NOVElvTiES OF STERI.ING MERIT. 



JheHOMEoktheMUSKMELPN ;/ 



I]ew II]usknjeloi],Slie Persian EQonarcli 



* * Now Offered in America for the First Time. * • * 



The fact of this grand new muskmelon coming from Persia, the original home of the muskmelon, 

 would probably be sufficient recommendation of itself for most of our customers to give it a trial, as 

 some of our very finest and oldest varieties come from this same source. Muskmelons have been a 

 hobby with us for years, as we think there is nothing more enjoyable and wholesome than a really good 

 one. To gratify this hobby we have probably made more tests in this particular line than any other seeds- 

 men in America. Through the kindness of our Foreign Ministers, United States Consuls and other corre- 

 spondents, we have obtained trial packages of seed from all over the world. For the past three years we 

 have, each season, tested on our trial grounds, some sixty varieties and, after thorough and exhaustive 

 trials, we have selected The Shah (as it is called in Persia) or Persian Monarch as decidedly the best of 

 all, being much the richest in quality, in fact unapproached by any other, either foreign or American, in 

 delicious flavor, wonderful productiveness, hardiness and distinctive handsome appearance. The melon 

 in the above illustration was made from nature and, as will be seen, the flesh is much thicker and rind 

 thinner than in any other or, as a friend remarked in testing their quality, " There is three times as muck 

 eating in one of these m,elpns as in any other, and good eating, too, fit for the gods.''' They grow to 

 medium size but, owing to the great thickness of their rich salmon-colored flesh, will weigh about 

 three times as much as any other melon of equal size. Their great productiveness is shown in the fact 

 that our whole crop averaged seven melons to the vine. We have introduced, in former years, some 

 excellent muskmelons, among them the Golden Gem and Princess, both of which are celebrated for their 

 fine quality, but desire to say right here that the perfection of muskmelons'x^ only reached in the Persian 

 Monarch. We regret to say our supply of seed of this superb novelty is so limited that we can only- 

 offer it this year in sealed packets, and cannot sell more than six packets to any one purchaser. Prices, 

 pkt., 25c.; 3 pkts, 60C.; 6pkts., $1.00. 



