252 
SEED TRADE BUYERS GUIDE 
Plant Foods and [Fertilizers 
T here is no line of merchan¬ 
dise which ties in so closely 
with the seed business as does 
that of fertilizers and plant foods. 
Seeds, plants, cuttings and bulbs are 
grown in every community and this, 
of course, means that where these 
are sold plant foods and fertilizers are 
also in demand, and the field for these 
products is indeed a broad one. 
To make the most of this business, 
the dealer would do well to follow the 
advice given below: 
Make a careful study of your en¬ 
tire territory in order to determine the 
extent of the use of plant foods and 
fertilizers. 
* * * 
Study the type of customers in your 
territory to find out just what kinds of 
plant foods or fertilizers are needed. 
Then stock the kinds and sizes of 
packages that you feel will be in de¬ 
mand but before placing your order 
with the manufacturer make a care¬ 
ful investigation of nationally adver¬ 
tised brands. 
* * * 
When you advertise your seeds or 
plants in your local paper, include 
also in the advertisements a sugges¬ 
tion with regard to the use of plant 
food. 
* * * 
Stage attractive and attention get¬ 
ting window displays. Whenever 
seeds, plants, or bulbs are shown, be 
sure to make a point of hooking them 
up with the proper plant foods or 
fertilizers. Just as soon as the weather 
breaks in the spring, start to push the 
sale of plant foods and fertilizers 
along with seed and plant purchases, 
making a special feature of them in 
your early spring window displays. 
* * * 
Make your store headquarters for 
the dispensing of helpful and authen¬ 
tic information on soil conditions and 
requirements. Know what is going 
on in the plant food world. Much 
helpful information can be obtained 
from the U. S. Department of Agri¬ 
culture, at Washington, D. C., as well 
as from all state and agricultural ex¬ 
periment stations. Manufacturers of 
reliable products are also well versed 
on the subject and are in a position to 
supply you with practical and sound 
advice. 
* * 
Distribute the literature supplied by 
manufacturers. When a customer's 
package of seeds is wrapped, enclose 
in it a manufacturer's circular. Place 
these circulars on counters in the 
store also, where customers can pick 
them up, take them home, and read 
them at some leisure moment. 
He ic 'k 
Familiarize yourself with the use 
of all the plant foods you handle so 
that you can recommend the proper 
kind of plant food or fertilizer for a 
specific purpose. Often two or three 
types can be sold to the same custom¬ 
er to meet the varied conditions or 
types of plantings he may have. Most 
Directory Section Index—Pages 2-4-6-8-10 
