The Old Masters 
As far back as history records, men have striven for perfection. 
Each generation learns from its predecessor and attains new 

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a1! ees 1 heights. From this desire of mankind to progress we owe many 
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—"~ of our greatest inventions and all of our modern culture. 
A young artist starting his career, first studies the Old Masters to get their treat- 
ment of outline, their interpretation of nature, their blending of colors. Thus from 
generation to generation art is handed down and improved. 
In 1866, an Old Master, Major R. L. Ragland came out of the civil war to an 
art he loved—the production of seeds. For years he studied and produced. In 1893 he 
died and left his business to his son-in-law, W. C. Slate. Under his able management 
the business grew to proportions Major Ragland had never dreamed possible. Then in 
1930 when Mr. Slate was ready to retire, he gaye way to his sons who had grown up in 
the business. 
Today the sons of W. C. Slate may be termed Old Masters. Back of their efforts is 
three generations of experience. Contacts made and knowledge gained mean everything 
in the seed business. It is the know-how that puts quality and productiveness into seeds. 
For over eighty years, we have been searching the World for better varieties. Our 
experience in the seed business and our contacts with seed growers the world over have 
placed us in position to obtain the best. We have studied and tested thousands of vari- 
eties—we have found from experience where each crop produces its best seed. 
Good seed don’t just happen. They are the result of many long years of patient 
labor and painstaking care by some man devoted to agriculture. Like the Old Masters, 

we have served our apprenticeship—we have become proficient in our art—and we hope 
to pass on to you through Slate’s Seeds som> of the knowledge gained. 
SLATE SEED COMPANY, INC. 
SOUTH BOSTON - VIRGINIA 
January 1, 1947 


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