Trying Times! 
Office of WM. HENRY MAULE, 
1711 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
December 10, 1895. 
at fe) EVER in the history of American Agriculture have the farmers and gardeners of these 
: United States had so much to contend with as during the last few years; but there comes 
a time when everything must reach its level, and I really believe the era of low prices and 
y other disastrous features of the agricultural situation are about to change. When things 
come to a state when they cannot get any worse, the result is they are bound to get 
better. All my Southern friends are feeling the effects of the laws of supply and 
demand as regards prices of Cotton; and the Southern States are now, although 
the crop is short, enjoying greater prosperity than for many years past. I do not think there is a 
doubt but what the prices of Wheat and many other staples are bound to be affected in the same 
way, and 1896 will be a year to be remembered as the beginning of bright prospects built on such 
a strong financial basis that will last for many years to come. The seed business, like every other 
business, has been seriously affected for a number of years; but that I have appreciated the situa- 
tion I think my customers will readily admit. I have given them all through these hard times, 
good seeds at prices very little higher than it cost to have good seeds grown, and in every way, 
by cutting down expenses, newspaper advertising, etc., endeavored to meet my friends half way. 
I have to thank them for standing by me the way they have. My business has not increased to 
the enormous extent claimed by some seedsmen every year; however, it has been gradually im- 
proving each season; some years increasing 3 per cent., others as much as 5 per cent., which 
I consider more than satisfactory. 
In view of the steady progress this business has made through a period of the worst agri- 
cultural depression this country has ever seen, I think it no more than right that I should 
extend my hearty thanks to my old friends and customers, now numbering more than 
300,000, who have stood by me year after year, and who at the same time have been 
the means of largely increasing my business by the many kind words they have spoken for 
Maule’s Seeds to their friends. As stated above, I think we are bound to see better times in the 
near future, so soon in fact that I spent last Summer quite a few thousand dollars increasing my 
facilities, so with exceptionally choice stocks of everything in this book, I am better prepared 
than ever to execute in a prompt and satisfactory manner all the orders my friends may send me. 
Wishing every reader of this book a Happy New Year, a most propitious growing sea- 
son, and a bountiful harvest, I remain 
Always yours to command, 
TRS 
agaccial Ngee Instead of aes a lot of newspaper notices, _u ae my 
= methods of conducting this business, or writing, myself, several 
pages about my facilities, etc., as is customary with many seedsmen, I have decided 
eee THE CAMERA IS A BETTER ILLUSTRATOR THAN THE PEN. eee 
On the next five pages my friends will find a number of photos of my various establish- 
ments, seed trials, etc., that illustrate better than it is possible for me to tell what is 
admittedly to-day the greatest direct mail order business in America. 
EKG 
ORES 
(Copyrighted. All rights reserved.) 
