EASY TO ORDER 
Just list what you want on the en- 
closed order sheet or on any sheet 
of paper. Please write your name 
and address plainly, giving rural 
route or street address. Also, if 
your express station is different 
than your postoffice, list the ex- 
press station, too. 
EVERYTHING POSTPAID 
THROUGHOUT THE 
MIDWEST 
You will see that everything in 
this catalog is delivered to you 
postpaid if you live in a radius of 
600 miles of Shenandoah (see Page 
65). This represents a real saving 
to you. Since postal rates have 
gone up considerably this past 
year, we must ask, however, that 
customers outside this 600-mile 
circle add 10% to the price of their 
nursery orders only to help pay 
this increased postage. As usual, 
seeds, vegetable and house plants, 
bulbs and other items in this cata- 
log, unless specifically marked, 
come postpaid. 10% postal charge 
applies only to nursery items 
(hedges, fruit and shade trees, 
shrubs, ornamentals, etc.) and then 
only if you live outside the area 
marked on the map at the left. 
_=INDEX=| 
Baby’s Breath 
Baby Chicks 
Begonias 
Berries 
Blackberries 
Bleeding Hearts 
Blueberries 
Boysenberries 
Boys & Girls 
Caladium 
Cannas 
Carnations 
Cherries 
Chicks 
Chrysanthemums 
Clematis 
Climbing Roses 
Columbine 
Corn, Sweet 
Crab Apples 
Currants 
Delphinium 
Dewberries 
Elm, American 
Elm, Chinese 
Evergreens 
Floribunda Roses 
Flowering Almond 
Flower Seeds 
Flowering Trees 
Garden Seeds 
Gladiolus 
Gooseberries 
Grapes 
Grass Seed 
Hedges claro 
Honeysuckle . 
House Plants ... 
Hybrid Tea Roses .. 
Hydrangeas 
Landscape 
Lawn Grasses 
Lilacs A 
Lilies 
Magnolias 
Mole Killer 
Mums 
Cosmos 
Larkspur 
Marigold 
Morning Glories 
Nasturtiums 
Pansies 
Petunias 
Snapdragons 
Sweet Peas 
Verbena 
VEGETABLE SEEDS ....27-44,72 
28, 29, 30, 31, 72 
28, 32,72 
Egg Plant 
Endive 
Muskmelon 
Onions 
Parsley 
Parsnips 
Sweet Corn 
Squash 
Sweet Potatoes 
Swiss Chard 
Tomatoes 
Turnips 
Vegetable Collection 
Watermelons 
Prices Quoted Subject To Stocks On Hand 
NOTICE: If a Federal Sales Tax is passed between catalog printing 
time and the time you order, add it to your remittance, please. 
Page 2 
Copyright Earl E. May Seed Co. 1955 
The gentleman on the right should be intro- 
duced, I think, because we hope 
day be the third generation of our family in 
this business. He’s Edward May, 
be just a little over 6 months old when this 
catalog goes to press. We’re really proud of 
him (like all parents). His sisters Annette 
and Karen are very pleased with having a 
younger brother . . 
than dolls! 
. they insist he’s more fun 
he will some 
Jr., and he’lt 
Ne 
Some Notes About Ordering From This Catalog: 
We are thrilled anew every year by the number of our friends who honor us with orders. We 
cherish this trust you place in us, and will continue to do our level best to merit your confi- 
dence. We are grateful for every order, large or small. But it has occurred to me that if I 
could tell you something about the way we handle your orders, you could help us speed them 
to you faster, and with as few mixups as possible. So my letter this spring will cover how you 
and we here at Shenandoah can 
work together. 
First, there’s the money you send us. Your personal check is always welcome, or you can send 
a bank draft or a money order. If you send currency, please wrap it carefully (it would be safer 
if you’d register your letter). We’d much prefer it if you would not send stamps, as we’re not 
set up to handle them easily. 
Your shipment might not always reach you in one package, since seeds and nursery stock must 
be shipped separately. Then, too, your strawberries will be shipped from eastern Iowa... Iris 
from Colorado, etc. House plants must travel separately, as must evergreens. We'll be real care- 
ful to see that everything reaches you in perfect condition and at the proper planting time, so 
don’t be alarmed if only a portion of your order arrives in the first package you receive 
from us. 
You’ll notice most items in the catalog are priced singly and in groups of 3, 5, 6, 12, 25, and so 
forth. It will help us get your order to you quickly and correctly if you will please order in 
the groups listed in the catalog. 
This catalog is crammed full of top quality merchandise, as always. Since this is 
our biggest catalog of the year, it contains lots of items got listed in the Fall 
Catalog. Save this catalog... 
use it to order those items suitable for planting in 
the Fall but not listed in our later catalog because of lack of space. 
Finally, please order early. We think we have ample stocks of everything, but 
we’re bound to run out of some things as the season progresses. So to be sure of 
getting what you want, when you want it. . 
. order early! Then, too, the fine 
premiums listed on pages 19 and 27 are given you without charge when you 
4 tes 
“w 
v 
pes 
IN IOWA: 
Atlantic 
Boone 
Carroll 
Cedar Rapids 
Centerville 
Cherokee 
Council Bluffs 
Creston 
Davenport 
RADIO STATION 
KMA 
For a lot of helpful information on 
the planting and care of Flowers, 
Fruits and Vegetables, tune in KMA, 
960 in the center of your dial. Every 
weekday we broadcast programs to 
help you have more beautiful yards 
and more profitable gardens. Write 
us about your yard and garden prob- 
lems. We'll be glad to help you all 
we can. 
order early. Don’t forget to include them on your order. 
Again, I wish to thank you for your fine orders. It is always a pleasure to serve 
you. On behalf of all of us here at May Seed Company, I hope you have a most 
happy and prosperous 1955. 
Sincerely, 
Pre Al) Mey 
YOU'LL FIND FRIENDLY EARL MAY STORES IN THESE CITIES: 
Denison Shenandoah IN NEBRASKA: 
Des Moines Sioux City Aubum 
Fort Dodge Storm Lake ; 
Harlan Washington Beatrice 
Marshalltown Waterloo Falls City 
Mason City Webster City Fremont 
Muscatine IN MISSOURI: Lincoln : 
Newton Chillicothe Nebraska City 
Oskaloosa Maryville Omaha 
Red Oak St. Joseph South Omaha 
FREE 
Garden Booklet 
You will find complete instructions 
on how to prepare, plant, and culti- 
vate your vegetable garden in our 32- 
page booklet. Sound, practical help. 
Lawn and Flower Seed culture are 
also given, Sent free with your order 
for Vegetable Seed, Flower Seed, or 
Lawn Grass Seed. (Extra copies are 
10c each.) 
FREE 
Nursery Booklet 
Right along with your order for 
Nursery Stock, we will send you 
complete and practical planting in- 
structions for Roots, Bulbs and Tub- 
ers. And a 24-page Booklet will bring 
you information and the planting 
care of Fruit Trees, Shrubs, Roses, 
Berry Plants, etc. 
: 
7 
; 
5 
