Johnson & Stokes* Specialties for Market Gardeners. 



21 



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^-JOHNSON'S DIXIE WATER MELON. 4- 



A New Southern Variety, Surpassing the Famous Kolb Gem as a Sliipper and without a Peer in Fine 



Quality and Productiveness. 



We make the above strong claims for this new melon, the seed of which is now offered for sale for 

 the first time, not only from our own experience with it, but from that of some of the largest melon 

 growers in the United States, to whom we sent seed for trial. Our attention was first attracted to this 

 melon by a few appearing on our markets, and selling rapidly at double the price of Kolb Gem or any 

 other variety, owing to their large size, very distinct and handsome, fresh appearance and fine qualitj'. 

 We learned the origin, and afterward made a visit to Mr. Geo. Collins, the originator, one of the largest 

 truck and melon growers of North Carolina, securing from him, at a good round price, all the seed he 

 could spare, and from which our present crop was grown. Mr. Collins states : "I originated this melon 

 by crossing the Kolb Gem and Cuban Queen. They are a week to ten days earlier than these well- 

 known varieties, with a remarkably thin rind, almost impenetrable, which preserves it for a great length 

 of time, keeping three times as long as either before showing decay. Its great productiveness is shown 

 from the fact that the past season each vine matured from seven to eight large melons, while Kolb Gem 

 and Cuban Queen rarely produced more than two or three. The meat is more scarlet, finer and of much 

 better qualit}-. I have served the best hotels with them, and find the demand much greater than I can 

 supply, being by far the most salable melon I have ever grown." These strong claims have been more 

 than verified the past season both by ourselves and other growers. Chauncey P. Coy, of Nebraska, who 

 is probably the largest melon grower in the United States, his annual plantings amounting to several 

 hundred acres, writes us under date of Sept. 21, 1889 : "I have carefully noted your New Melon No. 55 

 ( Johnson's Dixie), and find it very much superior to Kolb Gem, the color is noticeabl}' different, being 

 a much darker green and more beautifully striped, giving one the thought at a little distance of the 

 bloom Oil a green gage plum. The form is longer, while the quality is away ahead. The Kolb Gem 

 flesh is rather coarse, while No. 55 is extremely sweet, juicy and tender." Aaron Paul, another well- 

 known and extensive melon grower at Sewell, N. J., says : " Your New No. 55 Melon (Johnson's Dixie), 

 is the only variety that produced anything here this season. Owing to the unusually cold, wet spring 

 and summer all melon crops in this section were a total failure. My small patch of No. 55 were a sight 

 to behold, averaging seven to eight fine, large melons to the vine, while its eating quality is unequalled 

 by any other variety known to me. Its fine appearance and shipping qualities are to my mind so much 

 superior to Kolb Gem as to place it beyond comparison. Its extreme hardiness to both cold and wet 

 weather is simply wonderful, and I doubt if its equal exists." The supply of seed is so limited this sea- 

 son that we cannot sell more than one pound to any one purchaser. Pkt., loc; oz., 35c.; X lb., |i.oo ; 

 lb.,|4.oo. 



