SEED CATALOGUE, THORN HILL, N. Y. 5 
BILLS’ COLO com OATS, 
NOTED FOR LENGTH OF HEAD. NOW OFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
In the spring of 1886 I sowed a small trial packet of 
what was called the White Swede Oats. They did re¬ 
markably well that season, and during their growth I 
discovered one stalk which appeared to he much differ¬ 
ent in growth, it grew about one foot higher than 
the others ; I watched its growth very carefully, and 
when the heads came out they were the longest I ever 
saw and a sight worth seeing, and did not look any¬ 
thing like the others. In the spring of 1887 I sowed 
the product of this one stalk and a very fine crop was 
harvested, the heads being as long as ever. In the 
spring of 1888, the 1887 crop was solved, and every 
one who saw them growing said they were the finest 
field of oats they ever saw, the long heads attracting 
much attention. In the spring of 1889 the 1888 crop 
was sowed, and although the season was a very wet 
one, I secured an immense crop which I shall offer 
this season. When last season’s crop W'as beginning 
to head, I measured heads about eighteen inches long, 
and the oats was just as thick on the stem from bottom 
to top as they could grow. They grow from four to 
four and one-half feet high, with stiff, bright straw 
supporting the long heads ; they stool freely and yield 
remarkably. Last sirring I distributed small packets 
throughout the country for trial. Reports from these 
tests have been most gratifying, and the few published 
are a fair sample of the many received. A careful 
reading of these will show the value of the Gold 
Coin Oats better than any description I can give. 
ONE HUNDRED BUSHELS TO BEfiHBN 
AWAY AS PRHES. 
In order to ascertain the full capacity for producing 
long heads, I will give twenty prizes, of five bushels 
each, to the twenty persons growing the twenty longest 
heads on the following conditions, viz:—The chance 
to secure five bushels of these oats is open to every 
person wishing to compete for the prize ; the longest 
head you can grow must be sent me by mail (a small 
box will be best to send the head in) on or before 
October 1st, 1890, and on October 2d, all the heads re¬ 
ceived will be carefully measured and the twenty 
longest picked out, and the persons who sent these 
heads will be at once notified, and five bushels of my 
1890 crop will be shipped by freight to each of the 
twenty persons. 
The prizes are open to the World and anyone can 
sow a packet in the corner of the garden, or any good 
place where the heavy winds will not break the heads, 
and raise an excellent supply of seed and some im¬ 
mense heads. My supply is yet small considering the 
large country I tvantthem tested in during 1890, and 
I can only offer them in sealed packets. Who will win 
the prizes and what States will they come from ? This 
will be of much interest to every one, and full partic¬ 
ulars will be published in my 1891 Catalogue. The 
seed can be procured from no other seedsman in the 
■world this year, for I have all there is that is true and 
genuine. Be sure to include a packet in your order. 
Price per packet, postpaid, 10 cents; 12 packets for 
/ l w* $1-00. 
' Decokaii, la., Oct. 7, 1889. 
v F. B. Mills, Thorn Hill, N. Y.: Dear Sir—Yours to 
N hand this P. M., and replying would say that the 
sample of Gold Coin Oats grew and looked the finest 
of any oats I ever saw, the straw being not only long 
but very stout, with abundance of leaves and immense 
great heads, but about the time they were in the milky 
state w 7 e had some very close, hot, muggy days and 
nights, and the rust caught them, they being planted 
a little late, but I think I have a few that will grow, 
and shall try them again by all means, as I believe 
they are in reality a Gold Coin to the man who has 
them. I do not attribute any of my failure with this 
sample to the fault of the oat by any means, but to the fact that they were planted too late. The best 
oats here are the very c arly sowed. I think from what I observed in the growth of your Gold Coin Oats 
that they Mill prove a most valuable addition to our already large list of valuable varieties of oats. 
(See another page for further reports.) Yours truly, J. STEVENS. 
The above illustration shows two heads of Gold 
Coin Oats. 
