SEED AND PLANT DISTRIBUTION. 45 



BEET. 

 Ruby Dclcbt. 



A verv popular beet in England. First introduced in this country 

 in L899 by Johnson c<: Stokes. 



An especially valuable introduction, and very distinct from other 

 globe-shaped beets in its greater depth. The color is a deep red. the 

 shape a deep globe, very full at the top and holding its size well to the 

 bottom, while the surface is very smooth and entirely free from root 

 hairs, rootlet.-, or markings. The leaves are medium dark red in 

 color, and being very small and erect in habit, the variety is therefore 

 suitable for close planting. The season is early, or about the same as 

 Detroit Dark Red. The flesh is very dark and zoned with deep red 

 and a lighter shade: the quality is fine grained, sweet, and tender. 



Seed furnished by Johnson & Stokes, Philadelphia, Pa, 



TOMATO. 



Thorburn' s Earliest. 



Originated by J. M. Thorburn & Co., and introduced by them in 

 1902. This variety was obtained by selection of a Dumber of English 

 greenhouse sorts grown for several seasons out of doors in the vicinity 

 of New York. 



It is claimed by tin 1 introducers to be the earliest tomato grown and 

 to be five days earlier than the Atlantic Prize, which is the most gen- 

 erally grown extra-early sort. This variety is undoubtedly a splendid 

 introduction and extremely early, but of small size. Compared to 

 Atlantic Prize it is considerably smaller in size, but much superior to 

 it in being smoother, less corrugated and scarred, and more of a globe 

 shape. It is similar to Conference and to Bright and Early, but con- 

 siderably earlier than either, and much larger than the latter. The 

 plants have the fine leaf and habit of growth of the extra-early varie- 

 ties. The fruits are bright scarlet, flat globe shape, and perfectly 

 smooth. Specially recommended for forcing, but a splendid outdoor 

 sort also. 



Seed furnished by .1. M. Thorburn A- Co., New York. 



LETTUCE. 

 Half Century. 



A very old variety of foreign origin, seldom catalogued by Ameri- 

 can seedsmen. John Lewis Childs, of Floral Park, N. Y., it seems, 

 was the first American seedsman to catalogue it, or at least the first to 

 claim for it any special superiority. 



