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AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
IMPORTANT TO FARMERS! 
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Entered ficcorcUng to Act of Congress, by D. W. Eambdell 
& Co., in the Clerk's Office or tlie District Court of the 
United States for tlie Southern District of New York. 
The Norway Seed Oats, Startliag 
Frauds in the sale of Counterfeit Seed, 
Interesting Facts, Profitable Farming, 
How to Pay Mortgages, Where to get 
Genuine Seed, Who Recommends Them. 
We have been to considerable expense in putting farmers 
on their guard against the frauds that were being perpe- 
trated in the sale of Seed Oats, but not until recently did 
we realize the magnitude of these swindles. H. W. Mar- 
Khali, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has issued a circular much of the 
contents of which has been copied from ours, representing 
that he is our authorized agent for the West, for the sale of 
tlie HanisdeH Norway Oats seed. "We arc informed by reli- 
able parties in Cincinnati, that he has sent out over Half a 
Million of these circulars, and is receiving thousands of 
orders. He is a swindler, has never had any of our seed, 
nor any communication with us. 
N. P. Eoyer & Co., publishers of a country paper some- 
where in Penn. Issued a circular in a similar manner, 
claiming to have our seed, but when we exposed the fraud 
they changed their tactics, and are now advertising that 
they Import seed from Norway. This dodge is so ridiculous, 
lu view of the fact that our seed never came from Norway, 
and that we arc filling orders from that country, that intel- 
ligent farmers arc not likely to ba deceived by it. Samples 
pant us, which came from them, have been pronounced 
New Brunswick Oats by hundreds of farmers who examined 
them. Other parties are selling what they claim to be our 
Bectl, at prices varying from $1.50 to $G per bushel, all war- 
ranted, of course, and some use our name. Some of these 
parties are honest, but were themselves deceived in the 
purchase of seed last year. Out of over twenty samples 
sent us of Norway Oats, now being advertised, only two 
were genuine. We cannot go through the whole list, 
but the above facts are sufficient. "Wo have only to request 
that those who buy of such parties, and are disappointed In 
their crops, will not condemn our seed, as some did last 
year. 
Facts and figures have already been published, showing 
by as reliable testimony as can be found in the land, that 
the Ramsdell Norway Oats will produce from twice to three 
times as much to the acre, are heavier, and of better quality, 
stand up better, and arc more hardy than any other known 
oats. They have been awarded forty-five first premiums, at 
the late State and County fairs, in competition with all the 
varieties now grown, which Is a larger number than was 
ever awarded to any agricultural improvement in a single 
year. Among the leading journals that have recommended 
them, may be mentioned, tlie American Agriculturist, New- 
York Tribune, Moore's Rural New-Yorker, Independent, 
N. Y. Observer, Methodist, Christian Advocate, "Western 
Rural, Prairie Farmer, Advance, Toledo Blade, and others. 
"We can only present a few specimen extracts showing the 
character of the letters received. 
FROM FARMERS. 
"The yield is enormous. The additional value of the 
straw more than pays cost of seed." 
C. D. Langwoetht, Alfred, N. Y. 
"My yield from five acres is 758 bushels. I will beat the 
world next year." 
J. L. Divine, Chattanooga, Tenn. 
" Yield from S3 pounds seed on one acre, 11SK bushels." 
J. Barker, Spring Mills, N. Y. 
" One bushel of your Norways produced as much aB five 
bushels of the Surprise Oats." 
Adam Rankin, Proprietor of Premium Farm, 111. 
"Yield from 15 lbs. seed, 50 bushels: weight 30 lbs." 
George "Williams, Minn. 
"Grew six feet high. I took one bushel to our County 
Fair, and received first premium. Weight, 52 lbs." 
A. Wogalon, Millersburg, Ohio. 
"Their spreading qualities are enormous. Yield from 7 
lbs. seed, 15 bushels." 
G. M. Brewer, N. J. 
"Yield 90 bushels per acre. This is the kind of humbug 
I like." 
J- H. Scott, Warwick, N. Y. 
" One bushel of Norways is worth two of other oats to 
feed out. They have substance, not all chaff." 
S. M. Waite, President Brattleboro (Vt.) Bank. 
" I have bought all the improved seed down to tlie Nor- 
ways, and it is the only one on which I have not been hum- 
bugged. Show me any oats that will beat it in yield or qual- 
ity, and I will gladly pay $100 for a bushel." 
W. R. Hibeaed, L. I., N. Y. 
" My yield from \% acres was 100 bushels. Common oats 
on same ground yielded 30 bushels per acre. Norways were 
heavier, and stood up while the others lodged badly." 
V. C. Sawyer, Ohio. 
"I bought 1 bushel of seed of N. P. Boyer & Co. .which they 
advertised as Imported Norway Oats, before I saw your ad- 
vertisement. I then sent for one peck of yours, and gave each 
an equal chance. The peck of your seed produced as much 
lacking 14 lbs. as the bushel of theirs; and yours did not 
lodge, theirs did." I. L. Dodge, Pa. 
"The Norways yield with me more than double what the 
Surprise do, and are excellent in quality. The Surprise oats 
are all hull, and a very deceptive grain. I would not pay 
half price for them to feed my horses." 
M. V. Wilson, Kentucky. 
The Norway Oats I bought of you last year have been a 
perfect God-send to me; I haverealized enough to pay off a 
mortgage on my farm, which was due, and I had no means 
of paying, and I have seed left for 23 acres, which I shall put 
In this spring. One more crop will make me independent. 
The Norways are King of Oats. 
Oscar Eerrt, Fond du Lac, Wis. 
I estimate my clear profit per acre as follows : Increase in 
yield over ordinary oats, 43 bushels at GOcts., $2i"; increased 
value of straw as feed, $23; total, $52. -This is clear gain, 
from an investment of $10, calling the oats worth same as 
common oats. It pays better than wheat, or corn. As to 
quality, they are the best oats I ever saw, and any man who 
says they are not, shows that he is entirely ignorant 
about it. Others may try something else, I will stick to the 
Norways. Ciias. Van Dean, Ohio. 
I received 16 lbs. of your oats in the spring of 1S69. Sowed 
on half an acre of ground. Yield, 52 bushels, weighing 40 
lbs-, to the bushel. J. Galeeaith, White House, Pa. 
Yield from 10% lbs., was 33 bushels. The Thrashers offer- 
ed to thrash such oat3 at 1 ct. per bushel, tlie usual price 
being 3 cts. O. B. Wiieaton, Camillas, N. Y.' 
The seed I had from you gives great satisfaction. I also 
had some oats, represented to bo Norways, from Boyer & 
Co., ef Pa. They are nothing more than a good quality of 
common black oats. Jacob Mason, Rosco, Minn. 
I can assure farmers that the Norxcay Oats areno humbug. 
They yield excellently. My neighbor, who had a part of tha 
seed sent here, has beads from his field 23>«< inches long. I 
can add my name cheerfully to the long list of respectable 
fanners who endorse them. 
Rev. J. F. M. Lloyd, Harricttsville, O. 
The bushel of oats I bought of you cost me $10.J0 landed 
here. If it had been $100, I would be satisfied. My farm is 
down on the plains, good bottom land. The yield and 
growth were simply enormous, being over 120 bushels. They 
weigh 47 lbs. to the bushel. You have done a great- thing 
for the West In the Introduction of these oats, and are deserv- 
ing of the grateful thanks of every farmer In the country. 
C. H. Howes, Georgetown, Col. 
THE PROFITS. 
There is a very general understanding among farmers as 
to supply and probable demand of this seed. No reasona- 
ble man, who knows the facts, doubt3 for a moment but that 
they will come into general use, just as rapidly as the seed 
can be had, displacing all others from our soil. If the entire 
product could be retained in this country, it would require 
two more crops to supply the seed wanted. But it is rapidly 
becoming known In other countries. While we have not 
courted foreign orders, wishing to reserve that market for 
another year, the few samples sent there last year have pro- 
duced so well, that orders arc daily reaching us from all 
parts of Europe. Even Norway is lo iking to us for the 
seed that bears her name, several important orders having 
been received from there. Nearly fifteen percent of the 
last crop will be exported, and probably not less than 14 of 
the next will find ready sales abroad. With these facts bo- 
fore us, we cannot expect a very great reduction in price of 
seed next year. Wc have shown that at price of ordinary 
oats, they arc a profitable crop. At $1 per bushel, they will 
pay handsomely; but at $3 or $1, it is an easy matter for a 
farmer to pay off mortgages or build anew house from a 
fewacres. Last season a S-acrc lot yielded $41,250 to a New 
York farmer, a larger sum than he had made in ten years 
farming. A Wisconsin farmer didstill better;, and hundreds 
have made small fortunes. These facts can be fully proven 
any day by undoubted testimony. While these high prices 
last, it is a speculation, but it is safe and sure. We hope no 
farmer will buy this seed unless he fully believes he is doing 
himself a greater favor than ho is vs. Many have thanked 
us for urging them to buy last year, and thousands will do 
so next year. 
HOW TO GET SEED. 
Our price Is $7.50 per bushel ; §4 per half bushel ; $2.50 per 
peck. For the convenience of those wishing to experiment, 
we will send 2 lbs. by mail, post-paid, for $1. 
While our seed varies in weight from 3G to 4G lbs. to the 
bushel, we sell by the standard of 32 lbs. to a bushel, 
which is enough to seed 1 acre of good ground. Send 
money with order, by draft, Po3t Office order, or registered 
letter. Address either of our Stores as follows : 
D. W. RAMSDELL & CO., 
218 Pearl Street, New York. 
17 1 Lake Street, Chicago, III. 
or 612 North 5th St., St. Louis, Mo. 
Large Illustrated Circulars Free. 
