To Our rriGRds and Patrons. 



IT is with pleasure we greet our old friends with our New Garden Anunal for 1898. 

 The past few years have been unprofitable in many lines of business, and has espec- 

 ially pressed hard on our fellow gardeners and farmers. But with the revival of 

 business and manufacturing the past summer, this has created a better demand for gar- 

 den and farm supplies at increased prices. 



The outlook is very encouraging for the coming year. Those who will continue to 

 plant and produce better vegetables, better varieties, and cultivate more carefully, will 

 in the end be better paid for their labor than those who change around every year, and 

 only plant whatever was high-priced the year before. 



It is supply and demand that regulates the price, and surely if we all depend on one 

 class of products the market will be overstocked. 



Seed crops are fair, and prices low, so first cost will not be heavy to the planter, and 

 would advise our friends to have a better and larger garden, as it is true economy to 

 devote more attention to gardeniug. 



We have marked our prices very low, and hope this will meet the approval of our 

 patrons in sending us larger orders. 



We only list the Cream of Standard Tarieties, and aim to sell the best Seeds that 

 will grow, as we know by our test early in winter. Such seeds will produce a crop that 

 gladdens the heart of every true gardener. 



We issue only a plain, business-like catalogue, with honest descriptions, and so we 

 are able to supply our customers with better Seeds, and larger packets, as the seed 

 buyer has to pay for the expensive catalogues sent out. 



TESTING SEEDS.— We make it a rule to test all seeds as to vitality, before any are 

 sent out, and many a lot is condemned and thrown out. as we knowingly, will 

 positively not sell any dead seeds. We know, with proper care and planted at 

 the right season, our seeds will grow. But many, with even careless planting, or 

 bad weather, will still blame the seeds if they do not grow. But should any be 

 sent out by accident that fail to grow when properly tested, we stand ready to 

 replace same or give value in other seeds. 



GUARANTEE.— This has been discussed quite fully of late, but any well reasoning 

 person can well understand that a seedsman cannot guarantee a good crop. He 

 can know the vitality of the seeds he sells, but it is to his own interest for future 

 trade to sell good seeds. Complaints made that seeds are not good, or failed to 

 produce a crop, can often be attributed to other causes than to the quality of the 

 seeds. The very best seeds may fail, by sowing too deep, too shallow, in too wet 

 or too dry soil, insects destroying the plants as soon as, or before, they appear; 

 wet or cold weather, frosts, blight, or rust, chemical changes in the seeds induced 

 by extremes of temperature, etc. For all these contingencies on which the 

 success of a crop depends, it will readily be seen it is sheer folly to warrant them 

 to produce a perfect crop; under all these circumstances, while we exercise the 

 greatest care to have all seeds pure and reliable, we do not give any warranty, 

 expressed or implied. If the purchaser does not accept the seeds on these terms 

 and conditions, they must be returned at once, and the money that has been paid 

 for same will be refunded. 



MARKET GARDENERS. — Market gardeners and institutions who use large quantities 



of bulk seeds, should send for our special Market Gardeners' Price List. 

 TO DEALERS IN SEEDS.— Our Wholesale Trade List of Seeds, in Bulk and Papered, 

 sent free on application to all those who buy to sell again. Correspondence 

 solicited. 



TO OLD FRIENDS. — We tender our hearty thanks for past favors, which have been 

 appreciated, and trust that all our old friends will continue to lend a hand in 

 extending the use of Cole's Standard Seeds That Grow, by speaking a word for us 

 now and then to their friends. Please accept our thanks, and wishing you all a 

 prosperous and Happy New Year, we remain. Yours respectfully, 



COLE'S SEED STORE, 



Pella, Iowa, January 1, 1898. ^ M. Cole, Proprietor. 



