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^ .JOHNSON . & . STOKES • PHILADELPHIA • p^ 



MELONS— Watermelon. 



There ain't no better thing in the vegetable line. 

 And they don't need much tendin', as ever/j farmer 'Knows; 



And U'hen they're ripe and ready for lo ■pluck from the vine, 

 I want to say to you, they're the best fruit that grows ! 



Oh, I joy in my heart to jest hear that rippin' sound 



When you split one down the back and jolt the halves in two, 



And the friends you love the best is gathered all around — 

 And you says unto your sweetheart. "Oh, here's the core fer you." 

 — James Whitcomb Riley. 



One ounce will plant about fifty hills, and four pounds 

 will plant one acre. 



stokes' extra early melon— earliest of all. 



STOKES' EXTRA EARLY. This distinct melon, first 

 introduced by us, is, without doubt, the earliest of all. Our 

 illustration shows their shape, which is nearly round, dark 

 green skin, slightly mottled with white. The flesh is deep 

 scarlet, remarkably solid, and in dcliciotis, sugary flavor is 

 unsurpassed by any other melon. Their average weight is 

 about fifteen pounds. The seed is very small, being only 

 about half the size of other melon seeds. They are also 

 much more productive than the larger sorts. Pkt., 10c. ; oz., 

 20c.; Ii\b.,i0c.; lb., S1.25. 



EARLY CALIFORNIA, orlMPROTED ODELLA. 



This is a popular market variety in New Jersey, two weeks 

 earlier than the Old Mountain Sweet, round to oval in shape, 

 color light green, good quality and an excellent shipper ; rind 

 very tough and grows to large size. Pkt., oc; oz., 10c.; ^ lb., 

 20c.; lb., 6.5c. 



DARK ICING. This variety combines 

 all the good qualities essential to perfection. 

 They grow to medium size, averaging in 

 weight from twenty-five to thirty pounds, 

 although we have known them to reach 

 fifty pounds. The skin is dark green and 

 firm. The flesh is a deep rich scarlet, of 

 delicious flavor; it is one of the best shipping 

 and carrying melons grown. Pkt., .5c.; oz., 

 lOc; 14 lb,, 20c.; lb., 70c.; 5 lbs. and over, by 

 express or freight, 50c. per lb. 



KOLB GEM. This variety is more 

 largely grown by Southern shippers tlian 

 any other. It originated with R. F. Kolb, 

 one of the largest melon growers of Alabama, 

 and is a hybrid of Scaly Bark and Rattle- 

 snake. The rind, though quite thin, is very 

 tough, standing handling and shipment 

 long distances without breakage. The flesh 

 is of bright red and of fair quality. Pkt., 

 5c.; oz.. lOc; J^lb., 20c.; lb., GOc; 5 lbs. and 

 over, 45c. per lb. 



SCALY BARK. The skin is dark 

 green, quite smooth, and has a peculiar 

 scaly appearance. It is an unusually pro- 

 ductive sort, the average w^eight of the 

 melons being forty to fifty pounds, although 

 it is not unusual for specimens to reach 

 seventy pounds. The flesh is light crimson, 

 solid, tender and of exquisite ft avor ; remains 

 in choice eating condition long after being 

 pulled. The rind, though quite thin, is 

 remarkably tough. Pkt., 5c.; oz., lOc; ^ 

 lb.. 25c.; lb., 75c. 



GRAY MONARCH, or LONG WHITE ICING. This 

 distinct melon is, without doubt, one of the largest of all, 

 frequently attaining a weight of seventy pounds and over. 

 The skin is a mottled gray color, shape long, flesh bright 

 crimson, and of sweet delicious flavor. It is also a fine ship- 

 per, carrying well long distances and bringing very high 

 prices. Pkt., 5c.; oz., lOc; H lb., 25e.; lb., 75c.; 5 lbs., S3.00. 



CUBAN QUEEN. Skin beautifully striped, dark and 

 light green. The flesh is bright red, remarkably solid, luscious, 

 crisp and sugary, very solid and the bestof keepers; excellent 

 to ship to distant markets. They have been grown to weigh 

 over one hundred pounds; are enormously productive. Pkt., 

 5c.; oz., lOc; )4 lb., 25c.; lb., 615c.; 5 lbs., S2.50. 



HUNGARIAN HONEY. A new variety brought from 

 Hungary a few years since. They grow round as a cannon 

 ball, very uniform in size and weight, running from ten to 

 twelve pounds. The outside skin is dark green, rind very 

 thin, flesh red and unusually sweet and luscious. Pkt., 5c.: 

 oz., lOc; !4 lb., 30c.; lb., $1.00. 



MAMMOTH IRON-CLAir. This melon grows to a 

 very large uniform size, frequently weighing eighty poimds 

 and over, and resembles in its markings the Cuban Queen. 

 In shape and seed, however, it is quite distinct, being deeper 

 and fuller at both ends, with seed of drab-white color. They 

 are enormous yielders, fle.«h red, solid and of excellent flavor. 

 The rind is extremely tough and hard— hence their name, 

 Iron-Clad— rendering them valuable for shipping. Pkt., 

 5c.; oz., lOc; 141b., 25c.; lb., 65c.; 5 lbs., S2.50. 



KENTUCKY WONDER. This is a new red-seeded 

 variety. We have never known a red-seeded watermelon 

 that was not a good one, this being the best we have ever 

 grown. In shape it is oblong; skin dark green, marbled in 

 stripes of light green; flesh a beautiful scarlet color, crisp, 

 tender, rich and sugary flavor, always firm and never mealy. 

 Attains an average weight of forty to sixty poimds. A real 

 good, okl-fasliioned Kentucky melon, that has few equals in 

 quality. Pkt., 5c.; oz., lOc; 14 lb., 30c.; lb., 31.00. 



SEMINOLE. This new watermelon comes from 

 Florida. We find it one of the best of melons in quality, 

 form long, growing to an extra large size, outside skin gray, 

 slightly tinged with light green, extra early and very pi-o- 

 ductive. Pkt.,5c.; oz., lOc; 14 lb.. 2.5c.; lb., 65c.; 5 lbs., $2.50. 



LIGHT ICING, or ICE RIND. Of round form, skin 

 light color, thin rind and good quality, nearly or quite equal 

 to the dark-skinned Sweet Icing, which it resemblesin shape. 

 Pkt., .5c.; oz., lOc; % lb., 25c.; lb., 70c.; 5 lbs., $2.75. 



THE DELAWARE. A fine new variety, originated by 

 Mr. Paynter Frame, of Delaware, the originator of the Iron- 

 Clad, being a cross of that variety with Mountain Sweel. 

 The shape is oblong, and skin striped light and dark green. 

 It grows larger and ripens earlier than the Iron-Clad, an ex- 

 cellent keeper and fine shipper. Pkt., 5c.; oz., lOc; 341t>-. 

 30c.; lb., 90c.; 5 lbs., 83.75. 



WHITE GEM. A new round, white-skinned variety, 

 somewhat resembling the well-known Russian Volga, but 

 said to have come originally from China. It is extremely 

 hardy and productive, anil thrives well in our climate; flesh 

 pink and of delicious flavor; rind thin, but very tough and 

 hard. Pkt., 5c.; oz., 15c.; % lb., 35c.; lb., S1.25. 



THE BOSS. A distinct variety introdueed a few years since. Shape as 

 shown in accompanying illustration. Skin is black green in color. Flesh 

 deeply scarlet, unusually sugary, crystalline and melting. The rind is very 

 thin and tough. It ripens early, and is enormously productive. This is 

 considered by many the very best table melon for family use. Pkt., 5e.; oz., 

 10c; !4 lb., 25c.; lb., 85c.; 5 lbs. and over, 65c. per lb. 



