The Covered W 







































R. H 
THE PIONEER AMERICAN SEEDSMAN 
Established in 1870 
Progress 
®@ 
From 
the 
Covered 
Wagon 
to the 
Aeroplane 
Shumway 
Has 
Kept 
Ahead 
of the 
Parade 
Your Parents 
and 
Grandparents 
Were Among 
Our Early 
Customers. 
They and 
You Did 
Much to 
Make 
Shumway 
the Largest 
Direct Mail 
Seed House 
in the World 
and We Are 
Grateful to 
You All. 
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. It was 
then, as it has always been down through the 
century, the leading American Seed Catalog. 
Many who receive this our 74th Annual Cata- 
log have been customers here for more than 
half a century. 
You younger men and women will remember 
the joy and satisfaction your parents obtained 
planting Shumway’s Northern Grown, Pedigreed 
Seeds. Shumway’s Motto was then and always 
has been “Good Seeds Cheap—None Better at 
Any Price.” 
Shumway’s first Seed Catalog was mailed in 
1870. We were still suffering from the effects of 
the Civil War—times were very hard. Some 
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 
a stronger and better people, and the Nation 
rose to greater heights than ever dreamed of 
before. We did likewise in 1878, in 1893, in 1907, 
and again in 19382. 
All during those distressing periods—1873- 
1893-1907-1932—the house of R. H. Shumway 
has gone forward Growing Better Seeds and 
Giving Greater Values for Less Money than any 
other Seed House on earth. Compare Prices—See 
for Yourself. 
Shumway’s first Seed Catalog, published in 
1870, was a 16-page book—-size 6 x 9, total edi- 
tion, 4,000 copies. Today this beautiful Catalog 
has 80 pages—size 10 x 1314—many items 
featured in natural colors—Garden, Flower and 
Field Seeds, Bulbs, Blueberries, Raspberries, 
Grapes, Blackberries, Boysenberries, Youngber- 
ries, Strawberries, Hardy Lilies, Roses; in fact 
“Everything for the Garden.” Edition nearly a 
million copies. 
In 1870 when Shumway’s first Catalog was 
issued Rockford had a population of 5,000 people. 
Today our City boasts of more than 100,000 in- 
habitants. The great Chicago fire did not occur 
until the following year—to be exact, October 
7th, 1871. Covered Wagons—Horses and Buggies 
—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. 
a” 

And the Aeroplane 
Reve he Bact and Looking Forward 

As we go to press with this our 74th annual 
Catalog, we find the world engulfed by the 
horrors of war. This is a time when all of us 
can show our patriotism and love of Country 
by cheerfully making any sacrifices requested 
“to the end” that shortly hostilities will cease 
throughout the world and that a justified Chris- 
tian peace may be granted to all nations. 
Plant A Victory Garden 
A modest Garden 1 afford you fresh Vege- 
tables and Fruit all simmer 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. 
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 1944 illustrated Garden and Farm Catalog and sincerely hope 
you will find it helpful in making your selections this year for every= 
thing 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 
gardens the postal card enclosed so they too may re- 
ceive a copy of this instructive catalog? Thank you. 


