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Buy Delicious--Leader 
of AH Orchard Money- 
Makers From Its Home 
and Headquarters 
Stark Delicious, the crowning glory of the 
apple kingdom, originated on the farm of the late 
Jessie Hiatt, at Peru, Madison county, Iowa, in about 1870. 
Mr. Hiatt was a man of sound judgment in matters pertaining 
to fruit, and when he saw the little tree which had found lodging 
in a corner of his orchard, he knew it was worth preserving. 
There had never been a tree like it before. It was a sturdy specimen— 
well shaped. Mr. Hiatt believed that here was a discovery that would some 
day bless all mankind. 
He nursed the tree carefully and gave it the most tender care. Finally it bore 
fruit—and all of Jesse Hiatt's confidence in the new variety was realized. 
It bore fruit that looked [different from everything else—more beautiful than 
any variety he had ever seen—and that lasted better than any other apple. 
Mr. Hiatt looked about for a concern whose ability and reputation justified its 
propagation. He offered it to the Stark P>ros. Nurseries and Orchards Company, 
of Louisiana, Mo., and samples of the fruit were sent to Clarence M. Stark, then 
president of the Company, for expert tests as to real apple quality. 
After Mr. Stark's conviction as to the great posibilities of Delicious had been 
firmly formed—after experiments with it in various parts of the country had 
established it as the greatest of all apples and a national apple good for all climates, 
he paid a visit to the home of Jesse Hiatt, examined the original tree, purchased 
it with the exclusive, perpetual rights of introduction and propagation, and en¬ 
tered into a legal agreement with the man who had discovered and preserved it. 
The name “Delicious” was registered by Stark Bros, in the United States Patent 
Office as a trade-mark, and soon the great work of sending this matchless variety 
to all the civilized world was on in real earnest. 
Since then 15 million Delicious trees have been propagated and shipped from 
the home and headquarters of Delicious at Louisiana, Mo. 
Are you familiar with Delicious quality? Have you had the pleasant profit 
experiences of all who plant Stark Delicious trees? 
If not, this is your year to start. Our Delicious stock is particularly good this 
year, and you can’t go wrong in ordering early. We recommend that you get your 
order in without delay. 
Read What Growers Say About 
Stark Delicious Profits 
Mrs. E. A. Johnson, Hamilton, Mont., says: “On eight to ten-year-old apple trees I figure $500.00 to $000.00 per 
acre net profit. From our experience I think this conservative. We have received as high as $10.00 per box for Stark 
Delicious, while $5.00 is readily obtained." 
J. S. Huey, Chicago. Ill.: “I asked in one of the hi 
grade fruit houses of Chicago if they handled Stark Deli 
cious. They said they did. and that they paid 
$9.00 per bushel box for them, and would be glad 
to pay .$12.00 per bushel box for them at that 
time.” 
F. S. Burgess, Chelan Co.. Wash., 
realized net profit of $SS2.93 from 
thirty-six ten-year-old Stark Delicious 
apple trees. These trees occupy only 
one-third of an acre of ground. The 
preceding year the returns from the 
same trees amounted to $1,500.00, the 
crop of that year being considerably 
heavier. 
‘‘Last season I sold my orchard very 
satisfactorily, or to express it ^more 
truthfully, the Stark Delicious sold the 
orchard. I have some sixty varieties 
of apples, but if I were to do it over 
would plant at least half to Stark 
Delicious.”—Adam Thompson, Buchan¬ 
an County, Missouri. 
“Stark Delicious brought $7.50 per 
per barrel. I have ten trees of this variety, 
bought seven years ago, which bore heavily this 
year. In fact, they produce more fruit than 
any twenty trees of other varieties planted at 
the same time.”—J. S. Coleman, North Carolina. 
“Stark Delicious have withstood 50 degrees 
zero without injury. The same is true of Stark 
David.”—R. J. Wiggins. Province of Quebec. 
The Ston of a Grand Old Tree 
below is a recent picture of the orig¬ 
inal Delicious tree (photographed Dec.* 
28, 1913), which Jesse Hiatt gave to the 
world when he sold exclusive right of propaga¬ 
tion to Stark Bros. Nurseries and Orchards Co., of 
Louisiana, Mo. 
The gentleman with the moustache is S. L. Hiatt, son 
of Jesse Hiatt, discoverer of the tree and the man who « 
made the contract (still in force) w.th Stark Bros. The 
other man in the picture is the Official Photographer of the 
Stark Bros. Company. 
This illustration shows the grand old tree in its present rotting 
condition—worn out, overgrown with watersprouts and worthless 
for propagating purposes. , , , 
But the splendid monarch of the orchard has done a great work, 
oll:pi* apple tree has such historical interest as this \eteian the 
wonderful gift of nature. 1M . ., . . . 
When Stark Bros, secured from Mr. Hiatt in 1894 ttm perpetual right 
of propagation from the original tree, and when t laience Al. Stark (then 
president of Stark Bros.) went to Iowa to inspect the hrst Delicious 
that ever grew, this tree was in its prime, its strong, \igoious, upright 
limbs bore an enormous crop without breaking. StdJ.ii h?iCib- out 
many trees directly from cuttings from this old original Delicious 
tree up until late years. 
The ravages of time, the bleak winters of nearly half a century, the 
various enemies of tree life were withstood for.a long time, but in later 
years this grand old tree has rapidly given away. In face of these over¬ 
whelming odds, the old tree still battles despite the heavy inroads of decay 
which have eaten to its very heart, causing it to become overgrown with 
watersprouts and greatly weakened. 
But the original Delicious tree has accomplished its purpose. From it 
have been taken, in the prime of life, scions which have been propagated 
by Stark Bros, and grown to thrifty, vigorous young trees. Stark Bros, 
have sold to the progressive orchardists in every section of the country 
(these Delicious trees, and to-day these splendid orchards are bearing crops, 
bringing the growers profits hitherto thought impossible. In fact, these 
Delicious orchards have rivaled and even surpassed the wonderful record 
of the original tree. 
So we—the developers and introducers of Delicious—thus pay tribute 
to this now useless servant of mankind, and to .Jesse Hiatt, its noble dis¬ 
coverer of whom S. J. Hiatt wrote when the veteran died in 189S at the 
age of 70 years: “Although not well, he obtained great peace of mind and 
his countenance shone like one who confers a great blessing on the chil¬ 
dren of men when, through the energetic and reliable Stark Bros., he gave 
his apple to the world.'’ 
Original Delicious Tree in 1913—Stark Bros, representative at left, S. L. Hiatt at right 
Stark Bros.--Introducers 
of This Greatest 
Offer You Its 
Possibilities 
Is 
Careful experiments were made with Delicious 
in all parts of the world. Some varieties succeed 
in one section, some in another. Some require a certain 
kind of soil. Some are adapted to a cold climate, others to 
a mild. Some are short season fruits. 
But when the reports regarding Delicious began to come in, there wasT^^^ 
a revelation. For this apple appeared to be perfectly adapted to any con- 
ditions. From North, South, East and West came one report , and that was 
favorable to the Delicious as the greatest of all apples. 
Stark Delicious is large, with a surface almost covered with brilliant dark 
red, blending to a golden yellow at the blossom end and over-flecked with small 
yellow dots. The blossom end is its characteristic feature—having five knob-like 
protuberances more or less pointed or rounded, depending on the section where 
it is grown. It is the one apple trade-marked by nature. 
Stark Delicious is as hardy and sturdy as the oak. It is one of the strongest 
growing, most vigorous orchard trees, a strong pollenizer, a late bloomer; resists 
all tree enemies. The blossoms will stand several degrees more cold at blooming 
time than others. 
In flavor, this apple is indeed delicious. Its flesh is of finest texture—smooth¬ 
grained, tender, juicy. 
THE GREAT STARK SEAL. 
Every package of Stark Bros, trees is carefully put up by experts and then 
sealed with the seal shown above. Stark Bros’, goods always reach you in good 
condition. None are genuine 'without this seal. 
STARK BROS. GREAT SELECTIVE LIST. 
Stark Bros, are the world's foremost tree growers. They grow all good varie¬ 
ties of apple and offer them in any quantity. Also all good varieties of peach, pear, 
plum, cherry, apricot, quince, nectarine, grape vines, blackberry, raspberry, goose¬ 
berry, dewberry, currant—everything the fruit grower wants. Shade and orna¬ 
mental trees, ornamental shrubs, climbers, hedges, roses—everything to beautify 
your glounds. 
Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. 
Box 123, LOUISIANA, MO. 
Apple, 
Profit 
Write Today for Your Copy of Splendid Year 
Book and Stark Orchard and Spray Book. 
Address All Mail to Company Headquarters, 
Louisiana, Mo., not to Individuals. 
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