THE COLORS ARE FLYING HERE AT 

 WINDERMOOR FARM 



For portentous events have occurred since last Good Friday and, although the task before us is a long, 

 hard one, we must see it through with a fine heart. The year has passed here with a satisfactory record 

 of accomplishment. Some of our men have joined the colors, others of us have been told officially to 

 keep at the business of seed production. Windermoor Farm has done well, better than ever before; 

 but only about five per cent of our supply can be grown here. The other ninety-five per cent is a dif- 

 ferent story. A severe European winter, a torrid California summer, early September frosts in Mich- 

 igan and Minnesota, the general shortage of labor, and the prevailing high market prices have affected 

 the world's seed supply more seriously than ever before. The demand is very heavy; the stock in hand 

 is very short, and it is held by growers at extremely high prices; therefore, the resulting increased cost 

 of seed and, in many cases, difficulty of obtaining it at any price. 



Seedsmen and vegetable-growers are not being singled out for hardships. For every American 

 this war means new and difficult undertakings. Our "lives of mediocre endeavor" are no more, for 

 there is a war to be won, and food will win the war. Right here lies the great opportunity for every 

 vegetable-grower who is big enough to overcome difficulties caused by the scarcity and high cost of 

 labor, fertilizer, and seed. In laying your plans for the coming year, keep this one fact paramount in 

 your mind, that the United States Food Administration is going to do everything in its power to advo- 

 cate the more general use of fresh vegetables in order to conserve the grain and meat supply. 



Business the country over is good. Almost every man is at work with high wages, and this 

 means unquestionably a strong market all through the season. Lay your plans carefully and well. 

 Bring your organization up to the greatest possible efficiency. Above all, take no chances of crop 

 failure because of poor seed. There will be some of this on the market this year, for there never have 

 been so many seed crop failures in the history of the trade. Aside from the total elimination of 

 certain varieties, we believe we are in a position to care for our normal demand. If this should 

 increase very materially, our supply will not hold out. The careful planter will look after his seed 

 supply very early in the season. As seedsmen and vegetable-growers, we have a great opportunity 

 to serve the country together. We must prove ourselves big enough to meet this opportunity. 



"Are We Downhearted? No!" 



STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY 



Copyright, 1917, by Stokes Seed Farms Company ,,f , President and General Manager 



CI. A 4 o I) t □ 1 



DEC 21 1917 



