150 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[Apiul, 
IMPORT 
Entered according to Act of Congress, by R. TV. Ramsdell 
& Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the 
United States for the Southern District of New York. 
The Norway Seed Oats, Startling 
Frauds in the sale of Counterfeit Seed, 
Interesting Facts, Profitable Farming, 
Mow to Pay Mortgages, Where to get 
Genuine Seed, Who Recommends Them. 
Wc havo been to considerable expense in patting farmers 
on their guard against the frauds that were being perpo- 
trated in the sale of Seed Oats, but not until recently did 
we realize the magnitude of these swindles. H. W. Mar¬ 
shall, 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 
the Ramsdell Norway Oats seed. We arc informed by relia- 
able parties in Cincinnati, that he lias 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. I*. Boyer & Co., publishers of a country paper some¬ 
where in Penn, issued a circular in a similar manner, 
claiming to have our seed, but when wc exposed the fraud 
they changed their tactics, and are now advertising that 
they import seed from Norway. This dodge is so ridiculous, 
in view of the fact that our seed never came from Norway, 
and that wc are filling orders from that country, that intel¬ 
ligent farmers arc not likely to be deceived by it. Samples 
sent us, which wme from them, have been pronounced 
New Brunswick Oats by hundreds of farmers who oxamiiiod 
them. Other parties are selling what they claim to be our 
seed, at prices varying from $1.50 to $G per bushel, all war¬ 
ranted , of course , and some use our name. Some of these 
parties arc honest, but were themselves deceived in tho 
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 Flic above facts are sufficient. We have only to request 
ANT TO FARMERS! 
that those who buy of such parties; and are disappointed in 
their crops, will not condemn our seed, as some did last 
year. 
Facta and figures have already been published, showing 
by as reliable testimony as can be found in the land, that 
tlie 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 are more hardy than any other known j 
oats. They have been awarded forty-five first premiums, at 
the late State and County fairs', in competition with all tire 
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, the American Agriculturist, New- 
York Tribune, Moore’s Rural New-Yorker, Independent, 
N. Y. Observer, Methodist, Christian Advocate, "Western 
Rural, Prairie Farmer, Advance, Toledo lllade, and others. 
We can only present a few spocimen extracts showing the 
character of the letters received. 
“ The yield is enormous. The additional value of the 
straw more than pays cost of seed." 
C. I). Lang worthy, Alfred, N. Y. 
" My yield from five acres is 733 bushels. I will beat the 
world next year." 
J. L. Divine, Chattanooga, Tenn. 
“ Yield from 82 pounds seed on one acre, 113% bushels." 
J. Barker, Spring Mills, N. Y. 
“ One bushel of your Norways produced as much as five 
bushels of the Surprise Oats." 
Adam Rankin, Proprietor of Premium Farm, Ill. 
“ Yield from 15 lbs. seed, 50 bushels: weight 35 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 
1 like." 
J. H. Scott, Warwick, N. Y. 
“ One bushel of Norways is wortli 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 the Nor¬ 
ways, and it is the only one on which I have not been hum¬ 
bugged. Show’ me any oats that will bent it in yield or qual¬ 
ity, and I will gladly pay $100 for a bushel.” 
W. It. Hibbard, L. I., N. A". 
“ My yield from 1% acres was 103 bushels. Common oats 
on same ground yielded 30bushels per acre. Norways were 
heavier, and stood up while the others lodged badly.” 
V. C. Sawyer, Ohio. I 
* ’ i 
“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 peek of your seed produced as much 
lacking 14 lbs. ns the bushel of theirs j and yours did not 
lodge, theirs did.” I. L. Dodge, Pa. 
"The Norways yield with me more than double wlint the 
Surprise do, and are excellent in quality. Tho 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 Oat3 I bought of you last year have been a 
perfect God-send to me ; I have realized 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 tills spring. One more crop will make me independent. 
The Nonvays are King of Oats. 
Oscar Beilry, Fond du Lac, Wls. 
I estimate my clear profit per acre as follows: Increase In 
yfc'hl over ordinary oats, 43 bushels at GOets., $21; 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 lie is entirely Ignorant 
about it. Others may try something else, I will stick to the 
Norways. Chas. Van Dean, Ohio. 
I received 16 lbs. of your oats In the spring of IS69. Sowed 
on half an acre of ground. Yield, 52 bushels, weighing 40 
lbs. to the bushel. J. Galbraith, White House, Pa. 
Yield from 10% lbs., was 38 bushels. The Thrashers offer¬ 
ed to thrash such oats at 1 ct. per bushel, the usual price 
being 3 cts. O. B. Wheaton, Camlllus, N. Y. 
The seed I had from you gives great satisfaction. I also 
had some oats, represented to be Norways, from Boyer & 
Co., of Pa. They are nothing more than a good quality of 
common black oats. Jacob Mason, Rosco, Minn. 
I can assure farmers that the Norway Outs are no humbug. 
They yield excellently. My neighbor, who had a part of tho 
seed sent here, has heads from ids field 23% inches long. I 
can add my name cheerfully to the long list of respectable 
farmers who endorse them. 
Rev. J. F. M. Lloyd, Harriettsville, O. 
The bushel of oats I bought of you cost me $19.40 landed 
here. If it had been $10-0,1 would be satisfied. My farm Is 
down on tlie plains, good bottom land. The yield and 
growth were simply enormous, being over 120 bushels. They 
weigli 47 lbs. to tlie 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 tlie 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, doubts 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 requiro 
two more crops to supply the seed wanted. But it is rapidly 
becoming known in other countries. While wc 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 13 looking to us for tho 
seed that bears her name, several important orders having 
been received from there. Nearly fifteen per cent of tho 
last crop will be exported, and probably not less than K of 
the next will find ready sales abroad. With these facts be¬ 
fore us, we cannot expect a very great reduction in price of 
seed next year. We 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 $4, it is an easy matter for a 
farmer to pay off mortgages or build a new house from a 
few acres. Last season a C-acre lot yielded $11,250 to a New 
York farmer, a larger stun than he had made in ten years 
farming. A Wisconsin farmer did still 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 . Wc hope no 
farmer will buy this seed unless lie fully believes he is doing 
himself a greater favor than he is us. 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 40 lbs. to the 
bushel, wc 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, Post Office order, or registered 
letter. Address either of our Stores as follows: 
D. W. RAMSDELL & CO., 
218 Pearl Street, New York. 
171 Lake Street, Chicago, III. 
or 612 North 5th St., St. Louis, Mo. 
Large Illustrated Circulars Free. 
