wife, who is a
great lover of flowers, highly appreciates and
thanks you for the flower seed sent. Friend
Field, I certainly appreciate the privilege of
doing business with you. You certainly have
always dealt on the square with me.
Yours truly,”
S. H. Lessley, Fair Grove, Mo.
Everbearers Beat Frost
“Dear Friend: All of the Everbearing
berries of the early setting were killed by
freezing but are now blooming again. They
beat any berries I ever saw or heard of. It is
foolish to have any other for you can’t loose out
on account of warm spring forcing blooms and
then killed by freezing later, for they keep do-
ing business. Got 300 of you last year and not
a plant was killed through the winter and it was
far the worst ever known here, 18 and 20 de-
grees for many days. Yours truly,”
— H. B. Elliott, Baxter Spring, Kans.
Must Have Whipped Somebody
“Comrad Henry: My little order came G. K.
and as usual as I ordered and in fine shape.
We appreciate your little gift as we always do
and we are always willing to do anything we
can honestly to help you. I have made you
many customers and paid one fine backing your
honor and seeds. Had a fine crop last year.
Your seeds and plants are more than you have
claimed for them. I have planted your seeds
for 6 years and expect to as long as I live if they
are in the future as they have been in the past.
Will write you a special soon about my Ever-
bearing strawberries. Yours truly,”
— Thomas L. Pope, Hartville, Mo.
Renewing Pasture
(From Wallace Farmer)
In answer to your recent article on renewing
a blue grass pasture, will say that in 1912 I
purchased a farm in Dupage county, Illinois, on
which there were about forty-three acres of
timbered pasture. After triming off the limbs of
the trees up to about sixteen feet from the
ground, I sowed three pounds of alsike clover
per acre, in 1914. The clover did not seem to
improve the pasture very much the first season
but in 1915 and 1916 this pasture carried twice
as many cattle as in 1912.
— S. K. Green, Whiteside County, 111.
Strawberries Fresh and Bright
“We received the plants and vegetable seed
all fine. Seems as though the strawberry plants
could speak. They are so fresh and bright after
their long journey. We will be so happy to say
a good word for anyone who tries to treat every-
one right as your dealings with us have proved.
We have all the thanks this letter can carry for
you and once a customer always a customer as
far as you are concerned with us.”
— Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Russell, Maywood, III.
Visited State Fair Booth
“I was at your ‘Booth’ last fair time, and
I got some of your Pansy seed, and a cane
also. And this spring you sent me one of
your quaint catalogs and I don’t know when
I enjoyed reading a catalog as I did yours.
I just laughed and laughed at your funny
way of saying things.
Oh yes, I planted your Pansy seed and
many thanks.”
— Miss Edith Parker, Des Moines, la.
Cabbage Worm Eradicator
“I have been raising cabbage for the last 10
years to make sauer kraut for a sanitarium and
I have used but one thing in these 10 years for
cabbage worms and that is Air- slacked Lime
sprinkled in cabbage, and when it rains, it
washes the lime off. It seems to go to the roots
and makes the cabbage grow fine.
Well I guess I have imposed upon your good
nature long enough and hoping this will do
some good, I am yours respectfully,”
— Mrs. Henry Henge, Shannon, III.
FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR JUNE
15
Refugee Beans Were Loaded
" Dear Mr. Field: I am sending you a small
order for seeds. Am a little late but better late
than never. We saved a great many seeds last
year, and as we only have a small garden lot,
we do not need many.
We planted a package of your Refugee
beans last year and I never saw anything like
them, in the way of bearing. We could not
keep them picked fast enough and finally when
the hot dry weather came, the leaves dried up
c»nd fell off, and the vines seemed dead but
when the fall rains came, they began to bear
and were loaded with tender delicious pods un-
til frost killed them. Really I think the correct
name for them should be Resurrection.
Now if my order is in too late, just send
back my money and I will try and do better
next year. Yours truly,”
— R. E. Heth, Carnarvon, Iowa.
Danish Ballhead Cabbage
" Dear Sir: I have been thinking about
writing to you for a long time but am not much
of a hand to write but want to tell you what I
think of your seeds. This is my third year to
get seeds from your house and have been talk-
ing Field’s seeds to everybody that wanted seed.
I see that you have a good bit on Corn Belt
cabbage but if they will beat the Hollander or
Danish Ballhead they will have to go some.
Last year we moved the 4th of October and I
pulled my cabbage or rather just cut the heads
off and put them in a sack and kept them there
and I had cabbage until away up in February
and they were just as solid as ever, but I
haven’t any fault to find with any of your seed.
This is my second order this spring and I don’t
suppose it will be the last. Well, wishing you
all kind of good luck I remain, Yours truly,”
— Mrs. F. M. Burtcheard, Atlantic, Iowa.
No Seeds Equal to Ours
" Dear Sir: I have just received my seeds.
I am well pleased with them. I will recommend
your seeds in this country. I have compared
your seeds with all others, but find no others
that will come up with yours.
Your customer,”
— Tom Jenkins, Springton, W. Va.
Field Corn Was Fine
“On examining the seeds I found them to
be nicer than I even expected, especially the
field corn, which even the neighbors commented
on.” — Jos. Smerechansky, Norwich, Conn.
Likes the Free Flowers
“Friend Field: Yes, there is something
wrong about this, for I received a beautiful lot
of flower seed that I did not order or look for,
but since you made it clear that they are a gift
I thank and thank you and again I thank you. I
didn’t think we could afford flower seed this
year, but now we have them free of charge, so
of course shall give them a corner in our war
garden (the front yard). Sincerely,”
— L. W. Crinkshank, Elgin, Ore. Rt. 1, Box 85.
Redhead a Week the Earliest
“We do want to praise the Redhead Tomato.
We planted the Redhead, Earliana and Early
June all at the same time in the hotbed and
transplanted at the same time along side by side
and the Redhead ripened a week or two sooner
than the others.
The Redhead has been considered the most
reliable and most desirable for this cool cli-
mate, but as to quality the Redhead is about as
nearly perfect as any tomato we have ever seen.
Almost as round as a ball, no hard core, scarcely
any depression at stem end, so very smooth and
very productive. We think it “Just Right.”
We have been so very busy this season
that we have neglected sending early, so please
rush them as much as possible. Respectfully,”
— Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Headley, Moscow, Ida.
Good Luck With Seeds
“Dear Sir: I received your package con-
taining my seed all O. K. and am very much
pleased with them. I have been working around
my neighbors to see if I could not get them to
order the same way. They don’t seem to realize
what the different seeds seem to do. I have
extra luck with my seed and they get a lot of
them that are inferior. Well I can’t say much
so I thank you for your considering my order
and sending it promptly. Obliged,”
— Louis F. Hellmuth, Washington, D. C.
Best Catalog of Its Kind
“Dear Sir: I received your catalog some
time ago and think it the best of its kind
that has ever come to my notice. It seems
to bear such a friendly message to your pros-
pective customers.
Have you any White Marrowfat beans?
I do not see any listed in the catalog but
would like to get some for planting. Also
please send me April price list.
Very truly yours,”
— George Russel, Glenford, N. Y.
“P. S. Expect to send you an order in a
week or two.”
Fine Trees
“I am not writing this to make complaint at
all, but to let you know that my trees and seeds
all arrived in due time and in good condition.
They are about the nicest looking trees I
ever bought and that has been quite a few in
my time and very many thanks for my roses
and flower seeds. Very truly yours,”
— Lizzie Harr Smith, Farmington, Iowa.
Field Sells Honest Seed
“I have received the seeds I sent for and
am very much pleased with them. 1 also have
received the clover seed I ordered and it is O.
K. Thank you for the same. Hoping that you
will have a good season. I always tell my
neighbors if they want honest seed send to
Field and they will be sure to get it.
Yours truly,
— George L. McKinley, Hanover, III.
Wholesale Net Prices June 1, 1918
Good to June 30, 1918 (Subject to stock unsold)
On Clover, Alfalfa and Other Grass and Field Seeds Which Fluctuate in Price
Address all orders to HENRY FIELD SEED CO., Shenandoah, Iowa
We Want Early Orders — So we have made these prices very low consid-
ering present conditions and market. We have based them on what the stuff cost
us, not on what it would cost us to replace it. We have got the seed in the
house, bought right, and up to June 30th, (if it lasts that long) we will sell at
these prices. When it is gone and we have to buy mere at higher prices, you will have to pay
more, providing you can get the seed at all. Better buy now while the buying is good
Write for special quotations after June 30, or send
Time Limit. Note that these prices are good only
till June 30th, 1918, and if you do not buy in that
time you should write for our new prices. We re-
serve the right to cancel these prices when stock on
hand is unsold.
These prices are f. o. b. Shenandoah, customer to
pay the freight. If you want delivered prices we will
make a special estimate for you on request.
No extra charge for sacks. All seeds are sold
“sacks weighed in.” Remember this when comparing
prices.
Prices are strictly net, spot cash, and no discount.
Safe arrival guaranteed. Clover and alfalfa seed
are generally double sacked, and everything is well
packed. We guarantee that all seeds will reach you
in good order.
Sold on approval. These seeds are priced and sold
with the understanding that if not found perfectly
satisfactory they may be returned at our expense
your order and I will fill at lowest possible prices.
and your money will be refunded. You can be the
judge of quality.
One grade only. We quote on one grade only, a
high grade. We do not believe in low grades, and
do not wish to encourage the use of them. Good seed
is the cheapest in the long run.
Reference. First National Bank of Shenandoah, la.
Free Samples. We will gladly send free samples
of any kind of seed quoted here.
Subject to Sale. All prices are subject to stock be-
ing unsold on receipt of order.
YOUR MONEY’S WORTH OR YOUR MONEY BACK
It is mutually agreed and understood that any
seeds or other goods ordered of us may be returned
at any time within ten days after receipt if not satis-
factory and money paid for them will be refunded,
but we do not and cannot, in any way, warrant the
crop, as it is dependent on so many conditions be-
yond our control. HENRY FIELD SEED CO.
Every item is extra fancy grade unless specified otherwise)
Clover and Grass Seed Per Equals Grain Sorghums <alt 56 lbs- Per ba>
Clover Seed (60 lbs. per bu.) 100 lbs* Per bu*
Medium or Common Red $35.00 $21.00
Mammoth Red 36.00 21.60
Alsike 30.00 18.00
White or Dutch 60.00 36.00
Sweet Clover (all scarified)
White Biennial ( Melilotus Alba)
hulled 30.00 18.00
Yellow Biennial ( Melilotus Officin-
alis) hulled 25.00 15.00
Ask for prices on unhulled, unscarified and annual.
Alfalfa (all dry and northern grown, hardy)
Kansas-Nebraska, first grade 23.33 14.00
Kansas-Nebraska poor but honest__ 16.67 10.00
Dakota grown 25.00 15.00
Montana grown 26.67 16.00
Liscomb, Montana grown 40.00 24.00
Grim, Dakota or Colorado grown 50.00 30.00
Baltic, Dakota grown 50.00 30.00
Timothy and Timothy Mixtures
(All 45 lbs. per bu.)
Timothy, best home grown 10.00 4.50
Timothy-Alsike mixture 12.00 5.40
Timothy-Red clover mixture 15.00 6.75
Blue Grass ( all 14 lbs. per bu.)
Kentucky Blue Grass 30.00 4.20
English Blue Grass 20.00 2.80
Canadian Blue Grass 20.00 2.80
Other Grasses
Red Top, fancy solid seed 18.00 2.52
“ “ unhulled or rough seed__ 10.00 1.40
Orchc rd Grass 28.00 3.92
Bermuda Grass 50.00
English or Perennial Rye Grass 14.00 1.96
Italian Rye Grass 14.00 1.96
Lawn Grass Mixture 30.00
Permanent Meadow Mixture 14.00
Lowland Pasture Mixture 14.00
Woodland Pasture Mixture 14.00
Forage, Fodder Crops and Grain
Dwarf Essex Rape 15.00
Sudan Grass 25.00
Cane or Sorghum (all 50 lbs. per bu.)
Fodder cane, Amber type 8.00 4.00
Fodder cane, Orange type 8.00 4.00
Syrup Cane
Orange (Short Orange) 15.00 7.50
Early Amber 15.00 7.50
Early Rose (Amber type) 15.00 7.50
Hog Pasture Mixture
(For May, June and July pasture 7.00 3.50
Per Equals
100 lbs. per bu.
Kaffir corn, white, black hull $5.36 $3.00
Milo Maize 5.36 3.00
“ “ red . 5.36 3.00
Feterita 7.14 4.00
Broom corn, Evergreen 10.00
“ “ Oklahoma Dwarf 10.00
Any of above grain sorghums ( not
postpaid), 1 lb. 15c, 2 lbs. 25c, 5 lbs.
60c, 10 lbs. $1.00. Add postage
if wanted by mail.
Millet (50 lbs. per bu.)
German 7.00 3.50
Common or fodder 6.50 3.25
Siberian 7.00 3.50
Vetch (60 lbs. per bu.)
Sand or winter 22.00 13.20
Spring 12.00 7.20
Field Peas ( 60 lbs. per bu.)
Whippoorwill Cow Peas 6.00 3.60
New Era Cow Peas 6.00 3.60
Mixed Cow Peas 6.00 3.60
Canadian or Northern 6.66 / 4.00
Soy Beans 60 lbs. per bu.)
Medium Yellow 10.00 6.00
Mongol 10.00 6.00
Holly brook 10.00 6.00
Extra Early Black 10.00 6.00
Shingto 10.00 6.00
Large Black 10.00 6.00
Morse 10.00 6.00
Small Grain
Winter Rye 3.00
Buckwheat 3.00
Field Beans (prices for large lots)
White Navy 18.00 10.80
Great Northern (large white field) 18.00 10.80
Pinto (Colorado brown striped field) 15.00 9.00
Tepary (dry landers) 20.00 12.00
Bunch Blackeye 16.00 9.60
Sweet Corn (50 lbs. per bu.)
Stowell’s Evergreen 20.00 10.00
Fodder (low grade) 10.00 5.00
Field Corn
See special price list or ask for special quota-
tions. We will probably issue from time to time a
special price list or bulletin showing just what we
can supply in seed corn.
~ These are wholesale prices, good for amounts of 10 pounds of a kind, or over. Add 2c per pound
for amounts of 5 to 10 pounds. Add 5c per pound for amounts below 5 pounds.
U. S. Food Administration License No. G42222