













Dear Customers and Friends: 
A long—long time ago before the advent of 
the Rubber Tire Buggy—The Bicycle—The 
Automobile—The Radio—and the Aeroplane— 
Shumway’s Annual Catalog was the Garden 
Guide that your Mothers and Fathers looked for- 
ward anxiously to receiving annually. 
then, as it has always been down through the 
71 century, the leading American Seed Catalog. 
Many who receive this our 71st Annual Catalog 

: R, H. SHUMWAY 
THE PIONEER. AMERICAN SKEDSMAN 
Established in 1870 



























e people thought we would never recover from the 
effects of the War and that the Nation could not 
endure. You and I know instead of those predic- 
tions coming true we came out of the depression 
The Covered Wagon Era : 

| rose to greater heights than ever dreamed of 
before. We did likewise in 1873, in 1893, in 1907, 
and again in 1932, and as we go to press with 
1941 Catalog times are much improved over 
year ago. Millions of men and women have 
gone back to work, and conditions in general 
| indicate a very prosperous nation for the next 
- several years. 

@ 
tad Saeed eaten aE All during those distressing periods—1873- 
| Your or 1893-1907-1932—the house of R. H. Shumway 
eA Guin has gone forward Growing Better Seeds and 
) . \Grandparents/ Giving Greater Values for Less Money than any 
_ {Were Among! other Seed House on earth. Compare Prices—See 
a Our Early | for Yourself. 
Customers. Shumway’s first Seed Catalog, published in 
| They and 1870, was a 16-page book—size 6 x 9, total edi- 
You Did tion, 4,000 copies. Today this beautiful Catalog 
Much to has 96 pages—size 10 x 1814—many items 
Make featured in natural colors—Garden, Flower and 
Shumway Field Seeds, Hardy Perennials, Ornamental 
Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Strawberries, Hardy Lilies; 
in fact “Everything for the Garden.” Edition 
over 500,000 copies. 
In 1870 when Shumway’s first Catalog was 
issued Rockford had a population of 5,000 people. 
the Largest 
Direct Mail 
Seed House 
in the World 
and We Are| Today our City boasts of more than 100,000 in- 
Grateful to | habitants. The great Chicago fire did not occur 
You All. until the following year—to be exact, October 
7th, 1871. Covered Wagons—Horses and Buggies 
: 
Sarmmew and Gandene for Al 
Reviewing the Past and Pooling Furcard 
It was © 
Years” have been customers here for more than half 
of a century. 
Progress You younger men and women will remember 
9 the joy and satisfaction your parents obtained 
Fror planting Shumway’s Northern Grown, Pedigreed 
rom Seeds. Shumway’s Motto was then and always - 
the has been “Good Seeds Cheap—None Better at 
Covered Any Price.” 
Wagon Shumway’s first Seed Catalog was mailed in 
to the 1870. We were still suffering from the effects of 
Aeroplane the Civil War—times were very hard. Some 
a stronger and better people, and the Nation — 
ae Good Seeds Cheap—Good as Can Be Grown-—None Better at Any Price 1 
heetings LotheAmercan 

—Mud Roads—Log Cabins—were the things of 
luxury then. Compare those conditions with to- 
day and surely you will agree that this has been 
a Century of Great Progress. 
Surely you will want a Garden this year. No 
purchase that you could make would yield re- 
turns equal to a small investment in good Garden 
and Flower Seeds, Shrubs, Bulbs and Fruits. 
A modest Garden will afford you fresh Vege- 
tables and Fruit all summer long with sufficient 
quantity to can and store for winter consump- 
tion. This is one very definite way to reduce your 
living expenses, and at the same time enjoy the 
world’s Finest Fruits and Vegetables fresh from 
your own Garden. 
. May we suggest that you and your good wife 
and family carefully look through the Catalog at 
your earliest convenience; one writing on the 
order sheet enclosed the things you need; the 
other member of your family checking the items 
in the Catalog so you will have a copy of your 
order to check against your list when shipment 
is received. If you should find a shortage or mis- 
take in any of your purchases, feel free to write 
us promptly. 
We are all indeed grateful to Almighty God 
for his many blessings during those trying years 
referred to above, and likewise appreciative to 
you for your valued patronage of many years 
standing. © ee. : ESD 
IMPORTANT NOTICE 
For nearly three-quarters of a century, Rock- 
ford, Illinois, has been recognized throughout 
the world as the center of mail order Seed, Plant, 
and Nursery houses. R. H. Shumway was the 
pioneer in this industry and after being estab- 
lished some twenty years, the firms of H. W. 
Buckbee, Charlotte M. Haines and Great North- 
ern Seed Company developed as separate institu- 
tions in the production of Seeds, Plants and 
Nursery items. For many, many years these 
three old reliable houses served millions of 
American planters. ‘ 
Recently the allwise Creator called to their 
heavenly reward Charlotte M. Haines, H. W. 
Buckbee and the proprietors of the Great North- 
ern Seed Company. Unfortunately there were 
no sons to carry on these long established com- 
panies, so the widows and heirs decided to sell 
each of the Institutions, and R. H. Shumway, the 
Pioneer American Seedsman, bought their entire 
assets and good will. 
To all of the Shumway, Buckbee, Haines and 
Great Northern customers and friends, we send 
you this copy of our big 1941 illustrated Garden 
and Farm Catalog and sincerely hope you will 

“The Ra 
dio 

find it helpful in making your selections this year for everything 
you need in Seeds, Plants, Bulbs and Nursery items. 
When sending in your or- 
‘ders feel free to write us for 
any special information per- 
taining to your Garden and 
Farming problems. 
Yours most sincerely, 
— Will you please hand to your neighbor or friend who 
ill gardens the postal card enclosed so they too may re- 
ceive a copy of this instructive catalog? Thank you. 





And the Aeroplane 
