FARMERS 
PROFIT 
by 
WETSEL 
SERVICE 

Founder 
HE Wetsel Seed Co. is the outgrowth of ex- 
periments begun in 1902 by the late D. M. 
Wetsel, Sr., whose portrait is shown at upper 
left. The story of his early, meager beginning and 
expanding prominence as a breeder of corn and other 
crops has repeatedly been related here. 
In 1911 a small seed store was opened in Harrison- 
burg. From this small start, the enterprise has be- 
come one of the leading seed houses of the East. Our 
steady and substantial growth through the years is 
largely due to the direct benefits which customers 
have received from dealing with us. 
Because of our vast facilities headed by the modern 
main plant shown above and the network of modern 
highways which converge at Harrisonburg, we have 
long since become the seed center for a large part of 
Virginia and West Virginia. 
Within the last two years we purchased two large 
parcels of real estate adjacent to our main plant, on 
which new modern buildings will be erected as soon 
as conditions permit. Each of the acquired properties 
contains a building, one of which we are using for 
seed processing and the other for storage. The two 
together provide large parking space for cars and 
trucks. 


‘Recently, we leased a large warehouse immediately 
across the railroad tracks. This building is over 200 
feet long and has three floors, thus providing some 
25,000 square feet of additional storage space and 
double our present track facilities for loading and un- 
loading cars. Pending full possession of this ware- 
house, we are compelled to utilize two other buildings 
situated just outside the city limits. All of this conveys 
a rough impression of our facilities for carrying large 
stocks of seeds and allied lines of merchandise. 
Moreover, during the last eighteen months we have - 
renewed and modernized some of our cleaning facilities 
and added new equipment for both cleaning and treat- 
ing seeds. For example, a new cleaning mill was in- 
stalled in one of the buildings purchased, a seed re- 
claimer was installed in the main plant, and a new, 
large-capacity, ultra-modern gravity separator has 
arrived and will soon be in use. Still other processing 
equipment is planned for 1946. 
Other plans for expansion are now in the making, 
such as more and well-trained personnel, enlargement 
of area served, and delivery service. 
General Information 
Avoid mistakes and misunderstanding by 
observing these instructions. 
WE PAY THE POSTAGE on all vegetable 
and flower seeds, except where otherwise 
specified. Field seeds and other supplies are 
priced f.o.b. Harrisonburg, Va. If desired by 
mail, add postage at the rate of 11 cents for 
first pound, 2 cents for second pound, and 
1 ont for each additional pound, up to 150 
miles. 
PLEASE WRITE PLAINLY, your name, 
post office, rural route and state on each 
order. 
NON-WARRANTY: Farmers and _ gar- 
deners of experience know that success with 
seeds depends primarily on weather condi- 
tions and proper cultivation, so in accordance 
with the custom of the trade and more speci- 
fically the American Seed Trade Association, 
“The Wetsel Seed Co., Inc., gives no war- 
ranty, express or implied, as to the pro- 
ductiveness of any seeds or bulbs it sells 
and will not be in any way responsible for 
the crop. Our liability, in all instances, is 
limited to the purchase price of the seed.” 
Concerning Prices In This Catalogue: It 
is a matter of common knowledge that field 
seeds, such as clovers, grasses, grains, po- 
tatoes, etc., fluctuate in price from month 
to month, often from week to week. In nor- 
mal times, the prices of garden seeds remain 
fairly stable; consequently, catalogue prices 
usually hold good for the season. 
As was to be expected, the advent of peace 
all over the world (at least the cessation of 
shooting) after six years of global warfare 
has brought new problems. Some of them 
are as bad as those faced during the war. 
For one thing, reconversion to peace-time 
production is in itself a gigantic and delicate 
operation. Further complications have arisen 
as a result of wide-spread industrial strikes. 
Inevitably, these factors serve to disorganize 
business somewhat, including both the 
supply of and demand for seeds and allied 
merchandise. 
The demand for some items will decrease, 
while the need for others will increase. 
Much the same can be said for production. 
Already a mild surplus prevails in some 
seeds, for instance; on the other hand, some 
are acutely short. These conditions are 
bound to affect prices to some extent. 
Consequently, all prices quoted in this 
catalogue are subject to change. Also, some 
items may not be available throughout the 
season or precisely as needed. However, the 
short items in our business are relatively few 

in number. With few exceptions (several of 
which are pointed out on the next page), we 
are fortified with ample stocks for the coming 
season. 
Frankly, we do not anticipate materially 
higher prices for many classes of merchandise. 
As was pointed out in both the 1944 and 1945 
issues of this catalogue, established O.P.A. 
ceiling regulations will, to a large degree, 
prevent sharply advanced prices, even in the 
acutely short items. Examples are to be 
found in Clovers and U. S.-grown Alfalfa. 
Despite their extreme scarcity (in fact, vir- 
tual non-existence), their price cannot ad- 
vance because they have sold at ceiling 
levels for several years. 
As you well know, the public generally is 
violently opposed to ceiling prices. Many 
groups and individuals have long clamored 
for removal of these regulations. We don’t 
relish them ourselves, for they have induced 
many headaches and restless nights. Never- 
theless, we are still thankful for maximum 
price regulations. They have been entirely 
ignored by a few persons and willfully vio- 
lated by others. However, we remain of the 
firm conviction that they have prevented a 
wild price inflation, which in the end would 
be harmful to everybody. Let’s be thankful 
and continue to cooperate so long as the 
danger prevails. 

