Object of the Day, Caption Contest: A Trade Card for Fertilizer

Click image to enlarge.

Well, this makes perfect sense. It’s a gourd with a woman’s head. At least she’s wearing a bonnet and boots, as one does when one is an anthropomorphic vegetable marrow.

We actually know what this trade card is advertising. It’s a Victorian ad for fertilizer. I’d say it dates to about 1880.

Let’s see what the reverse says:

FEED THE LAND AND IT WILL FEED YOU.

-----------------------------------

BUY 

L.L. CROCKER’S 

BUFFALO HONEST FERTILIZERS, 

Ammoniated Bone Super-Phosphates, 

AND 

PURE GROUND BONES. 

      These goods have now been tried for over eleven years, are the best 

Standard Fertilizers in the market, and are thoroughly reliable. Send for 

Circular to nearest Agent, or to 

L.L. Crocker’s Buffalo Fertilizer and Chemical Works, Buffalo, N.Y. 

There’s no mention as to the nature of these pure ground bones. We can only presume they’re not coming from vagrants. But, at least they’re ammoniated. Whew! That’s a relief. 

Now, that's what you expect from an honest fertilizer.  

Click image to enlarge.

So, while I don’t usually have a caption contest for cards which tell us their business, I’m going to break the rules since we don’t get many chances to expound upon the thoughts of a woman-headed gourd.

You know how it works. Let’s put your captions, comments, and observations in the comments.

And, go…