20 PETER HENDERSON & GCO., NEW YORK—VEGETABLE SEED NOVELTIES. 
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nienderson § PONdéTOsA Tomato. 
cece 
(See plate opposite.) 
The PONDEROSA TOMATO has probably created a greater 
furor than any vegetable novelty that has been offered in the last 
decade, and, in the opinion of many experts, it will prove not only 
one of the most valuable of our introductions, but the forerunner 
of anewrace of Tomatoes that will entirely supersede the seedy, 
acid sorts nowin use. The liberal prizes that we offered last sea- 
son for the ten heaviest fruits of this variety induced very lively 
competition, thousands of beautiful specimens being sent in from 
all sections of the country ; all were carefully weighed and recorded 
on arrival, a full detail of which will be found on page 19. 
The PONDEROSA possesses every good quality to be found in 
atomato. The vines are strong and vigorous and easily carry 
their enormous weight of fruit. Its massive or ponderous fruits 
are almost perfect in form, and so free from ridges or corrugations 
as to seem nearly as smooth as glass; and when we come to size, 
weight and solidity, no other Tomato begins to approach it. The 
skin is exceedingly firm, which will cause it to be largely grown 
for shipping purposes. On the opposite plate we have tried to 
portray the color of the PONDEROSA, Excellentas the workis, 
it does not dojustice totherich crimson of the original, which per- 
meates the fruit from circumferenee to centre, so that when sliced 
for the table its rare beauty never fails to elicit general admira- 
tion. Its remarkable solidity is happily expressed in one of our 
testimonials, which says ‘‘ that it is nearly as firm as an apple.”’ A 
marked peculiarity of this variety is that it is almost seedless, and 
Price, Seed saved from Prize Fruits, 20c. pkt. 
while this characteristic commends its use to delicate persons, this 
same peculiarity makes us pay five times as much to have the seed 
grown as that of any other sort. Large fruits or vegetables are 
usually obtained at the expense of earliness, but here the PON- 
DEROSA again steps in and floors our preconceived ideas on this 
point by demonstrating thatit is as early as most of the older 
sorts whose only merit is that theyare early. Qne patron writes. 
that he had splendid tomatoes of the PONDEROSA in 100 days 
from sowing the seed. Its flavor is delicious, whether used raw or 
cooked. A canner who grew it last year saysit is going to be a. 
grand sort for him, because the tomatoes are so large and smooth 
that there is no waste in handling. 
We exhibited this Tomato in front of our seed stores and it. 
elicited the admiration of thousands. Afrequent comment passed 
upon it there was: ‘‘ Why, one is enough for a meal.’’ And so it was. 
We feel that we have told the leading merits of this glorious. 
Tomato, but if the unsolicited testimonials on page 19 are read, 
still further praise of PONDEROSA will be found. 
WARNING. — The great demand that is certain to be made for 
the PONDEROSA Tomato this season will induce many seedsmen 
and dealers to offer this variety. Bewareof allsuch seed, as the PON- 
DEROSA requires constant selection to keep it at its present high 
standard, and youare liable to get aninferior article. Reject all seed 
unless in our original packages, sealed with our red trade-mark label. } 
Seed of our regular stoc'x, 10c. pkt., 75c, oz., $2.50 14 lb. 
NEW SWEET CORN, 
<«Country Gentleman.” 
(See plate opposite.) 
There isno vegetable that comes upon the table that is more | 
delicious when it is good, or more unpalatable when it is not just 
right, than Sweet Corn. The ** Country Gentleman ” is the finest of | 
all Sweet Corns, and will delight the most fastidious epicure, retain- 
ing its delicate tenderness and flavor even when alittle old. While 
the ears are smaller and less showy than the coarser varieties, for 
private uy use, where quality is the first consideration, it has 
no equal. 
The Ne Plus Ultra Corn, which we have offered for the past three 
seasons, has given more satisfaction for private family use than 
any other sort. Its only weak point was its small size. 
this we have, by careful selection, obtained a variety which pro- 
To remedy | 
duces ears of good size and of the same delicious quality as the 
original, and we offer with confidence the ** Country Gentleman ” 
as the finest Sweet Corn for private use. The ears are not only of 
good size, but are produced in great abundance, frequently bearing 
four good ears, while the average is three ears to a stalk. When we 
consider that ordinary Sweet Corn produces only one or two good 
ears to a Stalk, the superiority of this variety will be quickly setn. 
| The cob is very small, giving great depth to the kernels, which are 
of pearly whiteness. But the great merit of the **Country Gen- 
tleman’? Corn is its delicious quality; it is, without doubt, the 
sweetest and most tender of all Sweet Corn, and at the same time 
with ears of good size. 
Price, 15c, 14 pt., 25c. pt., 40c. qt., $2.50 pk. 
Henderson’s Delicata Squash. 
(See plate opposite.) 
This beautiful variety we have given a place on the colored 
plate opposite. The ground color is orange yellow, splashed and 
striped with very dark green. The quality is splendid, being rich 
and dry, similar in this respect to the well-known Fordhook 
Squash. The Delicata is the earliest of any vine Squash that we 
have ever tested, and is so prolific that last season from twelve 
hills of two plants each 352 perfect Squashes were gathered. Al- 
though of small size, this variety is wonderfully solid and heavy, 
the seed cavities being very small. For private use particularly 
we can recommend this Squash, as it far surpasses in richness of 
| Squashes as the Delicata. 
flavor any of the large, old-fashioned sorts. In our trial grounds 
last season, we probably had 100 varieties and stocks of Squashes 
under test, but of all this number not one produced as many 
As before stated, the great distinctive 
| feature of this Squash is its extreme earliness; it matures about 
the same time as the Summer Squashes, and for early use will 
doubtless supplant this watery, tasteless class, while its extreme 
solidity renders it fully as good a keeper as any of the winter 
varieties. The Delica*ais an ‘‘all seasons’ Squash in a remark- 
able degree. We can highly recommend it. 
Price, 15c. pkt., 2 pkts. for 25c., 10 pkts, for $1.00. 
