5 
HENRY FIELD’S SEED SENSE FOR MARCH, 1940—Henry Field Seed & Nursery Co., Shenandoah, Iowa 
Spelled with Field’s Flower Seed 
Here’s an interesting example of what my flower seed is 
being- used for over in Eustis, Nebr. Mrs. H. H. Linke sent this 
in and said, “This is from a package of rose moss seed I got 
from you last spring. As you’ll notice they make wonderful 
letters, so I made Eustis out of rose moss plants near the school 
building.’’ .Some of you other folks may want to try this kind 
of flower growing. But whether you do or not, be sure and 
plant plenty of flowers around your place this year. 
Ever Hear of Garbanzos? 
Well, I had heard of them years ago but I never knew Gar¬ 
banzos were as good to eat as they really are, until I got down 
to Mexico. They are a great item of food down there. I found, 
too, that Garbanzos are even grown successfully in Idaho, Wyo¬ 
ming and our regular seed growing districts. I have never 
tried to grow them here in Shenandoah but I am confident it 
can be done. I got a few of them to plant in my own garden 
and have some extras and while they last I am going to pass 
them around to you who are interested. 
Garbanzos are sometimes called the “Chick Pea.” It grows 
something like a bean or soy bean plant, 16 or 18 inches tall, 
very bushy, has a spreading vine and carries 40 to 60 pods to 
the plant. The pods are quite small, when green they are 
inflated like little balloons. Give them the same care as you 
do your bush beans. 
We are going to put them up in good, liberal sized packets, 
enough to give you a sample and a start for 15c, or if you want 
a little larger packet, almost a half pound for 25c. That barely 
pays for the postage and packing and handling. We aren’t 
making anything on them but I want to get them started out 
in a big way. If you like to plant something new and different 
plant Garbanzos in your garden this spring and then write me a 
letter and tell me how you like them. Better order right away 
as I haven’t very many. 
A Lesson from Mexico 
I learned lots of things from the Mexican people, and one of 
them was the importance of growing more and better gardens. 
They are the greatest gardeners I ever saw. Everybody raises 
lots of gardens, and good gardens, and they eat tremendous 
amounts of vegetables. They eat more vegetables in proportion 
than we do. 
Of course, it is partly a matter of necessity. The country is 
densely populated; in fact, over-populated, and they must plan 
carefully in order to have enough for everybody to eat. 
But nobody goes hungry. Everybody seems to have plenty 
to eat, and is cheerful, busy and happy. I believe they eat three 
times as much vegetables in proportion as we do. Not quite 
so many Irish potatoes, but lots of tomatoes, beans, cabbage, 
onions, peppers, and salads, and lots of corn in every form. 
They cultivate every inch of ground to the limit, and of 
course, as a result, they have wonderfully good gardens. The 
markets are full of endless variety of vegetables the year 
around. 
You know, I believe that if we would go in for gardens as 
enthusiastically and as carefully as they do, we would all be a 
lot better off. 
Try it and see.—H. F. 
* * * * * 
Confucius say, “Man who sit on tack is better off.” 
* * * * * 
If a penny saved, is a penny earned, you earn lots of pennies 
by ordering DIRECT FROM HENRY FIELD. 
Don’t Forget Your Frost-Proof Plants 
This picture shows some of my frostproof plants doing well 
despite a light snow and frost. They’re outdoor-grown and 
hardy as eskiinos. 
Don’t forget to order early and get in on this beautiful batch 
of FROST-PROOF Cabbage and Onion plants. They are going 
out so fast, they won’t last long, but I’ve got enough to go 
around for awhile yet. So if you’re the guilty one, who has 
put off ordering, send me that order and I’ll show you some real 
service. All are state-inspected plants, grown out-of-doors, and 
frost won’t hurt them a bit. Over half my customers use them 
every year and wouldn’t be without them. I can supply them at 
the following prices: 
FROST-PROOF CABBAGE PLANTS—AVakefield, Norseman, 
Early Flat Dutch 100 for 45c; 200 for 79c; 500 for $1.39; 
1000 for $2.49 postpaid. 
FROST-PROOF ONION PLANTS—Riverside Sweet Spanish, 
White Bermuda, or Yellow Bermuda —300 for 47c; 500 for 
79c; 1000 for $1.49, 3000 for $3.49 all postpaid. 
Sweet Potato Plants 
Yes, we are going to have Sweet Potato plants and plenty 
of them, ready for shipping at the proper planting time. We 
can supply you with two kinds NANCY HALL (the vigorous, 
large ones) or YELLOW JERSEY (the dark yellow ones). Both 
varieties are priced cheap. 100 for 45c, 200 for 85c, 500 for 
$1.95, 1,000 for $3.25. All Postpaid. 
“Down on the Farm” 
Down on the farm, ’bout half-past four, 
I slip on my pants and sneak out the door: 
Out of the yard I run like the dickens 
To milk ten cows ami feed the chickens. 
Clean out the barn, curry IVancy and Jigga, 
Separate the cream and slop the pigs. 
Work two hours, then eat like a Turk, 
And by heck: I’m ready for a full day’s work. 
Then I grease the wagon and put on the rack. 
Throw a jug of water in an old grain sack. 
Hitch up the horses, hustle down the lane. 
Must get the hay in for it looks like rain. 
Look over yonder! Sure as I’m born. 
Cattle on the rampage, and the cows in the corn. 
Start across the medder, run a mile or two. 
Heaving like I’m wiml-broke, get wet clear through. 
Work all summer till winter is nigh. 
Then figure up the books and heave a big sigh. 
Worked all year, didn’t make a thing: 
Got less cash now than I had last spring. 
Now, some people tell us that there is no hell. 
But they never farmed, so how can they tellf 
When spring rolls ’round I take another chance. 
While the fringe grows longer on my old gray pants. 
Give my s’spenders a hitch, my belt another jerk. 
And by heck! I’m ready for a full year’s work. 
Attention! Helen Field Fischer Fans 
Here’s a real surprise—My sister Helen Field Fischer, flower 
lady of KFNF for years, now has her new flower book ready 
for you. It has taken years in preparation. She calls it “The 
Flower Family Album”—but it really is more fun and more 
interesting than any album I’ve seen. 
132 big pages in all—picture all the plant families and all 
their relation with Helen’s own interesting and odd facts about 
each one. The pictures were all drawn from live plants by 
Mrs. Fischer’s daughter—Gretchen Harshbarger. You can send 
orders direct to KFNF. Price only $1.50. 
By the way, don’t forget you can hear Mrs. Fischer’s talks over 
KFNF every day at 1:30. 
