To Our Friends and Customers 
We take great pleasure in presenting our 57th Annual Catalog to our old friends 
and new, and we want our old customers to know that we appreciate their orders 
and hope that each and every one had a more beautiful yard and successful garden 
by planting our seeds, bulbs or plants last year. 
57 YEARS’ association with seeds and critical, prominent gardeners has developed 
many definite accomplishments that are particularly interesting to Growers of 
Quality Produce. 
57 YEARS’ conscientious effort in growing and selecting Seeds has developed High 
Grade Extra Select Strains of unusual merit that are particularly adaptable to the 
needs of this highly competitive 1940 market. 
ALNEERS started in the seed business in 1883 as growers of seeds for Market 
Gardeners. Thousands of ci’itical gardeners who constitute our clientele report 
Alneer’s Seeds to be producers of the highest percentage of successful crops. 
Progressive gardeners, in ever increasing numbers, are trying and continuing to 
use them. 
ALNEER’S Seeds are of the highest quality—always, and considering this the 
prices quoted herein are unusually reasonable. We invite comparison on this basis. 
Established 
1883 
ALL GOODS ARE SOLD 
UNDER THE 
ALNEERS 
GUARANTEE 
We guarantee the safe arrival of 
the goods you order and the vitality 
and purity of Alneer’s Seeds and 
Bulbs to the full amount of the pur¬ 
chase price. You can have your 
money back any time within a year if 
you are not satisfied with results. 
Even with the highest quality Seeds 
and Bulbs, success in gardening de¬ 
pends largely upon cultivation, soil 
and weather conditions. Therefore, in 
no case shall Alneer Brothers be li¬ 
able for more than the amount ac¬ 
tually paid us for Seeds and Bulbs. 
ORDER EARLY 
It is advisable to order early. By doing so you will be sure of 
immediate attention and you will have your seeds ready when you 
want to plant them. 
GENERAL INFORMATION 
All seeds are shipped promptly. Plants and Tender bulbs are 
booked and shipped in proper season; we ship no plants during cold 
weather on account of danger from freezing. Fall bulbs are booked 
and shipped from September to December 1. We send no plants to 
Canada or any Foreign Country. 
All seeds, bulbs, and plants are sent free by mail or express at 
prices quoted, to any part of the United States, unless otherwise 
specified. Seeds, etc., not prepaid are sent by express or freight 
at buyer’s expense. Our Canadian customers will please add to 
catalog price at the rate of 8c per pound for postage, as it costs 
14c per pound to send seeds from the U. S. to Canada. 
HOW TO SEND MONEY 
The money must accompany the order, and can be sent safely by 
Postoffice Money Order, by Draft on New York or Chicago, by 
Registered Letter or by Express Company’s Money Order. We 
disclaim all responsibility when remittances are not made as above 
directed. Very small amounts may be sent in postage stamps. 
Please send 2c stamps. 
NAME AND ADDRESS 
Please remember to write your Name, Rural Route, Street Ad¬ 
dress, Postoffice, County and State as distinctly as possible, espe¬ 
cially the name, also the nearest Express Office. 
FREE GIFTS for 1940 
Offer No. 1. With every order for Vege¬ 
table or Flower Seeds amounting to $1.00, 
we will include FREE FIVE PACKETS New 
Annual Flower Creations. 
Offer No. 2. A genuine Lang’s Hand 
Weeder with an order amounting to $1.25. 
Offer No. 3. 30 Stim-U-Plant Tablets Free 
with an order amounting to $1.50. 
Offer No. 4. A package of Japanese Fern 
and Palm Food Free with order amounting 
to $1.75. 
Offer No. 5. With a $2.00 order you may 
select Free 50c worth of Flower or Vege¬ 
table Seeds in packets of YOUR OWN 
CHOICE. 
Free Surprise Seeds Included With Other Orders 
Address All Letters and 
Make All Money Orders 
and Drafts Payable to 
ALNEER BROTHERS, Seedsmen 
116 Kishwaukee St. 
Rockford, Illinois 
HANDY INDEX. ORDER EARLY 
A 
Page 
Alfalfa .36 
Amaryllis Bulbs.63 
Artichokes . 3 
Asparagus Roots and 
Seed . 3 
B 
Beans.3, 4, 5 
Beets . 6 
Blue Grass.36 
Borecole or Kale. 7 
Broccoli . 5 
Bromus Inermis .36 
Brussels Sprouts . 5 
Buckwheat .36 
Bulbs, Fall . 64 
Bulbs, Spring....53, 54, 55 
C 
Cabbage Seed .8, 9 
Caladium Bulbs.53 
Canna Bulbs .53 
Carrots .10 
Cauliflower .11 
Celery .11 
Chewing Fescue .36 
Chicory . 7 
Chives .22 
Cinnamon Vines .53 
Citron .19 
Clovers .36 
Collards . 7 
Corn Salad . 7 
Cress . 7 
Cucumber .14, 15 
D 
Dahlia Bulbs .54 
Dandelion ....,. 7 
£ 
Page 
Egg Plant . 7 
Elephant Ears .53 
Endive . 7 
F 
Ferns, Hardy .60 
Fertilizer .65 
Fescues .36 
Field Corn .35 
Field Peas .35 
Field Seed.35, 36 
Flower Seed .37-52 
Fruits—Small .63 
G 
Gladiolus Bulbs .54 
Gourds .46 
Grapes ......63 
Grasses .36 
H 
Hardy Perennial Plants..60 
Hardy Shrubs .61 
Herbs .22 
Horse Radish Roots .63 
House Plants .56-59 
1 
Inoculations .66 
Insecticides and Sprays..65 
Iris .60 
K 
Kaffir Corn .35 
Kohl Rabi .17 
L 
Lawn Grass Mixtures ....36 
Leek .17 
Page 
Lespedcza .36 
Lettuce .16, 17 
Lily Bulbs, Hardy .55 
Lilies, Calla.63, 57 
M 
Madeira Vines.53 
Mango Melon .18 
Melons, Musk .18 
Melons, Water .19 
Millets .36 
Mushroom Spawn .22 
Mustard .22 
N 
Nitragin .65 
O 
Oais .36 
Okra .22 
Onion Seed .20, 21 
Onion Sets .21 
Orchard Grass .36 
Oxalis Bulbs .53 
P 
Pansy Plants .59 
Parsley .22 
Parsnip .22 
Peanuts .28 
Peas for Garden .24, 25 
Peonies .55 
Pepper Seed .23 
Pop Corn .14 
Potatoes .).28 
Pumpkin .28 
R 
Page 
Radish .26, 27 
Rape .35 
Red Top .36 
Reed Canary Grass .36 
Rhubarb Roots .63 
Roses .62 
Rutabaga .34 
Rye Grass .36 
S 
Salsify .30 
Soy Beans .35 
Speltz .35 
Spinach .30 
Sprays .65 
Squash .29 
Strawberry Plants .63 
Sudan Grass .36 
Sugar Beets . 7 
Sugar Cane . ...35 
Sunflower .30 
Sweet Clovers .36 
Sweet Corn .12, 13 
Swiss Chard . 7 
T 
Timothy .36 
Tobacco .30 
Tomato Seed .31, 32, 33 
Tuberoses .63 
Turnips .34 
V 
Vetch .35 
W 
Water Melon .19 
